RuPaulmark Channel

"RuPaulmark Channel"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.	Season 13 Episode 4
Episode chronology

"RuPaulmark Channel" is the fourth episode of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2] Loni Love is a guest judge, and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman also makes a guest appearance. Symone is the winner of the episode's main challenge, and Kahmora Hall is eliminated from the competition.

Episode

Werk Room and main challenge

For this episode's main challenge, the contestants overact in "RuPaulmark" holiday movies. Following are the titles and groups:

• Misery Love's Company – Denali, Elliott with 2 Ts, Kahmora Hall, and Olivia Lux
• God Loves Flags – LaLa Ri, Rosé, Symone, and Utica Queen
• April Fool's Rush In – Gottmik, Joey Jay, Kandy Muse, Tamisha Iman, and Tina Burner

The three films are Valentine's Day-, Flag Day-, and April Fools' Day-themed, respectively.[3] Rosé plays a gnome. Tamisha Iman's character impersonates Cher.

Runway

On the runway, the category is "Trains for Days". In addition to RuPaul and Michelle Visage, Ross Mathews is on the judging panel. Loni Love is a guest judge.

Utica Queen's runway outfit was inspired by the Curtain Dress (pictured on display at the National Museum of American History) designed by Bob Mackie and worn by Carol Burnett during the "Went with the Wind!" comedy sketch that originally aired on The Carol Burnett Show in 1976.

Inspired by Quetzalcoatl and the quetzal bird, Denali's runway look was described by Kate Kulzick of The A.V Club as "full Carnival in a bright, feathered leotard with big structured shoulders, a tall, colorful Mohawk wig, and a massive ostrich feather train".[3] Olivia Lux wears a tall white wig, a coatdress and long train, and a lavender ruffled neck piece with matching boots. Elliott with Two Ts has a white lace bodysuit and a white studded belt, a white ruffled train made of tulle, and tall blonde hair. Kahmora Hall's gold dress has two dragon heads as shoulder pieces, and a dragon tail train in the back. Symone wears a corset and jumpsuit, with a durag that becomes a train.[3] LaLa Ri wears a belted coat, a bodysuit, and thigh-high boots. Inspired by the "Went with the Wind!" comedy sketch that originally aired on The Carol Burnett Show on CBS in 1976, Utica Queen wears a "hoop dress complete with curtain rod and pull tie belt". Rosé's look has been described as a "true blue pantsuit with striking white lapels and a tall white curled Mohawk with a giant blue tulle train".[3] Gottmik uses a bedazzled leaf blower for wind effects, and Tina Burner's look resembles the uniform of a train conductor. Joey Jay wears a red braid, and Kandy Muse has a red corset. Tamisha Iman wears a pink bodysuit and train.

Kahmora Hall (pictured at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2022) is eliminated from the competition.

Kandy Muse, Rosé, and Symone receive positive critiques, and Symone is declared the winner. Denali, Kahmora Hall, and LaLa Ri receive negative critiques. Denali and Kahmora Hall place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync to "100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters.[4][5] Kahmora Hall is eliminated from the competition.

Production

Loni Love (pictured in 2022) is a guest judge.

Love was later a guest judge on the season's sixth ("Disco-mentary"), tenth ("Freaky Friday Queens"), and twelfth ("Nice Girls Roast") episodes, as well as the fourteenth season's fourth episode ("She's a Super Tease").

Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman appears in the three holiday-themed sketches; in April Fool's Rush In, he impersonates Prince.

Reception

Kate Kulzick of The A.V Club gave the episode a rating of 'B+'.[3] Entertainment Weekly said Kimora Hall "made herstory as the queen who looked the best during her elimination".[6] Denali's performance during the lip-sync received both praise and negative criticism,[7][8][9] with various outlets consider it among the show's best.[10][11][12]

The performance caused "100% Pure Love" to re-enter the Billboard charts.[13]

References

1. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13, Episode 4 recap: We made it to the merge! | Xtra Magazine". January 22, 2021. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
2. Gregory, Drew Burnett (January 23, 2021). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Episode 1304 Recap: Three Hot Businesswomen and One Hot Clown". Autostraddle. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
3. "Eliminations return as Drag Race celebrates cheesy holiday movies". The A.V. Club. January 23, 2021. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
4. Alter, Rebecca (January 23, 2021). "Get Into This Lip Sync Even If You Don't Watch RuPaul's Drag Race". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
5. "Denali's "100% Pure Love" Lip Sync Will Go Down in Drag Race Herstory". Them. January 25, 2021. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
6. "Every 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 13 runway look, ranked". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
7. Duncan, Charlie (May 24, 2023). "Drag Race alum Aja applauds Denali for owning up to past voguing mistakes". PinkNews. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
8. "Ranking The Best Lip Sync of Each RuPaul's Drag Race Season". www.pride.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
9. Daw, Stephen (February 2, 2024). "The Best Lip Sync From Every Main Season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
10. Morey, Alice (November 9, 2023). ""Give me that corporate insurance!": Drag Race star Denali Foxx announces engagement". GAY TIMES. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
11. Damshenas, Sam (June 1, 2023). ""Free Willy!" The 12 best lip-syncs in Drag Race herstory". GAY TIMES. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
12. "The 15 Most Memorable Lip Syncs In 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Herstory". Elite Daily. February 20, 2024. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
13. "Crystal Waters Track Returns To The Charts • Instinct Magazine". Instinct Magazine. February 14, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.

External links

• RuPaul's Drag Race – Season 13, Episode 4: RuPaulmark Channel at Rotten Tomatoes
• Denali & Kahmora’s “100% Pure Love” Lip Sync – S13 E4 – RuPaul’s Drag Race on YouTube