These are all the Rusical winners in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' herstory
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This one’s for the ‘Rusical’ stans!
VH1; MTV; Paramount+
Over the years, the musical challenges — better known as "Rusicals" — on RuPaul’s Drag Race have taken inspiration from a wide variety of places. Themes have varied between throwing shade, being on an airplane, and using social media. Other challenges have referenced films such as Pitch Perfect, Moulin Rouge, Footloose, and The Sound of Music. Otherwise, Rusicals have also focused on celebrities — singers like Cher and Madonna, politicians like Donald Trump, and even a special Rusical for Faye Dunaway’s performance as Joan Crawford.
Not all Rusicals have been well-received by the fans… but if you’re a musical theater girly like we are, there’s always room for appreciation when these challenges come along!
Scroll through to see every Rusical winner on RuPaul’s Drag Race — and tune into season 16 every Friday on MTV.
Courtney Act (Season 6)
Logo TV
The first-ever actual Rusical in the series took place on Drag Race season 6. It was about the journey of Good Penny (played by Courtney Act) to becoming Bad Penny (Adore Delano). Given that they were both Idol alumni, the stakes were very high for those two queens. In the end, though, Courtney was the winner of this Rusical.
Watch: ‘Shade: The Rusical’
Shade: The Rusical | Season 6 Vault Clip | Rupaul's Drag Race
Ginger Minj (Season 7)
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The “Glamazonian Airways” Rusical featured a very of-the-time theme: fun/exciting onboarding videos from airplane carriers. At the time, everyone was obsessed with the Virgin America safety video from Todrick Hall — and this Rusical on Drag Race season 7 leaned all the way in.
Watch: ‘Glamazonian Airways’
Welcome Aboard Glamazonian Airways ✈️ | S7 E2 | RuPaul's Drag Race
Chi Chi DeVayne (Season 8)
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Most of the queens were doubting Chi Chi DeVayne’s chances at doing well in the Rusical for Drag Race season 8. Nonetheless, she did an incredible job at the “B*tch Perfect” Rusical and ended up winning the challenge.
Watch: ‘B*tch Perfect’
RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 8 Ep.2) | 'Bitch Perfect' Drag-Appella Sing Off!! | Logo
Shea Couleé (Season 9)
VH1
The original casting drama for a Rusical happened on Drag Race season 9 — both Shea Couleé and Nina Bo’nina Brown wanted to play the character of Blac Chyna in “Reality Stars: The Musical,” which has also been referred to as “Kardashians: The Rusical.” Ultimately, Shea was picked as the Rusical winner, which had Nina feeling even more upset.
Watch: ‘Reality Stars: The Musical’
Kardashian The Musical: RuVealed | RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9 | Now on VH1
The Vixen (Season 10)
VH1
Drag Race season 10 didn’t have just one Rusical, but two! The first one was “PharmaRusical,” which is arguably one of the weirdest Rusicals in the history of the series. The challenge ended with The Vixen as the winner and Kalorie Karbdashian-Williams being asked to sashay away.
Watch: ‘PharmaRusical’
Pharmarusical / Rupaul's Drag Race Season 10 (part 1)
Kameron Michaels (Season 10)
VH1
The second Rusical of season 10 was “Cher: The Unauthorized Rusical.” Though this one was also a bit weird, it was campier and funnier than “PharmaRusical.” Unbeknownst to most, Kameron Michaels had a history of doing Cher impressions, which worked in her favor and helped her secure this maxi challenge win.
Watch: ‘Cher: The Unauthorized Rusical’
Cher: The Unauthorized Rusical 🌟| RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10
Silky Nutmeg Ganache (Season 11)
VH1
While we were still struggling with the Trump administration at the White House, season 11 of Drag Race poked fun at the presidential Cheeto with “Trump: The Rusical.” The production was heavily inspired by Grease — one of Mama Ru’s favorite films — and focused on the women surrounding Trump. Alas, the winner turned out to be Silky Nutmeg Ganache, who played Oprah.
Watch: ‘Trump: The Rusical’
Trump: The Rusical 🎶| RuPaul Drag’s Race Season 11
Gigi Goode (Season 12)
VH1
Some fans remember “Madonna: The Rusical” as the episode that prompted Jan’s infamous face crack. But generally speaking, the overall fanbase praises this Drag Race season 12 challenge as one of the best Rusicals of all time. Gigi Goode, Jan, and Crystal Methyd all placed high in this maxi challenge, but Gigi was deemed the winner.
Watch: ‘Madonna: The Rusical’
Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical 💄 #DragRace Season 12 Vault Clip
Rosé (Season 13)
VH1
Rosé, Jan’s drag sister and fellow Stephanie’s Child band member, did an excellent job on “Social Media: The Unverified Rusical” and won the challenge. This challenge led to Symone and Kandy Muse having to lip sync for their lives — and though Symone won, Kandy was saved in a last-minute decision from Mama Ru.
Watch: ‘Social Media: The Unverified Rusical’
Social Media: The Unverified Rusical 📲🎶 RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13
Lady Camden (Season 14)
VH1
Drag Race season 14 runner-up Lady Camden had sort of a fight with Bosco to play the lead role of Saltine in “Moulin Ru: The Rusical.” Bosco ended up with the role, but landed in the bottom, was eliminated, and got saved by the “chocolate bar twist.” Meanwhile, Camden actually won the Rusical in the role of Mama Z.
Watch: ‘Moulin Ru: The Rusical’
Moulin Ru: The Season 14 Rusical! 👠🎶 RuPaul’s Drag Race
Anetra (Season 15)
MTV
Even though Rusicals always had a special place in the hearts of musical theater fans that watch Drag Race, it was really season 15’s “Wigloose: The Rusical” that changed the game for this kind of challenge in the series. Despite being filmed many months before conservatives began to rile up the anti-drag bills they were planning, the Rusical aired right in the thick of it, making the whole thing incredibly well-timed. In the role of Mama Bacon, Anetra won this challenge.
Watch: ‘Wigloose: The Rusical’
Wigloose: The Rusical 🤠👢 RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15
Plasma (Season 16)
MTV
Plasma blew her competition out of the water on “The Sound of Rusic” from Drag Race season 16. Not only was this New York City queen in every single scene of the production, but she delivered on every line, every move, and every nuance. The hills were definitely alive for Ms. Plasma!
Watch: ‘The Sound of Rusic’
The Sound of Rusic 🖼️ 🎶 RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16
Detox & Alyssa Edwards (All Stars 2)
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The first-ever All Stars Rusical was “HERstory of the World,” which took place on All Stars 2. This Rusical told the story of many famous and inspiration women throughout history, from Helen of Troy to Annie Oakley to Princess Diana. Unfortunately, Ginger Minj and Katya fell in the bottom 2 this week, whereas Detox and Alyssa Edwards were the top 2.
Watch: ‘HERstory of the World’
'HERstory Of The World' Lip Sync | S2 E3 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Shangela & BenDeLaCreme (All Stars 3)
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“Divas Lip Sync Live,” directly inspired by the VH1 Dias Live specials, was another Rusical that combined the stories of various famous women. Here, each contestant played a particular “pop diva” — with Shangela (as Mariah Carey) and BenDeLaCreme (as Julie Andrews) being the top 2 of the week./
Watch: ‘Divas Lip Sync Live’
VH1 Divas Live Lip Sync Challenge 🎤 #AllStars3 Vault Clip
Jan (All Stars 6)
Paramount+
Jan was able to get her full Rusical redemption on All Stars 6 as she played Lady Gaga in the “Halftime Headliners” Rusical that parodied the halftime show performances taking place at the Super Bowl. Another standout performance came from Trinity K. Bonet as Beyoncé.
Watch: ‘Halftime Headliners’
The Hall of Fame Halftime Show 👠🎤 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Kandy Muse (All Stars 8)
Paramount+
No more wire hangers! Kandy Muse also got a Rusical redemption on All Stars 8 with her performance in “Joan: The Unauthorized Rusical.” Kandy’s scene had very much to do with a scene in Mommie Dearest where Joan Crawford (played by Faye Dunaway) yells out, “No more wire hangers!”
Watch: ‘Joan: The Unauthorized Rusical’
JOAN: The Unauthorized Rusical 🎵 | RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8
