Sat Jan 17 01:40:00 UTC 2026: ### Drag Race Season 18 Continues with Girl Group Challenge, Sparks Debate on Judging and Runway
The Story:
The second episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18 featured a girl group challenge that divided the queens into three teams: Disco, Pop, and Punk. Nini Coco and Vita Vontesse Starr, as last week’s top two, selected their teams, leaving the remaining queens to form the “Leftovers” Disco team. The episode was marked by drama over song selection and team dynamics, particularly within the Disco group led by Athena Dion, whose sour attitude drew criticism. Ultimately, the Punk team was deemed the strongest, and the Disco team landed in the bottom, leading to a lip-sync battle between Mandy Mango and DD Fuego, with DD Fuego becoming the first eliminated queen of the season.
Key Points:
- The challenge involved the queens performing in three girl groups representing Disco, Pop, and Punk genres.
- Team formation was contentious, with Nini Coco and Vita Vontesse Starr picking their teams, leaving the rest to form the Disco group.
- Athena Dion of the Disco team faced criticism for her negative attitude and perceived lack of effort.
- The Punk team received high praise for their performance, with Jane Don’t standing out as a highlight.
- The runway category was “My Neck, My Back, My Pussy and My Crack,” showcasing the queens’ chosen body parts.
- DD Fuego was eliminated after losing the lip-sync to Mandy Mango.
Key Takeaways:
- The initial team selections can significantly impact a queen’s trajectory in the competition, as seen with the struggles of the “Leftovers” Disco team.
- Attitude and team dynamics play a crucial role in a queen’s success, with Athena Dion’s negativity affecting her team’s performance.
- Strong runway presentations and performance skills are essential for survival, demonstrated by DD Fuego’s elimination despite some initial laughs.
- The judges’ critiques often balance praise and constructive criticism to motivate queens to improve.
First Piper 