Jimbo’s back in the werk room.
Jimbo’s entrance look on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8 is already sparking a big conversation about what is – and perhaps isn’t – acceptable for drag artists to do when impersonating women of different body types. Some fans are even going as far as calling Jimbo’s look “misogynistic.”
In short, Jimbo wore an oversized breastplate for her entrance look, given that this has been her signature drag aesthetic for a few years. Over the breastplate, Jimbo has a bikini that reads “boss.” While it is very common for drag queens to wear breastplates, some Drag Race fans are now claiming that these kinds of breastplates are making a mockery of women by being an over-exaggerated depiction of a “bimbo.”
\u201cim gonna say it as loud as i possibly can: these are NOT the same, and no, we aren\u2019t \u201cpicking and choosing\u201d. the first two are creating a feminine illusion, the last one is a mockery. ik you cis men think ur smart by comparing them, but there\u2019s a reason we\u2019re okay with the former\u201d— abby! #TeamAdmira (@abby! #TeamAdmira) 1682027992
“I’m gonna say it as loud as I possibly can,” @messys1ut wrote. “These are NOT the same, and no, we aren’t ‘picking and choosing.’ The first two are creating a feminine illusion, the last one is a mockery. I know you cis men think you’re smart by comparing them, but there’s a reason we’re okay with the former.”
\u201cone thing i love abt jimbo is he STAYS mocking women\u201d— esme (@esme) 1682007356
@ESMEAD0RE’s sarcastic tweet read, “One thing I love about Jimbo is he STAYS mocking women.”
\u201cY\u2019all saying this Jimbo look is meant as a joke but what is the joke? That women\u2019s bodies are funny because I\u2019m not getting it\u201d— EssenceofDrag (@EssenceofDrag) 1682026627
“Y’all saying this Jimbo look is meant as a joke but what is the joke?” @EssenceofDrag asked. “That women’s bodies are funny? Because I’m not getting it.”
\u201cnow i am no jimbo stan nor am i a symone hater but y\u2019all do kinda pick and choose, because all y\u2019all did when this picture came out was NOTHING, literal crickets\u201d— favi \ud83d\udc9c (@favi \ud83d\udc9c) 1682043690
Alas, there are also those who are defending Jimbo’s artistic choice against these accusations. @itsyagirlytsalt quote-tweeted @messys1ut’s post with a picture of Symone and Gigi Goode also wearing oversized breastplates:
“Now I am no Jimbo stan nor am I a Symone hater but y’all do kinda pick and choose, because all y’all did when this picture came out was NOTHING, literal crickets.”
\u201cThe people calling jimbo a misogynist are actually just outing themselves as bimbo-phobic. Nobody is out here dragging the flat chested queens for mocking flat chested ppl. It\u2019s clear that people are just projecting their judgement of empowered big titty ppl onto this.\u201d— Irma Gerd (@Irma Gerd) 1682037082
Irma Gerd, a contestant from Canada’s Drag Race season three, also came out in defense of Jimbo’s look with a tweet:
“The people calling Jimbo a misogynist are actually just outing themselves as bimbo-phobic. Nobody is out here dragging the flat-chested queens for mocking flat-chested people. It’s clear that people are just projecting their judgment of empowered big-titty people onto this.”
\u201cthe baby drag race fans are policing drag so hard that they\u2019re going to literally circle around and become republican lmao\u201d— daniel (@daniel) 1682022444
Another counter-point came from @slayonetta: “The baby Drag Race fans are policing drag so hard that they’re going to literally circle around and become republican lmao.”
\u201cThis Jimbo entrance look deserves a dissertation. Not a seam in sight! Hair: Right. Body: Correct. Chaco sandals: Taking me out. This is how you All Star.\u201d— \u039evan Ross Katz (@\u039evan Ross Katz) 1682085114
There are also fans, influencers, and Drag Race alumni who are entirely unconcerned by the discourse and simply understand that Jimbo is doing the type of drag she’s done for many years now. And, in fact, they are praising Jimbo for pulling off a full-body illusion that is quite impressive to see.
Evan Ross Katz wrote, “This Jimbo entrance look deserves a dissertation. Not a seam in sight! Hair: Right. Body: Correct. Chaco sandals: Taking me out. This is how you All Star.”
\u201cit's been 1 hour and jimbo already created a viral controversy and this is exactly why yall could never\n\nhere's a reminder of why it isnt random luck\u201d— Stacey McKenzie\ud83e\udd72 (@Stacey McKenzie\ud83e\udd72) 1682006893
“It’s been 1 hour and Jimbo already created a viral controversy and this is exactly why y’all could never,” Canada’s Drag Race star Kiara tweeted. “Here’s a reminder of why it isn’t random luck.”
\u201cY\u2019all need to wrap up this jimbo discourse by TONIGHT!\u201d— \ud83d\udc95The Dawn Diva \ud83d\udc95 (@\ud83d\udc95The Dawn Diva \ud83d\udc95) 1682044201
“Y’all need to wrap up this Jimbo discourse by TONIGHT!” a hilarious tweet from @themojocarter featuring a collage of Britney Spears and the back-bending Naomi Smalls read.
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8 premieres Friday, May 12 on Paramount+.