The seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 2, 2015.[1]RuPaul and Michelle Visage returned as judges, while the space previously occupied by Santino Rice was filled by new additions Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley.[1] Matthews and Kressley were only both present for the season premiere and took turns sharing judging responsibilities. Shawn Morales, a member of the Pit Crew since the third season and Simon Sherry-Wood, a member in the sixth season, did not appear this season and were replaced by Bryce Eilenberg. Like the previous two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season featured 14 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of 100,000 dollars. The season premiere debuted with a live and same-day viewership of 350,000, a 20% increase from the previous season. On March 20, 2015, it was announced that LogoTV had given the series an early renewal for an eighth season.[2]
The theme song played during the runway segment every episode was "Sissy That Walk". Season 6 also featured "Sissy That Walk" as a runway song, making Season 7 the only season to reuse a runway song. The song played during the closing credits was "Fly Tonight", both songs from the album Born Naked.
The winner of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Violet Chachki, with Ginger Minj and Pearl being the runners-up.
Fourteen new queens enter the workroom. For the first mini-challenge, the queens walk the runway showing off two looks: one from their spring collection and one from their fall collection. For the main challenge, the queens create a resort-wear tearaway to reveal a nude illusion.
On the runway, category is Nude Illusion. Kennedy Davenport, Miss Fame and Violet Chachki receive positive critiques, with Violet Chachki winning the challenge. Jasmine Masters, Kandy Ho, Sasha Belle and Tempest DuJour receive negative critiques, with Jasmine Masters and Sasha Belle being safe. Kandy Ho and Tempest DuJour lip-sync to "Geronimo" by RuPaul. Kandy Ho wins the lip-sync and Tempest DuJour is the first queen to sashay away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens give face while the pit crew blows them with a leaf blower. Ginger Minj and Trixie Mattel win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up and perform a mash-up of spoken word and song for a pre-flight safety video for Glamazonian Airways.
Team Ginger Minj: Ginger Minj, Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Jasmine Masters, Kandy Ho, Kennedy Davenport, Mrs. Kasha Davis and Sasha Belle
Team Trixie Mattel: Katya, Max, Miss Fame, Pearl, Trixie Mattel and Violet Chachki
On the runway, category is Jet Set Eleganza. Ginger Minj, Mrs. Kasha Davis and Violet Chachki receive positive critiques, with Ginger Minj winning the challenge. Katya, Miss Fame and Sasha Belle receive negative critiques, with Miss Fame being safe. Katya and Sasha Belle lip-sync to "Twist of Fate" by Olivia Newton-John. Katya wins the lip-sync and Sasha Belle sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens dress up in "granny drag" and dance with walkers and canes. Kennedy Davenport and Max win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up and star in two twisted Shakespeare classics: MacBitch and Romy and Juliet.
Team MacBitch: Jasmine Masters, Kandy Ho, Katya, Kennedy Davenport, Pearl and Violet Chachki
Team Romy and Juliet: Ginger Minj, Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Max, Miss Fame, Mrs. Kasha Davis and Trixie Mattel
On the runway, category is Bearded and Beautiful. Team Romy and Juliet is the winning team, with Max winning the challenge. Team MacBitch is the losing team. Jasmine Masters, Kennedy Davenport and Pearl receive negative critiques, with Pearl being safe. Jasmine Masters and Kennedy Davenport lip-sync to "I Was Gonna Cancel" by Kylie Minogue. Kennedy Davenport wins the lip-sync and Jasmine Masters sashays away.
For this week's main challenge, the queens team up and create a music video parody to one of RuPaul's songs.
Team Get Ready to Clock (spoof of Sissy That Walk): Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Max and Violet Chachki
Team I Got Paid (spoof of Let The Music Play): Ginger Minj, Kandy Ho, Kennedy Davenport and Mrs. Kasha Davis
Team Tan With U (spoof of Dance With U): Katya, Miss Fame, Pearl and Trixie Mattel
On the runway, category is Green. Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Katya and Kennedy Davenport receive positive critiques, with Kennedy Davenport winning the challenge. Kando Ho, Pearl and Trixie Mattel receive negative critiques, with Kando Ho being safe. Pearl and Trixie Mattel lip-sync to "Dreaming" by Blondie. Pearl wins the lip-sync and Trixie Mattel sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens pair up and make their own paper versions of classic celebrity red carpet outfits. Katya and Mrs. Kasha Davis win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens have to come up with funny banter and take jabs at the other queens while presenting awards for different categories at the first ever DESPY Awards. The awards were as follows:
Sexy, Sexy Drag Queen, presented by Jaidynn Diore Fierce and Kennedy Davenport, won by Miss Fame
Most Busted Queen, presented by Max and Pearl, won by Jaidynn Diore Fierce
Shadiest Queen, presented by Ginger Minj and Kandy Ho, won by Violet Chachki
Meatiest Tuck, presented by Miss Fame and Violet Chachki, won by Katya
On the runway, Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Kennedy Davenport, Max and Pearl receive positive critiques, with Max and Pearl both winning the challenge. Kandy Ho, Mrs. Kasha Davis and Violet Chachki receive negative critiques, with Violet Chachki being safe. Kandy Ho and Mrs. Kasha Davis lip-sync to "Lovergirl" by Teena Marie. Kandy Ho wins the lip-sync and Mrs. Kasha Davis sashays away.
Mini-Challenge: In pairs, make your own paper versions of classic celebrity red carpet outfits
Mini-Challenge Winners: Katya and Mrs. Kasha Davis
Main Challenge: Come up with funny banter and take jabs at the other queens while presenting awards for different categories at the first ever DESPY Awards
Challenge Winners: Max and Pearl
Challenge Prize: A custom jewel packages, courtesy of Fierce Drag Jewels
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have to gain points by selecting pit crew members while avoiding the one with a monster in his pants. Ginger Minj wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens have to re-enact "Whatever Happened to Merle Ginsberg" from the point of view of Merle Ginsberg, Michelle Visage and RuPaul.
Team Merle Ginsberg: Ginger Minj, Katya and Kennedy Davenport
Team Michelle Visage: Kandy Ho, Max and Violet Chachki
Team RuPaul: Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Miss Fame and Pearl
On the runway, category is Death Becomes Her. Team Merle Ginsberg is the winning team, with Katya winning the challenge. Team Michelle Visage and RuPaul are the losing teams. Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Kandy Ho and Miss Fame receive negative critiques, with Miss Fame being safe. Jaidynn Diore Fierce and Kandy Ho lip-sync to "Break Free" by Ariana Grande. Jaidynn Diore Fierce wins the lip-sync and Kandy Ho sashays away.
Farewell Message: "Everything happens 4 a reason, pero la vida continua! Big things will come! Kandy Ho xoxo"
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7
"Snatch Game"
April 13, 2015 (2015-04-13)
For this week's main challenge, the queens play the Snatch Game. Michael Urie and Tamar Braxton star as the celebrity contestants. The cast consisted of:
On the runway, category is Leather and Lace. Ginger Minj, Katya and Kennedy Davenport receive positive critiques, with Ginger Minj and Kennedy Davenport both winning the challenge. Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Max and Miss Fame receive negative critiques, with Miss Fame being safe. Jaidynn Diore Fierce and Max lip-sync to "No More Lies" by Michel'le. Jaidynn Diore Fierce wins the lip-sync and Max sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens recreate prison uniforms as "Orange is the new Drag" fashion looks. Kennedy Davenport wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create a conjoined twin makeover with a previously eliminated queen. RuPaul then reveals whichever pair wins the challenge, the eliminated queen will officially return to the competition.
Ginger Minj and Sasha Belle
Jaidynn Diore Fierce and Tempest DuJour
Katya and Mrs. Kasha Davis
Kennedy Davenport and Jasmine Masters
Miss Fame and Kandy Ho
Pearl and Trixie Mattel
Violet Chachki and Max
On the runway, Katya, Pearl and Violet Chachki receive positive critiques, with Pearl winning the challenge, meaning Trixie Mattel has returned to the competition. Ginger Minj, Jaidynn Diore Fierce and Miss Fame receive negative critiques, with Miss Fame being safe. Ginger Minj and Jaidynn Diore Fierce lip-sync to "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany along with their conjoined twins Sasha Belle and Tempest DuJour, respectively. Ginger Minj wins the lip-sync and Jaidynn Diore Fierce sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Trixie Mattel wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens star in musical versions of iconic films by John Waters.
Team Cha Cha Heels (parody of Female Trouble): Katya and Kennedy Davenport
Team Eggs (parody of Pink Flamingos): Ginger Minj and Trixie Mattel
Team Poo (parody of Pink Flamingos): Miss Fame, Pearl and Violet Chachki
On the runway, category is Ugliest Dress. Ginger Minj, Katya and Kennedy Davenport receive positive critiques, with Ginger Minj winning the challenge. Miss Fame, Pearl and Violet Chachki receive negative critiques, with Violet Chachki being safe. Miss Fame and Pearl lip-sync to "Really Don't Care" by Demi Lovato ft. Cher Lloyd. Pearl wins the lip-sync and Miss Fame sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens create a "Fake Housewives of Drag Race" look using tape. Violet Chachki wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens pair up and dance in a live drag dance spectacular.
Ginger Minj and Trixie Mattel: Hoedown and Robot
Katya and Violet Chachki: Tango and Vogue
Kennedy Davenport and Pearl: Charleston and Twerk
On the runway, category is Half Man, Half Queen. Katya and Violet Chachki receive positive critiques, with both queens winning the challenge. Ginger Minj and Trixie Mattel receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Show Me Love" by Robin S. Ginger Minj wins the lip-sync and Trixie Mattel sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have a bitchfest with puppets. Ginger Minj wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create two looks for The Hello Kitty Ball: Hello Kitty BFF and Hello Kitty Eleganza.
On the runway, Ginger Minj, Pearl and Violet Chachki receive positive critiques, with Violet Chachki winning the challenge. Katya and Kennedy Davenport receive negative critiques, are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Roar" by Katy Perry. Kennedy Davenport wins the lip-sync and Katya sashays away.
Farewell Message: "Девочки! Я вас люблю! If you need me, you know where to find me. (The dumpster out back) XOXO Katya AKA The Brooke Hogan of drag AKA Diarrhea Perlman ❤️❤️❤️"
For the final challenge of the season, the queens star in RuPaul's music video "Born Naked".
On the runway, category is Best Drag. The four remaining queens lip-sync to "Born Naked" by RuPaul ft. Clairy Browne. Kennedy Davenport is then eliminated, with Ginger Minj, Pearl and Violet Chachki being the finalists of the season.
Alternating Judges: Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley
Main Challenge: Star in RuPaul's music video "Born Naked"
All the queens return for the live grand finale. The finalists all lip-sync to a song specifically written for them. Ginger Minj lip-syncs to "Pray and Slay", Pearl lip-syncs to "Sleep Walker" and Violet Chachki lip-syncs to "Too Many Daddies". It is then announced that Katya is this season's Miss Congeniality. It is then announced that Violet Chachki is the winner, leaving Ginger Minj and Pearl as the runners-up.
RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz 2 is a 2015 compilation album by entertainer RuPaul, featuring the season 7 cast of his show RuPaul's Drag Race. The album was released digitally on February 3, 2015.[18]
Background
Similar to last season, the compilation consists of 14 covers of songs previously released by RuPaul, performed by all of the RuPaul's Drag Race season seven contestants. It features tracks originally from RuPaul's albums Born Naked, Glamazon, Red Hot, Starrbooty: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, SuperGlam DQ.[citation needed]
Track listing
All songs were written by RuPaul Charles and Lucian Piane, with the exception of tracks fifteen and sixteen, which were written solely by Charles himself.[citation needed]