WEEK OF RU, Season 2: Day 6
One of the most enduring questions of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 2 is: Why didn't Raven win?
It's fair to say that Raven is one of the most iconic beauties from the show, right? And that she has a mouth to match it.
But it's fascinating to look back at her in Season 2, then in All Stars, and now inthe Fashion Photo RuView. In the second season, she served up pure pin-up realness, unclockable bombshell beauty. In All Stars, she brought a much more exaggerated mug and outrageous outfits, aiming to be more of an avant garde spectacle. And in the more casual videos she does for WOW Presents, she takes a much more laid back approach, serving up impeccable face with occasionally ridiculous and subversive outfits. (Remember those crazy airbrushed T shirts?)
Her attitude has evolved, too. Raven came into Season 2 as one of the older, more accomplished queens. She acted entitled to the crown, fiercely judgmental toward the younger, less experienced queens, especially Tatianna. And she wasn't as eager to make a spectacle of herself, to play along with the more ridiculous challenges of that season. (Remember that chicken outfit from the "Country Queens" episode?)
Although she could be funny and cutting in her commentary, she was fairly reserved in the challenges and on the runway. Her friendship with Morgan in the early part of the season gave her a "Mean Girls" vibe, and it wasn't until Drag U and All Stars that we saw her warm up, play along, and have more fun with the other queens.
All of this is to say that in Season 2, Raven had that dreaded "vulnerability" problem. She was too poised, too perfect. She didn't have a storyline of struggle or hardship, whereas Ru frequently acknowledged Tyra's struggles, her son, how much of a difference that prize money could make.
It's just too bad that having a story doesn't mean you have a personality, too.
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Many thanks to all of you for joining in on my WEEK OF RU, Season 2! I'm so glad to have finally illustrated all the seasons of this crazy, crazy show!
You can find prints of my best Season 2 artwork on my Etsy store,as well as my book collection of the entire season, 20 QUEENS!
Share your thoughts on Season 2 in a comment here or find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!
