Top 10 Times Drag Race Queens Made Ru Emotional

If there’s one thing that brings the Mama out of Mama Ru, it’s a young person struggling with not being accepted by their family. As the youngest drag queen on season 11, Plastique Tiara was probably one of the more vulnerable cast members who was still figuring out who she was. During a work room segment with Ru, Plastique became emotional when talking about her family. Ru normally offers advice from a comfortable distance, but this time, her maternal instincts kicked in. She did something she rarely does on the show. She actually embraced Plastique in a solid, therapeutic hug.

Even before Team Rujubee faced off in a lipsync that would end their time together in the first “All Stars” season, Ru was hesitant. It seemed that, much like us (and Raven and Jujubee), she would have preferred these two not be in competition with each other. Throughout their gut-wrenching lip sync to Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” Ru seems troubled by the whole thing. The two are truly putting everything into this performance, tears and all. At the end, the host is so upset, she doesn’t even clap for them. Whether or not it was a planned final four, RuPaul’s very intense reaction to having to send one of them home is really effective.

It’s rare that RuPaul gives a preamble to a lip sync. For Martha Wash’s “Carry On,” a song near and dear to her heart, it was all the more important. Crediting the song with helping her cope with her mother’s death, RuPaul allowed the bottom two queens to let this token of personal experience and spiritual wisdom inform their performances. Sahara Davenport’s ballet training and effervescence paired perfectly with the song. Years later, Ru talked about how important that lip sync was to her, and how she had to hold back tears the whole time.

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#7: Jujubee’s Sobriety
“The Charles Family Backyard Ball”

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“All Stars 5” saw the return of season-2 queen Jujubee after years away from the competition. During a particularly heartfelt work room talk with Ru, she described the circumstances that led to her seeking out sobriety after developing alcohol and substance use disorder. That story resonated with RuPaul, who shares a similar story of finding community and family in sobriety. Ru’s advice, to hold that community close, is especially heartfelt because she’s been there. It was an unexpectedly touching moment between the two, one that quickly had us all choked up.

This season-13 finalist made history by being the first openly trans man to compete on “Drag Race.” Gottmik stood apart for this, but also because of the boundless creativity and confidence she brought to the competition. However, Ru became unexpectedly affected during her final mainstage critiques. She brought up how Mik always had nothing but kind things to say about her parents, who were incredibly supportive. We know how often Ru hears stories about parents who don’t accept their children, so learning that Gottmik had the opposite experience was really moving for her.

Trinity K. Bonet was one of season 6’s fiercest queens, but she was constantly an underdog. Her persistent disbelief in her own gifts was frustrating for RuPaul, the judges, and even her fellow competitors – not to mention us at home. But, as she came into her own, she gave her best performance in the stand-up comedy challenge. Ru tried not to get emotional as she gave her props for defeating that inner saboteur. It was clear that watching Trinity finally cast off all that self-doubt was exactly the kind moment Ru wanted for her.

The theme was not Night of a Thousand RuPauls, but that didn’t stop season 15’s Luxx Noir London from paying tribute to the mother herself. Taking inspiration from the “Rip Her to Shreds” runway theme, Luxx recreated a look from Ru’s early career in a punk rock band called Wee Wee Pole. Ru couldn’t even talk to Luxx without her voice faltering. There was once a time when a goddess like her was terrorizing the streets, looking for a place in the world. Now, queens come to “Drag Race” in search of exactly the same thing. Luxx’s reminder of young Ru became a beautiful full circle moment.

Few “Drag Race” casts have reflected what is possible for a drag artist like the “All Winners” cast. “All Stars” season 7 saw RuPaul welcoming back her most legendary children for a shot to win a second crown. Seeing what all of them had achieved, RuPaul was overcome with pride. She assured them that their legacy was not just confined to a season of “Drag Race,” and that they weren’t just reality TV champions. No, they’re models of what can happen when dreams come true, and what happens when people live authentic lives.

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#2: Chosen Family
“The RuPaul Roast”

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Landing in the bottom for her epic failure at the RuPaul Roast, season 5 finalist Roxxxy Andrews was suddenly sobbing on the mainstage. She fell apart over a horrible childhood experience, and the moment became one of the most heartbreaking ever seen on the show. Everyone in that room felt so deeply for her. Ru took the opportunity to express some heartfelt words, including her belief that being queer often means getting to choose one’s family. She was so moved she let both Roxxxy and her fellow bottom two queen, Alyssa Edwards, stay in the competition.

Since its very first season, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has been a celebration of queer art and queer life. Ongina was a perfect representation of that. She was season 1’s ray of sunshine. She exuded joy and energy that was infectious. That’s why her breakdown on the runway hit so hard. After winning the Mac-Viva Glam challenge, Ongina disclosed her HIV positive status to the world, reinforcing her winning commercial’s message. The host was visibly moved by her honesty and strength. It was our first real look at how much she sees her contestants as a family.

Which of these RuPaul moments had you looking for a tissue? Let us know in the comments.