5 Best Rivalries in RuPaul Drag Race Herstory

Since RuPaul's Drag Race show first hit our screens in 2009, it has given us more than just talented queens and fierce looks. The show has delivered some of the most dramatic moments in reality TV history. They have become permanently etched in pop culture (and, consequently, in our brains), and they are very quotable.

From werkroom confrontations to Untucked fights, these conflicts have shaped the show's legacy and kept viewers coming back for more.

These dramas are exciting for more than just the shade or witty reads — at times, they have the most genuine human emotions behind them. When performers compete, with the crown and the big cash prize at stake, personalities clash. Not everything is as simple as it seems, though. Even the strongest feuds sometimes lead to strong bonds. So shall we dive into it?

The Pearl vs. RuPaul Stare Down

In the show’s herstory, very few moments have been as tense as the notorious confrontation between contestant Pearl and RuPaul herself.

What started as a critique about Pearl's personality evolved into one of the most awkward and memorable moments in the show's runtime. During the already traditional werkroom walkthrough, RuPaul's questioning Pearl's character led to an uncomfortably long silence, broken only by Pearl's now-iconic line: "Is there something on my face?"

The tension didn't end there. Years later, Pearl revealed the deeper story behind their strained relationship, describing a heartbreaking moment when her genuine expression of gratitude toward RuPaul was met with cold response.

Years later we also got this gem from Pearl, which is hilarious and concerning at the same time.

Derrick Barry and Bob the Drag Queen

We know, Season 8 was notably filled with sisterly love, but the beef between Las Vegas showgirl (Derrick Barry) and New York's comedy queen (Bob the Drag Queen) created some tension, and gave as the drama that we all secretly hoped for.

These queens were fighting it out over what constitutes “real drag”. It was the cause of the season's most heated debate, with Derrick defending his Britney-inspired aesthetic and Bob advocating for more diversity in drag expression.

The drama concluded with an unexpected twist of respect when Bob acknowledged Derrick's willingness to step outside the comfort zone, and show the judges something more than just a Britney Spears impersonator.

Bianca Del Rio vs Laganja Estranja

Let us tell you, Season 6 of Rupaul's Drag Race was arguably one of the messiest in the show's herstory. But the clash between Bianca Del Rio, the seasoned comedy queen, and Laganja Estranja, the young performer, was particularly memorable.

This Season, Laganja's over-the-top personality has a lot of the queens talking. But Bianca Del Rio was the one to call her out for it. And what began as Bianca's criticism of Laganja's persona culminated in the iconic “I feel very attacked!” moment, a phrase that's forever ingrained in the drag culture.

And some viewers might see it as pure drama, but we can't help but notice the underlying clash between the old-school drag with a new-age queen, trying to find her voice.

Years later, both queens have grown from the experience. Laganja has been open about her personal struggles during filming, and Bianca has shown a softer side of her, saying that she and Laganja are all good now. They reunited on the episode of Pitstop in 2023.

Coco Montrese vs Alyssa Edwards

Some rivalries start long before the cameras roll. And this is definitely one of them. The feud between Coco Montrese and Alyssa Edwards began long before the show. It started in the pageant world when Alyssa was stripped of her Miss Gay America crown, leading to Coco's controversial rise to the title.

So you can imagine that, when Coco entered the werkroom in Season 5, the tension was clear. But we can't deny that this werkroom reunion was reality TV gold. And one can even argue that this fight has given us the most catchphrases in drag herstory.

This story has a heartwarming turn, though. As Coco later revealed on Hey Qween, their time on Drag Race actually helped them heal old wounds. Montrese was even happy to see Edwards as it was the chance for them to finally put an end to this unnecessary fight. The queen has also revealed that during the filming of the show she was struggling with personal struggles that might have prompted her to act a little bit more dramatic. And we get it, the issues back at home can definitely add another layer to an already intense scene.

Jinkx Monsoon vs Rolaskatox

Now, this is the ultimate underdog story if we’ve ever seen one.

Season 5 gave us perhaps the most exciting rivalry in the show's history: the story of one queen against a powerful clique. The alliance of Roxxxy Andrews, Alaska, and Detox (Rolaskatox) found themselves united against the season's unexpected powerhouse, Jinkx Monsoon.

The ultimate victory of Jinkx over this powerful alliance became a satisfying finale of the season. Lovable geek versus Rolaskatox is the greatest rivalry storyline drag race has ever had.

And, as it happened with many Drag Race feuds, this story has a happy ending. Queens are good friends, supporting each other's projects.

Jinkx went on to compete in the All Winners season of All Stars, and in the interview for Entertainment weekly revealed that Rolaskatox was the reason she wouldn't join any alliances.

"Having been on the other end of an alliance, there was a part of me that didn't want to contribute to that in this season," she said.

These iconic feuds have evolved into a fascinating chronicle of how drag culture has grown and changed over the years. The Drag Race wouldn't be the Drag Race we know without the drama the queens bring to the table. And we like a queen, who is not afraid to speak her truth in a moment.

And another good thing about all of this is that these conflicts have often led to meaningful discussions about mental health, personal boundaries, and the pressures of being in the spotlight.

As RuPaul's Drag Race continues to evolve and influence pop culture, we are looking forward to getting more and more of such iconic moments from our future queens. Maybe the next generation Alyssa vs Coco is round around the corner, who knows?

Speaking of the new generation, you can catch new episodes of Rupaul's Drag Race Season 17 every Friday at 8 p.m on MTV.