The Bag Ball

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"The Bag Ball"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.Season 13
Episode 5
Featured music"Fancy" by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
Original air dateJanuary 29, 2021 (2021-01-29)
Guest appearance
Nicole Byer
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"The Bag Ball" is the fifth episode of the thirteenth season of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race . [1] [2] [3] It originally aired on January 29, 2021. The episode's main challenge tasks contestants with creating three looks for a ball. Nicole Byer is a guest judge. Gottmik wins the main challenge and Joey Jay is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync contest against LaLa Ri to "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX.

Contents

A fight between Kandy Muse and Tamisha Iman on the corresponding episode of RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked earned the two a nomination in the Best Fight category at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

Episode

Joey Jay (pictured at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2023) is eliminated from the competition. DragCon 2023 @ DVSROSS Photgraphy -101.jpg
Joey Jay (pictured at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2023) is eliminated from the competition.

For the episode's mini-challenge, the contestants get into "baby quick drag" to see who is the most misbehaved baby. LaLa Ri is declared the winner. For the main challenge, the contestants are tasked with creating three looks for the Bag Ball, in the categories "Mixed Bag", "Money Bags", and "Bag Ball Eleganza". While preparing for the runway, the contestants discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and the murder of George Floyd. [4] [5]

In addition to RuPaul and Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley is a judge and Nicole Byer is a guest judge. [6] Gottmik, Rosé, and Utica Queen receive positive critiques, and Gottmik wins the challenge. [7] Joey Jay, LaLa Ri, and Tamisha Iman receive negative critiques, and Tamisha Iman is declared safe. Joey Jay and LaLa Ri place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync to "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX. Joey Jay is eliminated from the competition. [8] [9]

Production and broadcast

Nicole Byer (pictured in 2022) is a guest judge. 27th Critics Choice Awards - Nicole Byer (crop).png
Nicole Byer (pictured in 2022) is a guest judge.

The episode originally aired on January 29, 2021.

Byer was previously a guest judge on the season's third episode, "Phenomenon".

Fashion

Utica Queen wearing her sleeping bag outfit at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2023 DragCon 2023 @ DVSROSS Photgraphy -102.jpg
Utica Queen wearing her sleeping bag outfit at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2023

For "Mixed Bag", Denali's look resembles a crash test dummy and Joey Jay uses an intravenous therapy bag. LaLa Ri's outfit has bones attached. Elliott with 2 Ts wears a dress resembling a gift bag. Symone has exaggerated breasts. Olivia Lux serves Laila Ali-inspired "boxer couture". Gottmik's look gives the illusion of showing her internal organs. Rosé wears an outfit inspired by her Scottish heritage. Tina Burner is dressed like a paper bag. [10]

For "Money Bags", Denali's look is inspired by the fictional character Cruella de Vil, with one of her nails holding a cigarette. Joey Jay wears an eyepatch. LaLa Ri is bald. Symone's pink outfit is reflective, and Olivia Lux wears a cape. Gottmik has a pinstripe suit. Rosé's look is inspired by the 1980s and Bette Midler is Big Business (1988). Kandy Muse carries a large blunt, and Utica Queen's look inspired by Chicago . [10]

For the final category ("Bag Ball Eleganza"), Denali's look commemorates her Mexican heritage. Joey Jay wears a black-and-white polka dot dress. LaLa Ri's outfit is made is small pink and purple gift bags. Elliott with Two Ts wears an outfit made from a bean bag. Symone has a red-and-white miniskirt, and Olivia Lux's outfit is made of holographic bags. Gottmik's outfit is made of drawstring bags and straps. Rosé's outfit has purses, and Tina Burner's red-and-yellow look includes suspenders. Kandy Muse has an outfit made of backpacks, and Utica Queen's dress is made from a sleeping bag. [10]

LaLa Ri's gift bag outfit earned the seasons' Golden Boot Award. [11]

Untucked

The confrontation between Kandy Muse and Tamisha Iman [12] during the corresponding episode of RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked "sparked an eruption of fan opinions and is considered one of the best parts of the season", according to Screen Rant . [13] Ryan Shea of Instinct magazine opined, "kudos to the Drag Race people for not teasing Kandy & Tamisha’s blow up ahead of time. We had no idea what we were going into and it was something thrilling to watch from start to finish." [14] The confrontation earned Kandy Muse and Tamisha Iman a nomination in the Best Fight category at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. [13]

Reception

Kate Kulzick of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'A'. [15] LaLa Ri's bag look spawned viral videos and Halloween costumes. [16] Joey Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly called her bag look both "iconic" [17] and "iconically awful". [11] Bernardo Sim of Out magazine called the look "infamous" [18] and "hilarious", [7] as well as a "fashion fumble". [19] Ruby Wilks of Out Front Magazine called the bag outfit an "infamous ... design mishap". [20] Rebecca Alter of Vulture said LaLa Ri "gave a series-best lip sync in a series-worst outfit". [21] Michel Cuby of Nylon called the lip-sync "spirited" and said Joey Jay "put up a worthy fight". [22]

References

  1. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Bag Ladies". Vulture . January 29, 2021. Wikidata   Q137564562.
  2. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13, Episode 5 recap: Ball o' bags". Xtra Magazine . January 29, 2021. ISSN   0829-3384. Wikidata   Q137564578.
  3. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13 Episode 5 Recap: The Bag Ball". IN Magazine. Wikidata   Q137564587.
  4. ↑ Gregory, Drew Burnett (January 30, 2021). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Episode 1305 Recap: Chekhov's Hot Glue Gun". Autostraddle . Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race season 13: Queens ranked from meh to yaaas after The Bag Ball". Metro. January 30, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race: The Bag Ball (S13 E05)". Werrrk. January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Every ball challenge winner in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' herstory". Out. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ Moore, Matt (January 30, 2021). "Drag Race just gave us some of the best and worst looks in HERstory". Gay Times . Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13, Episode 5 power ranking: It's in the bag". Xtra Magazine . January 30, 2021. ISSN   0829-3384. Wikidata   Q137564604.
  10. 1 2 3 "The Bag Ball". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 13. Episode 5. January 29, 2021. VH1 / WOW Presents Plus.
  11. 1 2 Joey Nolfi (July 25, 2023). "Lala Ri reveals she had 2 unused bag looks planned for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8". Entertainment Weekly . ISSN   1049-0434. Wikidata   Q137564624.
  12. ↑ Joey Nolfi (February 3, 2021). "Kandy Muse and Tamisha Iman continue the chaos in exclusive RuPaul's Drag Race clip". Entertainment Weekly . ISSN   1049-0434. Wikidata   Q137564633.
  13. 1 2 "RuPaul's Drag Race: Kandy Muse & Tamisha Iman Earn MTV Award Nomination". Screen Rant . April 22, 2021. Wikidata   Q137564642.
  14. ↑ "Is Kandy Muse Confident, Arrogant, or a Mixture of Both?". Instinct . February 1, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  15. ↑ "It's 10s across the board for RuPaul's Drag Race's "The Bag Ball"". The A.V. Club . January 30, 2021. Wikidata   Q137564569.
  16. ↑ Cook, Michael (August 4, 2023). "LaLa Ri Dishes on 'All Stars 8' Drama & The Queen She Couldn't Wait To Work With". Out South Florida. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  17. ↑ Joey Nolfi (May 8, 2023). "Lala Ri teases potential bag look upgrade on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8: 'We shall see'". Entertainment Weekly . ISSN   1049-0434. Wikidata   Q137564651.
  18. ↑ Sim, Bernardo. "Here's every Talent Show winner in Drag Race herstory". Out . Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  19. ↑ Sim, Bernardo. "Drag Race star LaLa Ri reveals why she's returning to drag". Out. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  20. ↑ Wilks, Ruby (March 31, 2025). "LaLa Ri's Journey: From Drag Race Star to Comeback Queen". Out Front Magazine. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  21. ↑ Alter, Rebecca (January 30, 2021). "LaLa Ri Gave a Series-Best Lip Sync in a Series-Worst Outfit on Drag Race". Vulture. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Joey Jay On Getting Cut From 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Nylon . February 1, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
External media
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg The Bag Ball 👠 S13 E5: RuPaul’s Drag Race on YouTube
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Joey Jay and LaLa Ri’s “Fancy” Lip Sync: RuPaul’s Drag Race on YouTube
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg The Pit Stop S13 E5 | Trixie Mattel & Violet Chachki Judge ‘The Bag Ball’ on YouTube
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13 - The Bag Ball on YouTube, WOW Presents Plus
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Lala Ri Teases Potential Bag Look Upgrade on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8 on YouTube, Entertainment Weekly
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