Top Five: Most Shocking Drag Race Eliminations (Pre-Season 7)

This week really had me thinking. [Warning Spoiler for Season 7 in the next sentence] Trixie Mattel going home in only the fourth episode after being pegged as a finalist by many fans caused a lot of controversy. People absolutely lost their minds. But you know what? This is not the first time we've seen the wrong queen go home. In six seasons (seven, with All Stars), Ru has been a beacon of truth, but being there, as opposed to being an onlooker, can cloud your judgment. I'm not saying Ru was wrong, but he can't always know how attached fans could get to a particular contestant.

Thus, I've taken it upon myself to remind everyone of the past shocking eliminations in Drag Race history.  Trust me, there have been a few.

Note: This list is purposely excluding Willam (who was disqualified, not eliminated) and Tammie Brown's Season One appearance (because she flat out gave up).

5. Honey Mahogany and Vivienne Pinay (Season Five)

Ok, no shade, but we all sort of knew somewhere inside that these two weren't top three, but with the mess of contestants that made up season five, it was really a shame to see two queens that I thought had great potential not only go home, but go home at the same time. In the first (and as of this writing only) double elimination in the show's history, both Honey and Viv went home due to a boring lip sync, relying on pretty, and kaftans. Of course that didn't stop me from interviewing both of them.


4. Raven (All-Stars)

I was really torn watching All-Stars. First of all it was painful to see them in teams (drag is a solo sport, girl), and secondly because I loved everyone on the top four. I knew in my heart it would come down to Chad and Raven, both of whom were robbed during their particular seasons. I have to say that I really thought that Raven had it this time, but the odds just weren't in her favor.

3. Kelly Mantle (Season 6)

What. The. Hell. Happened. Here. Kelly Mantle is a big name in drag and literally everyone was excited to see her on the show. The rumor was that she was in the top three (coming from the same source that said that Bianca got injured and was absent for some episodes). Instead, she ends up going home first. FIRST! Luckily she has a good TV and film career to keep her going, as well as a new web series, Dudes in Drag with fellow drag phenomenon Vicky Vox.

2. Pandora Boxx (Season 2)

This is why I had to buy a new laptop in 2010. I broke it in a fit of rage due to Pandora Boxx's elimination. She never won a single damn challenge (lookin' at you Santino), and she was ripped to shreds week after week on the main stage. Yet she was our first real taste of a comedy queen on the show that wasn't Tammie Brown from outer space. Fans ate it up and she still holds a place in our hearts. Even Entertainment Weekly called Ru out on this misstep. After being kicked off the show, World of Wonder has kept her around for various projects including weekly recaps of Drag Race and any other promotional material they can scrounge up for the show. I honestly believe she was the biggest breakout star from the show.

1. Raven, Again. (Season 2)

Raven should have won. Period. End of statement. Raven was EVERYTHING in season two, and continues to be EVERYTHING until this day. They complained about not seeing her softer side, but the real tragedy was they didn't see the workroom with Tyra being completely unreasonable and annoying. Ugh. But much like Adam Lambert (or any American Idol runner up) Raven got the last laugh, though, because she now hosts World of Wonder's "Toot It or Boot It" with her real life bestie Raja from season three. And were is Tyra? Other than seeing that she's been arrested a couple of times, she's faded into obscurity.

So you see, Drag Race fans, in retrospect, was Trixie's elimination that controversial after all? I mean, sure, she was funny and memorable, but was it really the worst thing that has happened? I for one think we need to move forward with All-Stars 2 so Raven can get that damn crown she deserves.