When queens lip sync for their lives on RuPaul's Drag Race, one is ultimately saved by Ru and the other is told to sashay out of the competition. However, sometimes both queens perform at such a high caliber that both are asked to stay and have earned their place to fight another day.
While these "double shantays" have become more commonplace in later seasons of the show, with viewers being able to rely on seeing at least one per season, there have still only been a handful. Strictly counting main seasons and All-Stars, these are the 10 most worthy double shantays in the show's run.
Carmen Carrera vs. Yara Sofia (Season 3)
The one that started it all, this performance was just one of many standout lip syncs from season 3. Carmen was a confident queen who prided herself on her figure and being able to wear practically nothing on the runway. Yara was an artistic queen with a wacky sense of humor and style. When both found themselves in the bottom 2, lip-syncing to "Hey Mickey" by Toni Basil, they each performed the song in their own distinct way.
Carmen was sultry and seductive, even going up to the judge's panel and kissing guest judge Johnny Weir. Yara moved her flowing white gown beautifully, only to reveal a Puerto Rican-inspired bodysuit underneath. It was a shocking moment when Ru said both queens were staying and the rest is history.
BenDeLaCreme vs. Shangela (All Stars 3)
Both fan favorites and front runners on this season, Shangela and BenDeLaCreme found themselves in the top 2 multiple times and had to lip-sync for their legacies. When the time came to perform Katy Perry's breakout hit "I Kissed a Girl," both queens had an individual take on how they would perform the song.
Shangela opted for a more sultry and seductive take where Dela chose a campier, comedic route. They ran into problems when Dela kept interrupting and interacting with Shangela, prompting the latter to have to adapt on the fly and try to distance herself from the former. Messiness aside, the double win was deserved.
Miz Cracker vs. Morgan McMichaels (All Stars 5)
This match-up could've been a quick death for Miz Cracker, as Morgan McMichaels is one of the tightest, cleanest lip-sync performers the show has ever seen. But the self-proclaimed "Jewish Barbie on bath salts" put up a fight to remember.
Dancing to Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" Morgan was hypnotizing, especially with the dramatics of her cape. Cracker broke out move after move with signature Cracker silliness in a captivating look that seemed new for the New York queen. She and Morgan interacted well during the performance and only added to each other's routines. What could've been a bloodbath ended up a satisfying tie.
Heidi N. Closet vs. Jackie Cox (Season 12)
Season 12 is a fan-favorite season, partly due to these two queens. Heidi was the sweet, cooky, Southern Belle while Jackie was the nerdy and brainy queen from New York City. Performing Alex Newell's "Kill The Lights," Heidi did the appropriate disco-inspired choreography with a few Heidi-isms sprinkled throughout.
Jackie acted like a psychotic ex-lover, scared to lose her partner ala Fatal Attraction with a comedic twist, prompting Michelle Visage to say she "went full Gilda Radner." The two had fun moments of interaction that added to both takes on the song and resulted in an earned double save.
Manila Luzon vs. Monet X Change (All Stars 4)
Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It" was the perfect song for these two queens to perform on this season of All Stars. Both insanely funny, Manila and Monet took the casual and carefree lyrics of this song to new heights. Being ridiculous on their own, and coming together at certain points made it seem like they were two friends on a night out, having their own adventures and then meeting up to gossip and laugh about their latest escapades.
The judges and fellow contestants were roaring with laughter, especially when Monet had her tongue out and moving at lightning speed when Franklin started scatting. This was a lip-sync that could've gone on forever and not gotten old.
Latrice Royale vs. Monique Heart (All Stars 4)
The Lip Sync LalapaRuza twist in All Stars 4 set the stakes very high. An eliminated queen had the chance to eliminate a queen still in the competition by lip-syncing against them. Tensions were high when Latrice chose Monique, who had previously sent Latrice home, to lip-sync against. The resulting performance was high energy and high octane.
Full of hairography, splits, kicks, and reveals, these two were fighting tooth and nail for their place in the competition. Everyone was gutted when Ru announced Latrice won her spot to return, which made it even sweeter when he told Monique she was safe as well. Any other outcome would've been criminal.
Alyssa Edwards vs. Roxxxy Andrews (Season 5)
The dancing diva of Texas went up against the queen of being "thick and juicy" in this iconic performance. Alyssa had already proven herself to be a versatile and skilled dancer, and it was hard to keep eyes off Roxxxy in any episode. When they were told to give it their all to Willow's "Whip My Hair" the two did just that.
Extreme hairography that made people's heads spin was everpresent amongst clean and sexy dance moves. Alyssa delivered in spades, but this lip-sync gave us the first-ever wig reveal on the show courtesy of Roxxxy. Everyone on set and in their living rooms was floored. Keeping both queens was the only option.
Jujubee vs. Raven (All Stars 1)
This controversial first season saw 12 queens compete in 6 teams of 2, and best friends Raven and Jujubee were a tight-knit pair. But when they found themselves in the bottom 2 against each other, performing to Robyn's classic "Dancing On My Own," the teammates didn't have it in them to fight against each other.
Using Robyn's melancholy lyrics to their advantage, they both broke down crying while still mouthing the words. Juju walks over to Raven and they finish the song side-by-side. There was not a dry eye in the house, with Ru declaring them both safe and eliciting shouts of excitement from fellow contestant and eventual winner, Chad Michaels. Perhaps the most emotional lip-sync in the series, this was a moment to remember.
Alyssa Edwards vs. Tatianna (All Stars 2)
This performance to Rihanna's "Shut Up And Drive" has reigned supreme from 2016 to 2019, and for good reason. Alyssa and Tatianna let everyone eat it and held nothing back. Seeing as how both were fighting for a spot back in the competition, so much was riding on this. The energetic song served as the perfect catalyst for the queens to give this their all.
Tatianna surprised with her skilled movements and knew the song like the back of her hand. Alyssa did what Alyssa does best but on steroids, taking her splits and dips the necessary step further to take it over the edge. The bridge of the song saw them completely let loose in a hurricane of drag that left jaws dropped. The eventual double shantay was the only correct outcome.
Brooke Lynn Hytes vs. Yvie Oddly (Season 11)
On a season considered one of the franchise's worst, this performance is undoubtedly the best. Set to Demi Lovato's hit "Sorry Not Sorry," the Canadian fashion diva and Denver's commodity of drag oddity blew the roof off the main stage. Flips, splits, wig reveals, backbends; you name it, this performance has it. Both queens performed at the peak of their ability, but what made this so spectacular was that they pushed each other to bring out the best in the other.
One trick was matched by another and so on, without seeming desperate or unearned. The judges and their fellow queens were left gobsmacked and awestruck. Everything was left on the stage and the double shantay came without any hesitation from Ru. It will take a lot from future seasons to beat this lip-sync battle royale.