Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race know that one of the best things about the show is the lip sync battles. With eleven regular season and four All-Stars seasons, there have been dozens of lip sync battles at this point. While some of them are lackluster and won’t be remembered, there are others that are legendary.
Fans of the show are all aware of some of the best, or most memorable, lip syncs that have been performed so far and will be talking about them for years to come. Here’s a list of the most epic lip sync battles of the show ranked to lead up to the best of them all.
NINA BO’NINA BROWN VS. VALENTINA (SEASON 9)
This lip sync is the last on the list because of the fact that it is so iconic. Was it good? Not really. But it sure is impossible to forget. When Valentina refused to take off her face mask, Ru had to stop her during the lip sync to ask her to take it off.
Valentina’s hubris had prevented her from even preparing the lip sync, so once she took the mask off, things got even worse. This is definitely one of the most iconic moments of the entire show and proves that the most epic lip syncs aren’t always the ones that are good.
TRINITY K. BONET VS. ADORE DELANO (SEASON 6)
Season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race is generally thought of as one of the best, if not the best, seasons of the show. Adore Delano was definitely an underdog who took a while to find polish in her performances, but she gave her all with this one.
Both she and Trinity performed all out and put on a great show. Adore eventually won out, though, even though it was a really close call. Overall, most everyone can agree this was the best lip sync of that entire season.
ROXXXY ANDREWS VS. ALYSSA EDWARDS (SEASON 5)
Alyssa Edwards is an iconic queen who will actually make this list more than once. Plus, she even has her own Netflix show. She’s definitely a queen that knows how to lip sync and put on an amazing performance.
However, it was Roxxxy’s wig reveal, back when everyone wasn’t doing it, that made this performance especially memorable. Both queens performed with all of their passion and skill, making this one of the most fun lip syncs to watch. Luckily, both of these queens got to stay, which is only fair given how great they both did.
SHARON NEEDLES VS. PHI PHI O’HARA (SEASON 4)
In season four of the show, these two were the rivals of the season. When they had to lip sync while decked out in angel and demon outfits, it was the perfect match-up. Phi Phi danced so hard that her wig went flying. Sharon went with a comedic performance instead of a more traditional one and really stuck to her brand by doing so.
In the end, they both got to stay since Willam got eliminated due to cheating. This entire episode, including this legendary lip sync, will go down in Herstory.
ASIA O’HARA VS. KAMERON MICHAELS (SEASON 10)
This is another moment on the list that isn’t there because the lip sync was amazing and full of talent and skill. While both Asia and Kameron are skilled queens, the reason this lip sync is so memorable is because of the fact Asia was trying to release live butterflies onto the stage.
While trying to lip-sync to "Nasty" by Janet Jackson, Asia tried to release the butterflies, but instead, they fell dead on the stage. This moment led to a ton of Internet reactions and memes. While it wasn’t a high point for Asia O’Hara, it was definitely impossible to forget.
LATRICE ROYALE VS. KENYA MICHAELS (SEASON 4)
This lip sync was done to the iconic song, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” This is a great example of how sometimes a great lip sync isn’t about being the best or most talented dancer or performer. Instead, sometimes you win by putting a lot of passion into the performance.
While Kenya did a great job of dancing, Latrice Royale stood and gave so much emotion in her voice as she performed that it blew people away. This was a time where standing and singing was the right move.
COCO MONTRESE VS. ALYSSA EDWARDS (SEASON 5)
Alyssa Edwards makes her second appearance on this list, proving that she really is a lip-syncing winner. These two queens had a long-standing rivalry, which made for a very dramatic moment when they had to lip-sync against one another.
The song was “Cold-Hearted” by Paula Abdul, and both of these queens gave it their all. While Coco Montrese might have won this one, both queens did an amazing job, and calling a winner definitely wasn’t an easy decision.
JUJUBEE VS. RAVEN (SEASON 5)
This is another lip sync on the list that is a little different than your typical dramatic dance moves and death drops. Instead, this was an emotional moment between two best friends. These two queens loved and respected each other a lot and didn’t want to lip sync against each other.
In this performance of “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn, the two queens stood next to each other and hugged while tears rolled down their faces. This was a touching moment that proves that friendship can sometimes be just as important as winning a competition.
SASHA VELOUR VS. SHEA COULEE (SEASON 9)
The season nine finale involved the remaining queens having to lip sync against one another to secure the crown. Sasha Velour didn’t lip sync throughout the entire season, so when she brought out this jaw-dropping performance, fans couldn't believe it.
While Shea might have been expected to win, Sasha’s cutting-edge performance with the rose petal reveal was so creative that it would have been nearly impossible to beat.
ALYSSA EDWARDS VS. TATIANNA (ALL-STARS 2)
For the third time, Alyssa makes it onto this list, making her the greatest lip sync performer from the show. These two legends performed to Rihanna’s “Shut Up and Drive.”
The song was perfect, and when people talk about it, they claim that it’s what every lip sync should look and feel like. Alyssa and Tatianna both gave it their all and the death drops, dance moves, and energy they put into this lip sync made it iconic.