"Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown" is the eighth episode of the fifteenth season of '' RuPaul's Drag Race''. It originally aired on February 17, 2023. The episode does not have any guest judges. It has the contestants participate a series of

lip-syncs Lip sync or lip synch (pronounced , the same as the word ''sink'', short for lip synchronization) is a technical term for matching a speaking or singing person's lip movements with sung or spoken vocals. Audio for lip syncing is generated thr ...

that culminates in the elimination of

Jax Jax may refer to: Places * Jax, Haute-Loire, France * Informal shorthand for Jacksonville, Florida, United States ** Jacksonville station, Amtrak station ** Jacksonville International Airport ** Naval Air Station Jacksonville People * Garth Ja ...

Episode

The contestants return to the Werk Room after Aura Mayari's elimination on the previous episode. They congratulate

Mistress Isabelle Brooks Mistress Isabelle Brooks (real first name Israel; born July 14, 1998) is an American drag queen who competed on the fifteenth season of the television show ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she started doing drag as a ...

for winning the previous main challenge, and share who they think are the frontrunners of the season. On a new day, RuPaul greets the contestants in the Werk Room and reveals the next main challenge: to participate in a "Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown", a series of

that culminates in an elimination. For each round, a contestant is chosen at random to select her opponent, who then selects the lip-sync song. On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow judges Michelle Visage and Ross Mathews. The contestants come to the main stage and RuPaul explains the rules before commencing the contest. First, Malaysia Babydoll Foxx chooses to lip-sync against Marcia Marcia Marcia, who selects "Boys Don't Cry" by Anitta. Marcia Marcia Marcia wins the lip-sync and is safe, while Malaysia Babydoll Foxx must continue to the next round. In the second lip-sync,

Loosey LaDuca Loosey LaDuca is the stage name of Timothy P. Rinaldi, an American Drag (entertainment), drag performer who is best known for competing on the RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15), fifteenth season of the television series ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Ri ...

chooses Spice as her opponent, who selects " Do You Wanna Touch Me" by Joan Jett. Loosey LaDuca wins and is safe. Spice continues to the next round.In the third lip-sync,

Luxx Noir London Luxx Noir London (born September 5, 1999) is an American drag performer, singer and songwriter most known for competing on the fifteenth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race.'' Early life and education Luxx Noir London was raised in East Orange, N ...

chooses

Salina EsTitties Salina EsTitties is the stage name of Jason De Puy, an American drag queen who competed on the fifteenth season of '' RuPaul's Drag Race''. Career In West Hollywood, Salina EsTitties has performed at The Abbey and Micky's. She is also a musi ...

as her opponent, who chooses " It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion. Salina EsTitties wins and is safe, while Luxx Noir London must continue to the next round. In the fourth lip-sync, Mistress Isabelle Brooks chooses

as her opponent, who selects " Tell It to My Heart" (1987) by Taylor Dayne. Mistress Isabelle Brooks wins and is safe. Jax continues to the next round. The remaining contestants

Anetra Anetra is the stage name of Isaiah Padua, an American drag queen who was runner-up on the 15th season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Career Anetra was cast for and competed in the fifteenth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. She won three challeng ...

and Sasha Colby lip-sync. Anetra is randomly selected to pick the song and chooses " I'm in Love with a Monster" (2015) by Fifth Harmony. Sasha Colby wins and is safe. Anetra continues to the next round. In the first lip-sync of the second round, Malaysia Babydoll Foxx chooses Spice as her opponent, who selects " Don't Go Yet" (2021) by Camila Cabello. Malaysia Babydoll Foxx wins and is safe, while Spice must continue to the final round. The three remaining contestants (Anetra, Jax, and Luxx Noir London) lip-sync to the remaining song, " The Right Stuff" (1988) by Vanessa Williams. Luxx Noir London wins and is safe. Anetra and Jax continue to the final round. Before the final round, RuPaul reveals a twist: one of the remaining contestants will be selected at random and she must choose one of the others to save without having to lip-sync. Anetra is selected and she saves Spice. Thus, Anetra and Jax lip-sync to " Finally" (1991) by CeCe Peniston. Anetra is declared the winner, and Jax is eliminated.

Reception

Trae DeLellis of '' The A.V. Club'' gave the episode a rating of 'B+'. ''Drag Race'' contestant

Brooke Lynn Hytes Brooke Lynn Hytes is the stage name of Brock Edward Hayhoe (born March 10, 1986), a Canadian drag queen, ballet dancer, performer, and television personality. After working as a dancer with Cape Town City Ballet and Les Ballets Trockadero de Mo ...

considers the episode's lip-sync among her favorites on the show.

References

{{Portal bar, LGBTQ, Television, United States 2023 American television episodes 2023 in LGBTQ history RuPaul's Drag Race episodes