20 Best Reads in ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Herstory (PHOTOS)
“Adore Delano, these other girls are going to say you have terrible makeup skills, you have no fashion sense, and you’re dumb as a rock. But they’re wrong… You don’t have terrible makeup skills” — Alaska Thunderf**k to Adore Delano (All Stars Season 2)
No one knows how to read a queen with a backhanded compliment quite like Alaska.
“Miss Tyra, was your barbecue canceled? Your grill is f**ked up” — Jujubee to Tyra (Season 2)
In Season 2, Jujubee set the bar high for the other queens with this simple, yet amazing read.
“Jiggly Caliente… BMW. Body. Made. Wrong.” — Latrice Royale (Season 4)
Like the true pro she is, Latrice proved that she can severely burn any queen with only three syllables.
“A-DORE, DE-LA-NO, I’M GOING TO SAY THIS VERY SLOW-LY SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND… You’re dumb.” — Darienne Lake to Adore Delano (Season 6)
In one of Darienne’s many savage reads, she goes for a pretty easy target, Adore’s intelligence, proving that delivery is everything.
“Just because you’ve got a sugar daddy who pays for everything for you.” — Mimi Imfurst to Shangela (Season 3)
The two queens get into a heated argument post-runway show after the ladies go after Mimi for delivering camp-queen yet again.
“I thought she was a f**king swordfish. She could flip pages in a book.” — Bianca del Rio about Magnolia Crawford (Season 6)
Bianca reveals her true feelings—and says what everyone was thinking—about Magnolia’s overly contoured nose in a confessional.
“Girl, look how orange you f**king look.” — Alyssa Edwards to Coco Montrese (Season 5)
Everyone knows Alyssa and Coco have a complicated history after Coco took the crown for Miss Gay America from Alyssa. But Alyssa definitely triumphed over Coco in this exchange.
“Laganja, next time you death drop reverse that and drop dead.” — Adore Delano to Laganja Estranja (Season 6)
Everyone may poke fun at Adore’s intelligence, but there’s no denying that when she turned Laganja’s annoying habit into a joke, it was clever AF.
“You’re free now, you don’t have to rock the yard sandals anymore” — Dita Ritz to Latrice Royale (Season 4)
In this fire read, Dita Ritz came for both Latrice’s fashion sense and her 18-month stint in prison, which she referenced when she called her white socks and black slides combo “yard sandals.”
“Violet Chachki, you keep training those corsets girl. Pretty soon your waist size is going to be lower than your IQ.” — Katya Zamolodchikova to Violet Chachki (Season 7)
Katya reads Violet for having an IQ lower than her already absurdly tiny waistline.
“Courtney Act, what were you caught in the act of? Putting your face on? Cuz you always look unfinished.” — Joslyn Fox to Courtney Act (Season 6)
Joslyn, once Courtney Act’s biggest fan, dealt out this gem after Courtney referred to her as a “low rent version of Courtney Act.”
“Coco Montrese, for someone who calls themselves a top, you sure do like being on the bottom.” — Roxxy Andrews to Coco Montrese (Season 5)
Roxxy Andrews really went in for Coco after she was left lip-synching for her life the week before.
“At least I am a showgirl b**ch, go back to Party City where you belong” — Phi Phi O’Hara to Sharon Needles (Season 4)
This was one of Drag Race’s most sickening fights It all started when Sharon admitted to throwing Phi Phi under the bus to Ru. She told the host that it was Phi Phi who pressured her to do yet another “spooky” look for their group challenge.
“Phi Phi O’Hara, darling, although reading is FUNdamental, you might learn how to spell first you illiterate f**k.” — Latrice Royale to Phi Phi O’Hara (Season 4)
Though she was named Miss Congeniality of the season, Latrice knows how to throw shade. No wonder she ended up winning the reading mini challenge.
“Alyssa Edwards, Miss USA—Oh wait…” — Alaska Thunderf**k (Season 5)
To throw salt in a wound, Alaska expertly disses Alyssa for having her Miss Gay America crown revoked in 2010—the crown which we all know ended up going to Coco Montrese and sparked a vicious rivalry between the two.
“Raja, when you’re on the runway do you keep the 800 number for suicide? Because those toes are ready to jump.” — Delta Work to Raja (Season 3)
Often called a fashion model in drag, Raja is put in her place when Delta spills the tea.
“Girl, you have rolls all over the place in the back. It was disgusting.” — Jade Jolie to Alyssa Edwards (Season 5)
After calling out Jade on the runway as the queen to send home, she gets it handed right back to her when her foe references her back rolls.
“Adore, I know what you got on your SATs… Ketchup” — Bianca del Rio to Adore Delano (Season 6)
Because going after Adore is just too easy. Bianca seamlessly reads her for being not only stupid, but also, fat.
“You’re perfect. You’re beautiful. You look like Linda Evangelista. You’re a model.” — Aja to Valentina (Season 9)
It’s all about tone with this read. While the queens were untucking in the lounge, Aja goes in on Valentina for her ability to win over the judges with only her charming smile.
“Is there something on my face?” — Pearl to RuPaul (Season 7)
Last but definitely not least, Ru manages to read Pearl without even saying a word. After the two stare daggers at one another for 10 excruciating seconds, Pearl asks the above question. Ru’s reply? “Yeah,” and then a quick walk away.
RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars Season 3 is finally here, so you know what that means: the library is OPEN!
To prepare you all for this dragtastic season, we’re looking back at the top 20 reads in Drag Race herstory. Click through the gallery above for the best lines from Bianca del Rio, Aja, Latrice Royale, and more.
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