RuPaul's Drag Race has its continuous challenges and some great runway categories that are present in every season. One challenge that is a highlight of the show is The Ball Challenge, in which queens must walk the runway in designated categories and one garment is usually made by the queens themselves.
So many iconic looks have come out of the series' Ball Challenges that it is hard to limit them to just 10 best looks. However, some ball looks are so outrageously beautiful that they deserve special attention. These are just a few that deserve notice.
The Bag Ball - Utica (Season 13)
In the Bag Ball Eleganza category, Utica shocked the judges with their sleeping bag coat that looked like it came fresh off a Paris runway. Beautifully constructed as well as fitting Utica perfectly, their sleeping bag coat, complete with hood, was a fan favorite.
In close competition with fashion queen GottMik, Utica lost the Bag Ball challenge due to their "campy delivery," according to RuPaul. However, Utica's looks, especially their sleeping bag coat, were regarded as the true winners among some Drag Race fans.
Gayest Ball Ever - Shea Coulee (Season 9)
In Shea Coolee's Village People look, Shea served a construction worker extravaganza outfit. With a glittered hardhat, denim cutoffs, thigh-high yellow boots, and creative use of flannel that is used as both a headwrap and a cape, Shea makes a challenging category an absolute fashion moment.
The other queens' outfits for the Village People look category tended to lean towards costume, whereas Shea's leaned more towards high fashion with a bit of camp. Shea is no stranger to slaying a runway, this ball outfit being one of many celebrated Shea Coolee looks.
Hair Ball - Manila Luzon (Season 3)
In the third and final category Fantasy Hair Extravaganza in the Hair Ball, Manila Luzon's bee-inspired look was a whimsical and striking ensemble. Made entirely out of wigs, the outfit is almost unrecognizable from its source material, transforming the wigs into a completely different-looking medium.
In fierce competition with fashion queens Yara Sofia and Raja, Manila Luzon's yellow and black look truly brings the fantasy aspect of the challenge center stage.
The Ball Ball - Gigi Goode (Season 12)
For the Balls to the Wall category, the queens were tasked with the fan-favorite Unconventional Materials challenge, in which the queens had to use balls provided in the Week Room to make garments. Gigi Goode used the unconventional materials to make a very well-constructed dress with tiny little balls that were utilized not only for the dress but also in the construction of a hat and purse.
A super cute look that one could expect to see in a fun, colorful fashion spread, Gigi Goode's Balls to the Wall look is a design that fans will continue to remember as the seasons go on.
The Last Ball On Earth- Aquaria (Season 10)
Aquaria cemented her reputation as a fashion queen with her Lucha Libre Winter look for The Last Ball On Earth Ball. Modeling three amazing looks for the Winter, Summer, and Martian Eleganza Extravaganza categories, Aquaria was fully deserving of her challenge win in this episode.
For the Winter Realness look, which was actually a swimsuit category, Aquaria took an incredibly inventive take on swimsuit wear and chose a sleek luchador-inspired outfit, complete with a luchador mask. Any one of the three outfits Aquaria wore for this ball could compete for a spot on this list, making this ball and Aquaria's looks, in particular, a fashion highlight of the entire series.
Sugar Ball - Alaska (Season 5)
Tasked with creating an entire look out of candy in the Candy Couture category, the remaining four queens of the highly beloved season five of Drag Race had their work cut out for them. Alaska rose to the challenge with her cotton candy mini dress that featured cotton candy, along with other sweet treats, on her shoes and even in her wig.
Competing against Roxxxy Andrew's rainbow licorice dress as a top contender, Alaska's use of the candy as the shining star of the garment helped to make her the winner of this challenge.
The Blue Ball - Trinity K. Bonet (All Stars 6)
Serving Cinderella realness in the Blue Bonanza category of the All Stars 6 Blue Ball, Trinity K. Bonet made a showstopping gown out of unconventional materials.
With blue in all aspects of the look, including in her hair, Trinity paid attention to every single detail. Even by leaving a single shoe on the runaway, Trinity showed a diligent commitment to her Princess look and drag character.
Hello Kitty Ball - Violet Chachki (Season 7)
In the Hello Kitty Ball's Hello Kitty Eleganza look, Violet Chachki used Harajuku imagery and the swinging '60s to influence this legendary design. In an all-pink ensemble, Violet paired a latex corset with the Hello Kitty merchandise that was mandatory for the challenge.
Violet's signature cinching completes the outfit and makes it a complete Hello Kitty Eleganza look from head to toe. The result is a stunning piece worthy of a couture label.
The Book Ball - Kim Chi (Season 8)
For the Book Couture category of the season 8 Book Ball, the queens had to construct a garment made entirely out of books. Kim Chi's stunning flower headpiece and her accompanying gown were awe-inspiring, especially when considering the look is made out of pages from a book.
With a beautiful silhouette and an appreciable construction, Kim Chi's Book Couture gown and headpiece were an amazing example of how unconventional materials can create a fantastic look.
The Money Ball- Raja
Having to make a gown out of fake dollars and coins in the massively challenging Money Ball is a tough task for even the most experienced seamstress. Yet, all four of the remaining queens made outstanding gowns. The highlight of the Evening Gown Eleganza category is Raja's colorful, plunging neckline gown.
The look even has a little tophat made of money as the cherry on top. Taking inspiration from 1930's starlets, Raja makes a gown that looks luxurious and playful, a hard combination to do successfully, and pulls it off effortlessly. In a season that was heavy on fashion and look challenges, it's easy to see how Raja became season 3's winner.