If you're a fan of "RuPaul's Drag Race" like I am, then you know the love-hate feeling you get with the show. (RELAX, this post is spoiler-free.)
The VH1 series' 11th season, which premiered on February 28, 2019, started with a bang fresh from the controversial double-crowning of Monet X Change and Trinity the Tuck in the fourth season of its spin-off "All-Stars" two weeks before.
Fifteen queens are on this season, including the fishy Plastique Tiara and the mom-trying-to-use-millennial-slang-level cringey-yet-lovable Silky Nutmeg Ganache. But what's got everyone watching is, of course, the legendary meme legend herself, Vanessa "Miss Vanjie" Mateo, who became a meme following her iconic exit as the first queen to go on season 10.
The inaugural episode featured some of the typical challenges, such as photo shoots and a themed weekly challenge. What was different is that these challenges centered around inspiration from queens from seasons past.
Legends like Raja, Manila Luzon and Sonique made cameos in the photo shoot mini challenge. In the "maxi" primary challenge, each queen had to make an outfit based on props in a box based on the styles of earlier queens such as Kim Chi and Katya.
But of course, what was the greatest moment of this episode was Miley Cyrus and the aforementioned Silky picking her up and probably traumatizing her. And who couldn't be gagged at that "Best of Both Worlds" lip sync?!!!
Overall, I'm really excited what's in store for season 11 of "Drag Race." Though I have some reservations about the personalities of some queens and style choices of some others, I think season 11 will make up for some of the baggage that past seasons have carried.
At this point, I don't have a favorite or a prediction of who might snatch the crown, with of course the exception of Vanjie because of her newfound fame in the past. But if history is any indication of how "Drag Race" turns out, anything can happen.
New episodes of season 11 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" premiere Thursday's at 9/8c on VH1.