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Girl groups have been featured across theDrag Race franchise. ManyDrag Race series have hosted challenges requiring girl groups to compete against one another. The challenge started with thesecond season of the American spin-off seriesRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2022, Sam Brooks ofThe Spinoff said the girl group challenge has become a "classic" and a season highlight because "it tests the contestant's ability to write a verse, choreograph a dance routine, remember that choreography, and most crucially, work with others in a team".[1]
Some of the groups formed on shows continued to perform together after filming ended. Pride.com's Bernardo Sim has called the United Kingdolls, which was formed byA'Whora,Bimini Bon-Boulash,Lawrence Chaney, andTayce on thesecond series ofRuPaul's Drag Race UK, the bestDrag Race girl group.
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Thesixth season ("Oh No She Betta Don't!") of the American seriesRuPaul's Drag Race saw the creation of the Panty Hos, members of which includedAdore Delano,Bianca Del Rio,Courtney Act,Darienne Lake, andLaganja Estranja.[2]
Theninth (2017),tenth (2018), andeleventh (2019) seasons did not have main challenges requiring girl groups to face off.[3] However, all three seasons saw contestants perform as a girl group. On the ninth season, top four contestantsPeppermint,Sasha Velour,Shea Couleé, andTrinity the Tuck performed to "Category Is" in anepisode of the same name.[4]Aquaria,Asia O'Hara,Eureka O'Hara, andKameron Michaels performed to "American" on the tenth season'sepisode of the same name,[4] and the eleventh season sawA'keria C. Davenport,Brooke Lynn Hytes,Silky Nutmeg Ganache,Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, andYvie Oddly perform to "Queens Everywhere" in anepisode of the same name.[4]
On thetwelfth season (2020),Crystal Methyd,Gigi Goode,Jackie Cox, andJaida Essence Hall performed "Viva Drag Vegas (Medley)" in the twelfth episode "Viva Drag Vegas".[4] Thethirteenth season (2021) sawGottmik,Kandy Muse,Rosé, andSymone perform to "Lucky" in the fourteenth episode "Gettin' Lucky".[4] Rosé and season twelve contestant Jan are members of the girl groupStephanie's Child, along withLagoona Bloo.[5] Thefourteenth season saw the formation of three 1960s-inspired girl groups for a main challenge in the eighth episode "60s Girl Groups": The Ru-Nettes, inspired by the American girl groupThe Ronettes, includedDeJa Skye,Jasmine Kennedie, andJorgeous); The Ru-Premes, inspired by theMotown groupThe Supremes, includedAngeria Paris VanMicheals,Kerri Colby, andLady Camden; and The Shang-Ru-Las, inspired by the American pop groupThe Shangri-Las, includedBosco,Daya Betty, andWillow Pill.[6]
On thefifteenth season (2023), the main challenge of the sixth episode "Old Friends Gold" required contestants to write lyrics and perform as old lady girl groups.Luxx Noir London,Marcia Marcia Marcia,Mistress Isabelle Brooks, andSalina EsTitties perform acountry song.Aura Mayari,Malaysia Babydoll Foxx,Sasha Colby, andSpice perform ametal song.Anetra,Jax,Loosey LaDuca, andRobin Fierce perform ahip hop song. Aura Mayari won the challenge.[7]
Thesixteenth season (fifth episode "Girl Groups") had a challenge requiring three competing girl groups to perform to remixes of songs fromRuPaul's albumBlack Butta (2023). Thicc & Stick, which includedGeneva Karr,Megami,Mhi'ya Iman LePaige, andNymphia Wind, performed to "A.S.M.R. Lover" and won the challenge.[2] Lovah Girlz (Amanda Tori Meating,Plane Jane,Plasma, andXunami Muse) performed to "Courage to Love" and Q.D.S.M. (Dawn,Morphine Love Dion,Q, andSapphira Cristál) performed to "Star Baby".[8] Outside of the show, Nymphia Wind has performed as part of aK-pop girl group in Taiwan, and Sapphira Cristál has been a member of the Philadelphia-based group Philly's Foxes.[9]
Within theDrag Race franchise, the girl group challenge originated with thesecond season (2016) of the spin-off seriesRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. The competition required top four contestantsAlaska,Detox,Katya, andRoxxxy Andrews to write, record, and perform to "Read U Wrote U" in the eighth episode "All Stars Supergroup".[4] In 2021, Brett White ofDecider.com called the song "gay canon" and said Roxxxy Andrews's verse "might as well be the gay pledge of allegiance". He complimented the choreography (particularly Detox's chair walk), as well as the lyrics and Roxxxy Andrews's outfit. White wrote, "'Read U Wrote U' is as perfect and vital a piece of queer culture as 'I Will Survive',Golden Girls, and Courteney Cox's bangs inScream 3. This legendary performance is ... why thousands of queens started doing drag."[4]
Thethird season (2018) featured a girl group withBeBe Zahara Benet as Jungle Kitty,BenDeLaCreme asWednesday Addams-inspired Goth Kitty,[10]Kennedy Davenport as Diva Kitty,Shangela as Sparkle Kitty, andTrixie Mattel as I.Q. Kitty. The group performed "Drag Up Your Life" and won the challenge.[2] A competing group performed "Sitting on a Secret".Billboard's Stephen Daw included the two songs in a 2021 list of the ten best musical numbers in the history of series.[10] The season also saw BeBe Zahara Benet, Kennedy Davenport, Shangela, and Trixie Mattel perform to "Kitty Girl".[4][11]
On thefourth season (2019),Monét X Change,Monique Heart,Naomi Smalls, and Trinity the Tuck performed to a remix of "Super Queen".[4] Thefifth season (2020) saw top three contestantsJujubee,Miz Cracker, and Shea Couleé perform to "Clap Back".[4]
Theseventh season (2022) had aTotal Request Live-themed girl group challenge,[12] during which performers referenced "Y2K culture", according toScreen Rant.[13] Members of MSTR included Monét X Change,Raja, Shea Couleé, and Trinity the Tuck,[12] and members of The Other Girls includedJaida Essence Hall,Jinkx Monsoon,The Vivienne, andYvie Oddly. The Other Girls performed "2getha 4eva", and The Vivienne and Yvie Oddly won the challenge.[2][14][15]
An episode on theninth season (2024) tasked contestants with givingmakeovers to firefighters and recording verses to "Pussy on Fire", then performing in girl groups of three. One group included Roxxxy Andrews and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.[16]
Two girl groups performed country songs on thetenth season episode "Stagecooch".
Thefirst season (2020) ofCanada's Drag Race sawPriyanka,Rita Baga, andScarlett BoBo perform to "U Wear It Well".[4] The girl group challenge on thesecond season (2021) saw a contest between the Dosey-Hoes and the Giddy Girls.[17] Thefourth season (2023–2024) also had a girl group challenge.[18] The fifth season saw two groups perform 1990s-themed songs.[19]
On thefirst season ofCanada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World, members of the group SRV includedRa'Jah O'Hara,Silky Nutmeg Ganache, andVanity Milan.[2]
Thefirst season ofDrag Race Brasil saw the formation of the groups Bad Girls and Good Girls.[2]Organzza won the challenge.[20]
Thefirst season (2021) ofDrag Race Down Under (originallyRuPaul's Drag Race Down Under) had a challenge requiring two girl groups to compete. One group includedAnita Wigl'it,Coco Jumbo,Etcetera Etcetera, andScarlet Adams, and the other includedElektra Shock,Karen from Finance,Kita Mean, andMaxi Shield.[21] On thesecond season (2022), one group includedBeverly Kills,Molly Poppinz, andYuri Guaii, and the other includedHannah Conda,Kween Kong, andSpankie Jackzon.[1] Thethird season (2023) had a challenge requiring groups to perform choreography with bicycles.[22]
A main challenge on the fourth season (2024) tasked contestants with competing as two girl groups inspired byOlivia Newton-John's character Sandy in the 1978 musical filmGrease. The Good Sandys and the Bad Sandys performed "Mr. Right" and "Mr. Right Now", respectively.[23]
On thesecond season (episode "Showtime!") ofDrag Race France, contestants perform in girl groups to Nicky Doll's "Attention". There was a girl group challenge on the "Superstars" episode ofDrag Race France All Stars.
Barry Levitt ofVulture said theRusical on thesecond season ofDrag Race Italia felt like a girl group challenge. Participants inLady Gaga: The Unauthorized Rusical included challenge winner La Petite Noire as well asNehellenia.[24]
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Thefirst season ofDrag Race Philippines had a girl group challenge. Members of the Flexbomb Girls includedTuring, who was deemed the winner of the challenge, as well asEva Le Queen,Lady Morgana, andMarina Summers. The group performed "Pop Off Ate", whichPride.com said became "a viral sensation in the fandom".[2] The other group was Pink Pussy Energy (or PPE), which includedGigi Era,Minty Fresh,Precious Paula Nicole,Viñas DeLuxe, andXilhouete.[3]
On thethird season, two competing girl groups recorded original verses for the song "Dapat Pakak".[25]
The episode "Asian Eyyy!" of the spin-off seriesDrag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale had a girl group challenge.
Members of the girl group REYN4 include contestants Captivating Katkat, Marina Summers, Maxie Andreison, and Precious Paula Nicole.[26]
On thesecond season (2019) ofDrag Race Thailand,Angele Anang,Bandit, Kana Warrior, Kandy Zyanide, andVanda Miss Joaquim performed to a remix of "I Will Survive".[4]
OnRuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars, three girl groups performed variations of "Say Love".[27]
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On thefirst series (2019) ofRuPaul's Drag Race UK,Baga Chipz,Blu Hydrangea, andDivina de Campo formed a girl group called theFrock Destroyers. The group performed "Break Up (Bye Bye)" and continued to tour after the show aired.[2] In 2023, Bernardo Sim of Pride.com included "Break Up (Bye Bye)" in a list of the ten best original songs from theDrag Race franchise.[28] In another 2023 list of the ten most iconic moments on the series, Sim wrote: "The girl-groups challenge is now a staple onDrag Race UK, and that only happened due to the gigantic success of this challenge in the first season."[29] The first series also saw Baga Chipz, Divina de Campo, andThe Vivienne perform to "Rock It (To the Moon)".[4]
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Thesecond series (2021) saw the formation of the United Kingdolls on the fifth episode, "The RuRuvision Song Contest". Members includedA'Whora,Bimini Bon-Boulash,Lawrence Chaney, andTayce. The group performed "UK Hun?" and continued touring after the series aired. In his 2023 list of iconic moments on the series, Sim wrote, "Simply put, this is the best girl-groups performance of all time, from anyDrag Race show, period."[29] Similarly, he said in 2024: "It's not even up for debate that this is the best girl group of all time in the entireDrag Race franchise."[2] The second series also saw Bimini Bon-Boulash,Ellie Diamond, Lawrence Chaney, and Tayce perform to "A Little Bit of Love".[4]
Thethird series sawChoriza May,Ella Vaday,River Medway, andVanity Milan win the fourth challenge with the girl group Pick 'n' Mix.[30][31]
Thefifth series had a challenge requiring two girl groups to perform to the original song "Don't Ick My Yum".Cara Melle,DeDeLicious,Michael Marouli,Tomara Thomas, andVicki Vivacious formed Team Fierce Force Five, whileBanksie,Ginger Johnson,Kate Butch, andMiss Naomi Carter formed The M-52's. Team Fierce Force Five won the challenge.[32] On thesixth series, the girl groups Dracula's Child, consisting ofActavia,Chanel O'Conor,Kyran Thrax,Marmalade, andZahirah Zapanta, and The Things, comprisingCharra Tea,Kiki Snatch,La Voix,Lill, andRileasa Slaves, wrote and performed original verses for theHalloween anthem, "Dead or Alive".[33] On the seventh series, two groups performed the song "She Ate That".[citation needed]
Barry Levitt ofVulture said the Rusical on thesecond series ofRuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World was a girl group challenge due to the lack of narrative, and because each contest was required to write an original verse and perform as themself.Seven! Confessions of a Drag Queen was performed byChoriza May,Gothy Kendoll,Hannah Conda,La Grande Dame,Marina Summers,Scarlet Envy, andTia Kofi.[24]
