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The RuPaul’s Drag Race queens are back, and this time, it's not for a second chance at the crown but for a cool $50,000 prize and the title of “Queen of She Done Already Had Herses.” In Episode 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17, ten previously eliminated contestants returned for the annual Lip Sync Lalaparuza Smackdown. The top four queens of the season—Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star—watched from the Werk Room while their former competitors duked it out on the main stage.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race episode, titled “Lip Sync Lalaparuza Smackdown,” aired Friday, April 11, on MTV. It was filled with surprises, dramatic rematches, sweet reconciliations, and a final face-off that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Let’s break down who returned, how the battles unfolded, and, most importantly, who walked away with the $50,000 prize.
What went down in RuPaul’s Drag Race Lalaparuza
This year’s Lalaparuza wasn’t just about lip-syncing—it was about closure, redemption, and one last shot at the spotlight. Returning queens included Lucky Starzzz, Joella, Hormona Lisa, Crystal Envy, Acacia Forgot, Kori King, Arrietty, Lydia B. Kollins, Lana Ja'Rae, and Suzie Toot. These queens had already sashayed away earlier in RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17, but now they had a chance to leave on their own terms.
Before the competition began, there was a bit of catching up. Arrietty pulled Onya Nurve aside to apologize for the harsh mirror message she left.
“I was in my villain era, and that wasn’t okay,”
She said. Onya accepted the apology, saying,
“I believe you’ve grown, and that’s what matters.”
Kori and Lydia also made a sweet reveal—they’re now officially a couple. “We just connected more after the show,” said Lydia. Fans had already been shipping them since their memorable kiss during one of the earlier lip syncs.
The first round: five go home, five survive
The lip syncs were chosen at random by Pit Crew member Bruno, who pulled names from a golden hopper. Each queen got to pick either her opponent or her song. Hormona Lisa chose the Liza Minnelli classic “Say Liza (Liza with a ‘Z’),” hoping it would play to her strengths. But Lydia brought unexpected energy and beat her out.
Next came Suzie vs. Joella to Dua Lipa’s “Training Season.” Suzie edged out Joella with sharper moves and more connection. Lucky beat Acacia to Whitney Houston’s “Step by Step,” while Kori outperformed Arrietty to P!nk’s “Blow Me (One Last Kiss).” Lana won her match against Crystal—again—this time to Sylvester’s “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).”
By the end of the first round, five queens remained: Suzie, Lucky, Kori, Lydia, and Lana.
Round two shakes things up
With only five queens left, Round 2 started with Suzie and Lucky battling it out to Rihanna’s “We Found Love.” Lucky, who repeated moves from her first performance, couldn't keep up with Suzie’s high-energy take.
“I didn’t want to just do another big costume change,”
said Suzie.
“I wanted people to feel the emotion.”
Then came the three-way battle between Kori, Lydia, and Lana to Charli XCX’s “360.” Kori kept her performance tight and dance-heavy. Lydia went for a fake-out reveal, nodding to her earlier slip-up involving scissors. Lana brought fresh energy too. Despite the drama, Kori’s clean choreography gave her the win.
Suzie and Kori advanced to the final round, making it one Florida queen versus another fan favorite.
The final face-off for $50,000
The last battle was set: Suzie Toot versus Kori King. Their song? “APT” by Rosé and Bruno Mars. Both queens brought everything they had left to the stage. Suzie made the most of her tassel-covered sleeves, using them like pom-poms to match the cheerleader vibe of the track. Kori leaned into the beat-heavy Bruno verse and ended with a memorable reveal—removing her breastplate covers and bouncing her tiddies like a pro.
RuPaul had a tough decision.
“Both of you turned it out. I was gagged,”
She said before announcing the winner. In the end, Suzie was crowned the winner of the Lollapalooza and received the $50,000 prize. Kori congratulated her with a hug.
“She earned that. No shade,”
said Kori.
What’s next on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17?
With the Lollapalooza now complete, only the Grand Finale remains. Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star are the final four queens standing. One of them will be named “America’s Next Drag Superstar” in next week’s episode. Another queen will take home the title of Miss Congeniality.
The stakes are high, and the competition is tight. All four finalists have unique styles and strong fan bases.
“You can feel the tension. But we’re all proud to be here,”
Trending
said Lexi in a confessional.
The final episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 airs next Friday on MTV, promising fierce performances and final reveals. Whether your favorite takes the crown or not, it’s safe to say this season will go down as one of the most unpredictable in RuPaul’s Drag Race history.
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