We were robbed!
Some of us have been waiting for this for a long time!
On Friday night, RuPaul's Drag Race finally put on a Beyoncé-themed runway challenge. The category: night of 1000 Beyoncés.
For many fans, this seemed like a long time coming. Beyoncé is such a pervasive name in culture that she seemed overdue for her moment. And people in her orbit have certainly been involved in the series: In the first season, Michelle Williams was a guest judge in a moment that reportedly brought her to tears. In season six of All Stars, Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles even served as a guest judge. And while Queen Bey still hasn't made it on the series, at least her looks have.
The runway that aired showed some solid looks. Mistress gave a little comedy and glamour arriving as all three members of Destiny's Child. Luxx Noir London came as Beyoncé as Tina Turner from a Kennedy Center performance. Salina EsTitties look the hands-down best she's looked on the series recreating a red-carpet look from the 2004 Grammys. Oh, and Sasha Colby gave us the body both she and Beyoncé are known for in a silver miniskirt from a 2006 BET Awards performance. And while those were all certainly notable, the best look never even made it to the runway.
Aura Mayari Knocked the Beyoncé Runway Out of the Park
As we all know by now: life isn't fair. It just simply isn't. And when you're a RuPaul's Drag Race girl investing into at least 10 weeks of competition looks but unaware of how far you'll make it, it's even moreso! Enter Aura Mayari.
Though Aura has been posting thirst traps since (and before) being casted on season 15, once she was eliminated on episode seven, she's also been posting the weekly looks we didn't get a chance to see. At this point, it's pretty standard for queens to do so.
"Beyoncé has been my biggest inspiration," she wrote this week as she posted a custom look recreating Beyoncé's opening look from her iconic 20018 Coachella set. "Growing up, always performing, I always told myself that one day, I will be a star. Watching Beyoncé has helped shape the performer I am today. Reaching for the stars wasn't going to be anymore. I want to live it.
Aura's look was highly intricate, in direct line with Beyoncé's that was made by Olivier Rousteing at the French brand Balmain. Across the back, it included a moon as well as Aura's name.
Chicago-based designer and costumer Joshuan Aponte created the look for her. He has become a favorite of Drag Race contestants and also has done looks for stars like Cardi B.
"This was one of the hardest recreations to date," he wrote to social media.
While they took Balmain's designs as a base, they made edits for the new drag context. According to Aponte "seven different embroidered sequined fabrics were deconstructed and reassembled to create the entire cape."
Why Wasn't My Favorite Beyoncé Look Chosen?
\u201cIt had to be from a Getty Images list\u2026 no videos cuz it\u2019s corp right ** so most of them were red carpet or live performance presentations\u201d— JOSHUAN APONTE-SHEEZA WOMAN (@JOSHUAN APONTE-SHEEZA WOMAN) 1677911536
Hardcore fans of the show know that behind the scenes there are so many rules and restrictions that can impact what makes it on. Many of Beyonce's most iconic looks were from music videos, which were completely absent from the Main Stage. Aponte took to Twitter to give an explanation.
"It had to be from a Getty Images list," he wrote. Videos would have potentially run afoul of various rights.