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'RuPaul's Drag Race' finale: Raja sashays away with the win
Well, if we were betting people, we should have put our money on Raja from the very beginning. In the Season 3 finale of "RuPaul's Drag Race," the celebrity makeup artist outdragged Florida queen Alexis Mateo and Filipino princess, Manila Luzon for the ultimate win.
In the finale, the queens appeared in RuPaul's music video for "Champion." Yes, that's appropriate. Dressed as Greek goddesses, they had to learn choreography, do an intimate shoot with the scantily clad men of the Pit Crew, and generally work their ever-living Grecian butts off while looking gorgeous doing so.
Raja was an early favorite among fans and bloggers with her edgy androgynous take on drag queendom. While she showed some lack of confidence when it came to her dancing, looks, and ability to show a vulnerable side, she was always able to throw that off once she hit the stage. Some felt she had a mean streak and got some criticism for being the unofficial queen of the "Heathers," derived from the late-eighties mean girl film of the same name. But while Raja could dish it out, sometimes she couldn't take it.
In the end, RuPaul and the judges gave her the crown for being unique, glamorous and then basically out-performing runner-up, Manila Luzon, in the final lip-sync for your life.
Raja wins the headlining spot on Logo's Drag Race Tour, a lifetime supply of Kryolan Professional Makeup, and a cash prize of $75,000.
Manila, a fellow "Heather," was strong competition. Going into the finale, she was on a roll, having won the last two challenges. She had the unique gift of combining comedy and glamour. But in that final lip-sync, we could see the moment she lost the contest. The robot, Manila? America's next drag superstar doesn't do the robot.
Alexis Mateo was the last standing member of the "Boogers," but despite a huge amount of criticism from the judges through out the competition and a look they found too "regional" to win the contest, she earned a lot of respect from them and her competitors. At one point, she even walked out the door out of frustration. Thankfully, she came back and third place isn't something to be ashamed of.
So, Zappers, are you happy about Raja's win? Or, should the crown have gone to someone else?
By the way, we're speaking to Raja in the morning. If you have any questions for her, leave them in the comments section below!
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Photo/Video credit: Logo
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While I think Raja is deserving of the win, I really wanted - and thought - Manila would pull it out in the end. You may not have liked the Robot, but please - Manila still goes down as having the best lip sync - not only of this season, but the entire series....for 'MacArthur Park.' For that alone, she should have won.
I was elated that my grrrl, Raja, won! She was the most unique, creative of all the queens and was also one of the smartest. She cracked me up... often.
Can't wait for her to visit Chitown.
Love you, Raja!
Loved Raja and think s/he earned the win and was not favored. She was different from the get and that combined with her looks, skill, ability and experience made her a very tough to beat. Condragulations Raja! ;-) Tell Manila I loved her too!
Raja was my favorite from the start! she deserved it. manila took the cliche look for the finale....boring! alexis knew she wasnt gonna win.
Condragulations to Raja! We have a new reigning Monarch! :)
There was a time I was Team Alexis, for her fierce glamour, beauty, and pure niceness; then, Team Manila, for equal reasons + fashion and humor, I believed she was going to be our next crowned queen...until, the climactic lipsync - where she seemed too limited in her choice of dress to move around as quickly as Raja, who totally worked it out, and most fabulously I will add. :) Kudos to you Raja! You were the most unique, and executed the most fabulously outragous and superb frox - blowing us all out of the box!! :) You go, Miss Kween! ;)
How does it feel to win Ms. Raja? I always thought you were a BEAT lady and I loved Ms. Alexis too.
I want to know if Raja believes RuPaul was looking for something different in this season of Drag Race and if she thinks her non traditional drag style won Ru over?
Raja's win was boring, predictable, and utterly disappointing. Gender bending does not have to equal looking like a man. Plus, she was frequently an ***. Her win makes the show look crass and unfair at best, and dishonorable at worst, given her prior relationship with Ru. Why not just let Lady Bunny compete?
Alexis was this year's Pandora--an easy-to-love queen with heart, talent, personality and savoir faire. So of course she lost.
As usual, Ru celebrates fake, and cannot fathom real. Ru is, at heart, a Heather. It's a shame.
I have been loving Raja the entire time! Frankly Raja is the most beautiful PERSON I have ever seen on that runway and I never tired of watching her. I liked Alexis and Manila, too. However, the way that Michelle always pitched Manila to Ru was a put off for me. Congratulations, Raja!