Plus new performances by Shea Coulee, Priyanka, Jaida Essence Hall, and Envy Peru.
Mikelle StreetOn Friday, World of Wonder put on the WOWIE Awards — virtually of course. This latest edition honored "the best in artistry, activism, entertain(t)ment, and more," as the event has been doing for the past few years, and was hosted by Vanessa Vanjie Mateo and Heidi N. Closet. It featured guest performances by the reigning RuPaul's Drag Race 2020 winners like Jaida Essence Hall, Shea Coulee, Envy Peru, and Priyanka. But to kick it all off came a skit by RuPaul's Drag Race U.K. season one winner The Vivienne and a cameo appearance by Mama Ru herself.
"The time has come for you to lipsync for the presidency,"RuPaul says in the skit to The Vivienne who is reprising her Snatch Game role as Donald Trump. The drag performer then gives her rendition of Ru's own song "Champion." The show is interrupted by a buzzer.
"The votes have been counted," Ru says. "America has made its decision: Donald Trump, sashay away!" Has there ever been a better delivery of the line?
Hardcore fans of the show are surmising that clip — at least Ru's parts of it — was recorded on set during a season of RuPaul's Drag Race U.K. Earlier this year, World of Wonder announced that season two and season three of that iteration would air in 2021. Ru rarely gets into drag when she's not getting paid and as a result, most footage she sends around while wearing drag is filmed during Drag Race taping. That this clip has the line focused backdrop as opposed to the honeycomb, means this was likely taken during Drag Race U.K.
The WOWIEs also boasted virtual performances by Hall to Ru's "Glamazon," Priyanka to Ru's "Adrenaline," Peru to Ru's "I'm a Winner, Baby," and Coulee (As Flava Flav) to Ru's "Call Me Mother."
Of the night's winners: Jujubee won Outstanding Song with her track "Don't Wanna Love," Ts Madison tied with Margaret Cho for Outstanding Comedian, Andre Leon Talley won Outstanding Beauty/Fashion, Marti Gould Cummings for Outstanding News/Politics Twitter Account, and more. RuPaul's Saturday Night Live hosting gig won Outstanding Television appearance.
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