| "Monopulence!" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 17 Episode 3 | ||
| Directed by | Nick Murray | ||
| Presented by | RuPaul | ||
| Featured music | "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" byPaula Abdul | ||
| Original air date | January 17, 2025 (2025-01-17) | ||
| Guest appearance | |||
| Sandra Bernhard | |||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| RuPaul's Drag Raceseason 17 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Monopulence!" is the third episode of theseventeenth season of the American reality competition television seriesRuPaul's Drag Race, and the 226th episode overall.[1][2][3] The episode first aired through cable networkMTV on January 17, 2025. It was followed by an episode of the companion seriesRuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. The episode's main challenge tasks contestants with designing a monochromatic outfit inspired from board gameMonopoly.Sandra Bernhard is a guest judge, alongside regular panelistsRuPaul,Michelle Visage, andTs Madison.Sam Star wins the main challenge.Lucky Starzzz is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing alip-sync contest againstJoella to "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (1988) byPaula Abdul.
All fourteen contestants return to the Werk Room afterHormona Lisa was saved from elimination because she pulled a correct lever on the previous episode. On a new day,RuPaul greets the contestants and reveals the main challenge, which tasks contestants with designing aMonopoly-inspired look for the runway.[4] The category is "Monopulence". The contestants draw cards to win money and determine which color to use for the challenge, then create their looks in the Werk Room. RuPaul visits to offer individual feedback and leaves the results of the Rate-A-Queen votes.[5] The contestants review the results together, then continue to work on their runway looks.
In the Werk Room on elimination day, Hormona Lisa removesrhinestones from her outfit, in order to comply with a rule requiring use of supplied materials.Jewels Sparkles andOnya Nurve have an argument over the latter stealing material from Jewels Sparkles, after Jewels Sparkles helped Onya Nurve with her outfit.[6][7]
On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes regular panelistsMichelle Visage andTs Madison, as well as guest judgeSandra Bernhard. The contestants present their looks on the runway and the judges deliberate.Arrietty, Onya Nurve, andSam Star place in the top. Sam Star is declared the winner of the main challenge.Joella andLucky Starzzz place in the bottom and face off in alip-sync contest to "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (1988) byPaula Abdul. Lucky Starzzz loses and is given the opportunity to pull one of nine levers that may cause Visage to be dropped into adunk tank. Lucky Starzzz chooses an incorrect lever and is eliminated from the competition. She returns to the Werk Room to write a message on the mirror usinglipstick.[8]
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The episode originally aired on January 17, 2025.
Lucky Starzzz's exit line is "RuPaul, it's Starz-z-z-zah!". The message she writes on the mirror at the end of the episode reads, "Lucky Starzzzzzzzz was here! And don't you forget it! Keep on shining my 13 lucky stars."[9]
For the runway, Lucky Starzzz, Hormona Lisa, andLexi Love present orange-colored outfits.Suzie Toot, Arrietty, andLana Ja'Rae wear red dresses. Suzie Toot has a headpiece with devil horns.Acacia Forgot,Kori King, andLydia B Kollins present yellow dresses. Joella, Onya Nurve, and Jewels Sparkles wear green dresses. Sam Star andCrystal Envy present blue dresses.[10]
Jason P. Frank ofVulture rated the episode five out of five stars.[6] Stephen Daw ofBillboard said of "Monopulence!": "Episode 3 is filled to the brim with classicDrag Race tropes audiences have come to look for, while also giving viewers some new moments of juicy drama in between. Bickering back and forth over the premiere's Rate-A-Queen rankings? Girls still somehow not knowing how to sew in season 17? Aliteral jewel heist? Yeah, episode 3 has everything." Daw ranked "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" fourteenth in the magazine's list of the season's lip-sync performances, writing: "Joella utilized the words to her advantage, kept the judges focused on her and pulled off a series of solid (and yes, basic) stunts. Lucky Starzzz gave a good effort, but her performance came off as sweaty and sloppy as she tried to pull out every trick in her bag to remain in the competition. Say what you will about Joella, but one thing is for sure — she cleared the boards with her Paula performance."[11] Raja and Raven "tooted" Joella's look onFashion Photo RuView.[12]
| External media | |
|---|---|
 Joella & Lucky Starzzz’s Paula Abdul Lip Sync 💓 RuPaul’s Drag Race onYouTube | |
| FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 Ep 3 - Monopulence! onYouTube |
