The infamous Ball Challenge has been with us ever since the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Every season, it is one of the most anticipated episodes, especially when it was the last challenge the queens took on before the final challenge of the season. In the newest seasons, the balls take place earlier on in the season, making them more versatile and even more fabulous than ever before. Usually, each queen has to design three runway outfits based on the three categories given, some made from scratch.
A great Ball Challenge keeps us at the edge of our seats. They are funny, dramatic and intense. Often, eliminations make fans feel enraged and frustrated because no one wants to see their favorite queens leave the show. RuPaul's Drag Race has been on since 2009 and has since aired 12 seasons as well as five additional seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in between.
Hello, Kitty Girls!
Season 7's Ball Challenge is not a fan-favorite for several reasons. Firstly, the queens only had to make two outfits rather than the usual three. The first outfit was called "Hello Kitty BFF Realness", in which the queens wore outfits with Hello Kitty-inspired cartoonish heads. The second look was called "Hello Kitty Eleganza", making use of the merchandise.
Additionally, the girls didn't seem to produce any outfits that would make it to the best in the history of the show. Many fans thought that the first look was just a joke rather than an actual look. Since season 7 was hyped as one of the most fashionable so far, "Hello, Kitty Girls!" was a huge let down.
Glitter Ball
Season 6 dazzled with glitter, jewels and gemstones. The ball served us the following looks: "Banjee Girl Bling", "CEO Platinum Card Executive Realness" and "Dripping In Jewels Eleganza". BenDeLaCreme was eliminated, even though it looked like she is surely going to end up in top two prior to the Ball Challenge. Instead, all eyes were on Bianca Del Rio who is still one of the most followed queens on Instagram today.
The winner of the challenge was Adore Delano AKA "Adore in the sky with diamonds". Not necessarily because of her outfits, but because her wacky and fun personality shone through. This episode reminded us that looks are not all that matter in the world of RuPaul's Drag Race: the right personality is the thing that queens should always bet on if they want to get ahead in the series.
The Monster Ball
The expectations were set high for Monster Ball, in which the three categories were called "Trampy Trick or Treater", "Witch, Please!" and "MILF Eleganza: Monster I'd Like to Freak". However, the ball let some down because rather than coming up with truly horrific and scary looks, the queens mostly played it safe and looked too beautiful considering what the theme was.
The winner was Brooke Lynn Hytes who strutted down the runway on pointe as a mummy, elegantly showing off much of her skin. The judges sent home Ariel Versace. Even though her looks were outstanding, they failed to encapsulate the given theme. Shout out to Nina West who was continuously underrated in season 11. Even though she slayed on the Monster Ball, she didn't make it to top three.
The Last Ball On Earth
Season 10's Ball Challenge came early. Traditionally, the Ball Challenge had four competitors left. In this season, there were 11 queens left. Inspired by climate change, the three looks were called "Alaskan Winter Realness", "Miami Summer Realness" and "Martian Eleganza Extravaganza". As there were 33 looks in total, there was no performance, but there was a lot of drama going on in the werk room.
Aquaria won the challenge. Her outfit was partially made out of card-board, but she designed it and pulled it off so effortlessly, it looked like a piece of high fashion. But the most memorable outfit of the episode was definitely Ru's: with her futuristic sunglasses and gloves, she reminded us that she is the mother of all queens.
The Ball Ball
With 12 contestants of season 12 still in the run, The Ball Ball came earlier than we are used to. The first two looks had to do with sports: "Lady Baller" and "Basketball Wife Realness" inspired queens to design outfits unlike any seen before. The last outfit was called "Balls to the Wall Eleganza", in which the queens literally had to make use of ball-shaped materials.
Post-episode discussions revealed that fans thought that Aiden would have gone home, but the judges eliminated Rock M. Sakura instead.
The Diva Awards
The final four of season 2 had to come up with looks for three different types of award ceremonies. "Teen Diva Awards", "Diva D.C. Press Awards" and "Diva Hollywood Extravaganza Awards". From the get-go, it was pretty obvious that Tatianna will sashay away by the end of the episode as she just could match others in their glamour and diva vibes. Ru herself told her: "If you ever were going to pull something out of your a**, now would be the time to do it."
The highlight of the performance was the opening act, in which the girls each held one letter, thus spelling DIVA.
RuPaul Book Ball
Who doesn't remember the iconic looks that Kim Chi served on "RuPaul Book Ball"? The Ball in which queens were tasked with designing outfits that would tell their life stories. At that point, Ru had just released his own book. The last look was thus made out of books.
Through "Baby Drag Realness", "That's My Mama Realness" and "Book Couture", we could see much of the vulnerable and more sensitive side of the queens.
Gayest Ball Ever
Season 9 fades in comparison to the rest, but "Gayest Ball Ever" made for some really entertaining television. The girls had to bring three looks to the werkroom: "Rainbow-She-Betta-Do", "Sexy Unicorn" and "Village People Eleganza Extravaganza", in which each queen was challenged to create an outfit, inspired by the iconic Village People: construction worker, cowboy, cop, leather biker and Native American. The undisputed winner of the challenge was Shea Couleé who slayed as a construction worker.
Alexis Michelle had less luck, even though she proclaimed herself as "fierce competition": all of her looks were mediocre and she was eliminated, thus ended fifth in the season.
The Fabulous B*tch Ball
Season 4's Ball Challenge was inspired by dogs and the queens had to strut alongside furry friends on the catwalk as well. The first outfit was called "Daytime Dog Park". The dogs joined for the second and third outfits, called "Pooch in a Purse" and "Canine Couture".
Sharon Needles won the Ball Challenge and was the absolute best in the whole season. What are the contestants of season 4 doing these days? Well, Sharon has released several studio albums and EPs.
Absolut Drag Ball
Absolut Drag Ball was the first Ball Challenge ever and it remains one of the greatest of all time. Each queen was assigned a taste: citron, mandarin, mango, and raspberry. The three categories were "Executive Realness", "Swimsuit" and "Evening Grown Extravaganza". One of the most memorable scenes of the episodes was definitely the moment when RuPaul asked the queens who they would they send home if they have the power. One queen nominated herself, which has never happened since.
Sugar Ball
The sweetest Ball challenge of them all, season 5 brought us three candy-themed categories: "Super Duper Sweet 16", "Sugar Mama Executive Realness" and "Candy Couture". Alaska and Roxxxy came in top two, while Detox had to go home.
One of the things that many don't know about RuPaul is that one of his favorite moments on Drag Race happened in season 5: it was when Roxxxy shared the story of her traumatic childhood.
RuPaul's Hair Extravaganza
The best of all Ball Challenges was season 3's Hair Extravaganza when all the queens pulled off incredible outfits, paired with fabulous wigs. Today, the season's contestants are mostly still very active in the community.
Season 3 had another ball, called "Make That Money Ball", in which one of the outfits were made completely out of fake money.