- ♪ MTV ♪
- Tonight, as our queens drag up their past,
I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane myself.
[gasps] Did I really wear that?
[gasps] That hair.
What was I thinking? [laughs]
Thank God no one will ever see any of that.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ She's the queen ♪
♪ Of the universe ♪
♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- From our host city, London, United Kingdom,
this is "Queen of the Universe."
And here's your host, Graham Norton.
♪ ♪
- Hi!
♪ ♪
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
[cheers and applause]
- Welcome all to the first all-drag,
all-singing competition that is truly out of this world.
[applause] Yeah.
Now, tonight, the competition continues
as our remaining seven international superstars
battle for the title of Queen of the Universe
and 1/4 million dollars.
It's many dollars.
It's many, many dollars.
Helping us in our quest to find the best,
it's our pop diva panel, Mel B,
Trixie Mattel,
Vanessa Williams, and Michelle Visage!
Tonight's theme is My First Time.
Mm.
We've challenged our queens to sing songs
and serve looks inspired by their first time in drag.
I mean, Trixie, what was your first time like?
- Well, it was quick, it was dirty,
and I left with a fistful of wet money.
[laughter]
- Well, it's funny you describe it like that
because we have a picture.
[laughter]
- Boo! Boo!
- Are you all ready to drag up the past?
- Yeah! - Yes!
- All right.
First up to perform from Manila, Philippines,
it's Maxie!
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- I felt like everyone is very excited for this episode.
- Uh-huh, because we also get to learn so much
about how each of us started drag.
- My first time in drag was 11 years old.
My auntie is also a drag queen,
who has helped me to introduce me into this world.
My auntie is a trans woman, a great showgirl.
When I watched her show, I was amazed, inspired.
She taught me everything.
She let me borrow her wigs, makeup, and her gowns.
That time, I knew that this is going to be my pathway.
I'm going to be singing one of my most favorite songs
that I've learned from my mother.
I want them to be proud that I'm performing
internationally, not just locally.
♪ ♪
I miss my family.
I wish they were here to support me
and to clap, clap, clap, and cheer me.
I know that they're very, very proud.
This is a celebration. What a feeling, right?
♪ ♪
♪ First, when there's nothing ♪
♪ But a slow, glowing dream
♪ That your fear seems to hide ♪
♪ Deep inside your mind ♪
♪ All alone, I have cried ♪
♪ Silent tears full of pride ♪
♪ In a world made of steel ♪
♪ Made of stone ♪
♪ ♪
- Whoo, Maxie! - Ahh!
- ♪ What a feelin' ♪
♪ Being's believin' ♪
♪ I can have it all ♪
♪ Now I'm dancing for my life ♪
♪ ♪
♪ What a feeling ♪
♪ ♪
♪ What a feeling ♪
[cheers and applause]
- Maxie!
Wow.
And what a feeling.
Let's take a sneak peek at Maxie's first time in drag.
- Oh. - Aww!
- I mean--how old are you in that picture?
- I am 11 years old there.
- So, like, last week?
- Yes. [laughter]
- You gave us a connection from the exact colors
that you had at 11 to exactly what you're wearing now.
We see the transition.
Amazing. Great execution.
So you're singing, "What a Feeling."
And when you finished, you turned your back to us.
What were you feeling?
- Because I don't want to cry. - Why not?
- I did this makeup for one hour, ma'am.
And I've been crying for two days because I miss my family.
I miss my mother.
My mother taught me this song.
We always sing this if we feel like celebrating.
And tonight, I am celebrating because I am
standing at many people and performing internationally.
- Now, that song is, like, one of my favorites.
It's one of everybody's favorites.
But what you did to it was made it your own.
This transition from then to now is like,
she is a grown up pop star
in not just Philippines, the world.
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you so much.
- I just loved everything from the start to the end.
I love the ripping off the skirt there and the backdrop.
I call it the dive of trust because if they don't
catch you, you're fucked basically.
- Yeah, the dancers are muscular.
- You owned it.
I wish I could walk like that like that.
You looked really good.
- Thank you.
- When you walked in the runway in that gown,
and I said, a gown with a boot--
I said, I will literally nut if that dress comes off.
And guess what, bitch?
The dress came off.
[laughter]
The look, the tone,
you couldn't have done anything better.
- Wow.
- Thank you so much.
- Ladies and gentlemen, read those letters.
Give it up for Maxie!
[upbeat music]
Great job.
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- Up next to perform from San Francisco, California, USA,
it's Militia Scunt.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Do we want to talk about love at first sight?
- I don't think that it's true.
- Yeah. - I'm sure you do.
- Have you ever experienced it?
- Are you experiencing it?
- I did experience it--shut up.
- Oh, my God. - That's the real question.
- You gotta call out the elephants in the room now.
[laughter]
- What Taiga has been for me is, like, sanity,
and comfort, and security.
We clicked from day one.
I'm not a relationship type person.
I didn't have my first boyfriend until 23.
I was definitely a late bloomer because I was just terrified.
Growing up, there couldn't be a gay kiss on TV
without my mom literally, like, shuddering.
My mom's only exposure to gay people
were people who were in church for "recovery."
♪ ♪
I didn't come out until I was 19.
I was already in college.
I was cast as Angel in "Rent,"
and I was terrified to tell my mom what I was doing.
But after she came to the show and saw me perform,
it's like, "Oh, oh, that's my son.
Oh, yeah, I taught her everything she knows."
All of a sudden, it's acceptable.
I think she needed to be around other people
and sort of see it from the outside
and realize that there wasn't nothing wrong with me.
I don't want to pretend again.
I feel great. This is me, period.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
♪ For you, I was a flame ♪
♪ Love is a losing game ♪
♪ Five-story fire as you came ♪
♪ Love is a losing game ♪
♪ One I wished I never played ♪
♪ Oh, what a mess we made ♪
♪ ♪
♪ And now, the final frame ♪
♪ Love is a losing game ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Memories mar my mind ♪
♪ Love is a fate resigned ♪
♪ And now the final frame ♪
♪ Love ♪
♪ Is a losing game ♪
- Militia Scunt, everybody!
All right, Militia.
Before we go to the panel,
let's take a look at your first time.
- Aww. - Yes!
- How old were you then?
- I was 11 in that picture.
So it was, like, Opposite Gender Day.
- Aww.
- So fantasy was, I was going to come to school,
and everyone was going be like, who's the new girl?
Like, no idea who she was.
But that's what happened instead, girl.
- I love that.
- Just tell me why you chose this song.
- I was miserable.
I didn't understand why I didn't fit in.
I was this random-ass nerd kid who just came
out of fucking home school for the first time at 11.
So it was Amy--
when I found Amy a few years later, I was like,
oh, fuck, I have a place here.
I have a place in the world.
And she helped me believe that I belonged,
if that makes sense.
- I'm glad you explained a bit more about why you chose
that song because, for me, I was just listening
to an Amy rendition of Amy.
- Agreed. You do Amy so well.
I wanted a little less of her affect and imitation
and a little more of you because we know
that you can do that.
[cheers and applause]
- You heard it--there were some pitch issues
for the first, like, two lines.
- Yeah. - But God damn, you look good.
This was really beautiful.
- I want to start with that 11-year-old child right there.
You were that little kid in that red dress
wanting to fit in, and you just couldn't.
Well, you fit in tonight, darling.
And I'm so very sorry that your truth
was hidden behind false teeth.
And I'm so happy that you're here today
being the beautiful soul that you are, Militia.
You deserve it.
- Militia, we're so happy for you.
Militia Scunt, everybody!
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
[cheers and applause]
- Tonight's theme is My First Time.
Our queens are singing songs and serving looks inspired
by their first time in drag.
So hey, it's only fair to drag up the past
of our pop diva panel.
Here is an early snap of the stunning Vanessa Williams.
- Oh, my-- - I mean--
- It looks like you today!
- So cute! - Vanessa!
- Yes!
- This is supposed to be embarrassing.
- Thank you.
- I love it.
- All right.
Up next to perform from Palermo, Italy,
it's Aura Eternal.
[upbeat music]
- Viola, Aura, and Maxie just automatically just kind of,
like, gravitated towards each other.
- Yeah.
- Just at some point, we were, like, together
exchanging, like, opinions on music,
and we found each other, like, very similar taste, right?
- Yes, very similar. Yes, very similar.
- I love all the queens here.
I'm starting to create a new family with you, in a sense.
I met my first drag family on "Drag Race Italia,"
and now my first international family
on "Queen of the Universe."
I'm doing a song
from Mary J. Blige that is called "Family Affair."
- I'm trying to figure out what in the hell
you know about Mary J. Blige.
[laughter]
- I chose this song because my first time in drag,
I just felt like I was feeling the right thing.
This song is about having a great time
because you feel comfortable with who you have around.
I want to act like I'm in a club with you all, you know?
I just want to live it.
♪ ♪
I just want to feel comfortable and have fun.
And if I feel that, they will feel it too.
[cheers and applause]
♪ Let's get it crunk up on ♪
♪ Have fun up on up in this dancery ♪
♪ We got y'all open, now ya floatin' ♪
♪ So you gots to dance for me ♪
♪ Come on, everybody, get on up ♪
♪ Because you know we gots to get it crunk ♪
♪ Aura E. is in the spot tonight ♪
♪ And I'ma make it feel all right ♪
♪ With a Dre track pumpin', everybody's jumpin' ♪
♪ Go ahead and twist your back, and get your bodies bumpin' ♪
♪ I told you, leave your situations at the door ♪
♪ So grab somebody and get your ass on the dance floor ♪
- ♪ Let's get it crunk up on ♪ - [scatting]
- ♪ Have fun up on up ♪ - ♪ In this dancery ♪
♪ We got y'all open, now ya floatin' ♪
♪ So you gots to dance for me ♪
♪ Don't need no hateration, holleration in this dancery ♪
♪ Let's get percolatin' while you're waiting ♪
Just sing the song! - ♪ So just dance for me ♪
♪ We don't need no haters ♪
- ♪ We don't need no haters ♪
- ♪ We're just trying to love one another ♪
- ♪ Trying to love one another, da-da-da-da-da ♪
- ♪ Making you dance all night and I ♪
- ♪ All night long ♪
- ♪ Got some real heat for you this time ♪
- ♪ Real heat, boy ♪
- ♪ It doesn't matter if you're white or Black ♪
- ♪ Doesn't matter, hey ♪ - ♪ Let's crunk ♪
♪ Because Mary's back ♪ - ♪ Hey, yeah ♪
- ♪ Let's get it crunk up on ♪ - ♪ Let's get crunked up on ♪
♪ Up on up in this dancery ♪
♪ Let's get it percolatin' ♪ - ♪ While you're waitin' ♪
♪ So just dance for me ♪
- Aura Eternal, everybody!
Let's take a look at your first time.
- I mean-- - Ooh.
- I mean--
- It's actually not my first time in drag.
It was my first time in public.
- I was about to call the fucking police
on that picture.
This woman's a convicted liar.
[laughter]
- Tonight, I thought your voice sounded great.
I think you lost a little bit here when you got into it.
But you were so into it and controlled it enough
to get back into it.
Does that make sense?
- Yes. Thank you, Michelle.
- You're welcome.
- The movement was giving really endearing,
like, dorky hot girl.
- Yes.
- It was like, what if that girlfriend of yours
had a couple extra drinks and we found out she could sing?
- Totally, me.
[laughter]
- You were giving Mary J. Blige.
And she does this hop skip, one and two, one and two.
And that's exactly what you were doing.
So that's choreography.
That is not just drunken hot girl stumble.
That was opposite.
- I will take that.
- This red hair's giving me a bit Ginger Spice.
- Yes.
- But you can sing, and you can dance.
She knows she can.
She knows.
She knows what I mean.
That song, lyric-wise,
is really hard to sing because it's really fast.
And that's really hard to do, and stay on beat,
and do the trills, and do all that other stuff
that you were doing, yes.
- Thank you.
- Give it up for Aura Eternal!
[upbeat music]
Beautiful.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- Up next to perform from Cancun, Mexico,
it's Taiga Brava.
[cheers and applause]
[upbeat electronic music]
♪ ♪
- I've been doing drag for two years.
But as a young child, I always wanted to sing.
The first memories that I have singing,
I was probably like three years old, two years old,
something like that.
My grandma, Abuelita Rebecca--
that's how we all call her--
she's actually very famous in Mexico,
like, super famous for, like, musical theater.
And I actually sing today because of her.
My grandmother, she is 98 now.
She did old movies. I just called her old.
She's going to kill me now.
[laughs]
I actually started singing with her ranchero music.
She would, like, tell me all of these stories of what
it was like to be on a stage.
And it made me realize that it was
somewhere that I could get.
For me, it meant everything.
I know that she was very unhappy
when I stopped singing.
I stopped singing for almost like ten years of my life.
- Wow.
Why?
- I think I stopped loving the thing that I loved the most
because I stopped loving myself.
Because singing started seeming senseless,
because I thought that being somebody
that would want to go out in heels,
I thought it was all wrong.
[dramatic music]
I lived 28 years of my life with a mask.
Not anymore though.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
♪ Well, you almost had me fooled ♪
♪ Told me that I was nothing without you ♪
♪ Because you brought the flames ♪
♪ And you put me through hell ♪
♪ I had to learn how to fight for myself ♪
♪ And we both know the truth, I could tell ♪
♪ I'll just say this is I wish you farewell ♪
♪ I hope you're somewhere ♪
♪ Praying, praying ♪
♪ I hope your soul is ♪
♪ Changing, changing ♪
♪ I hope you find peace ♪
♪ Falling on your knees, praying ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Oh, in life ♪
♪ You're going to get what you give ♪
♪ Some things only God can forgive ♪
♪ Oh, no ♪
- ♪ I hope you're somewhere praying, praying ♪
♪ I hope your soul is changing ♪
- ♪ Changing ♪
♪ Praying ♪
- Taiga Brava, everybody!
Let's take a look at your first time in drag.
- Ah! - Oh.
- The time thing that I did drag,
I actually did a ranchero song.
And it had the power of me doing
that is usually for a male voice
done by a strong Mexican woman.
- That was, like, so beautiful.
I mean, you all had me the whole time--
[cheers and applause]
This felt so genuine.
It was like you were the only one here.
- Thank you.
Everything about it is beautiful.
You look like a little living doll.
Your voice, the timbre, the vibrato,
the way you use it is so beautiful.
The falsetto pitch was beautiful.
I am so proud of you tonight.
Felicidades. - Thank you so much.
- Beautiful.
- Thank you for giving such a journey visually,
but also showing up today who you really are.
Amazing. Congratulations.
- Thank you. Thank you so much.
- Your vocals were just beautiful.
Every word was articulated.
I could feel the--
just the sincerity and the sensitivity
in what you were saying.
It was gorgeous.
- Thank you so much.
- Give it up for Taiga Brava! - Thank you so much.
Muchas gracias.
[upbeat music]
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
[cheers and applause]
- Tonight, our queens are performing
songs and styles inspired by their first time in drag.
Now, before we move on, let's take a look
at a photo we found of Mel B.
- Why are you laughing? Why are you laughing?
- Oh, because look at--look. - Aww.
- I think it was about five or six.
And my afro hadn't come into its full, like, flow.
That was just, like, a young little Mel B.
- Adorable.
All right, let's crack on.
From Orlando, Florida, USA, it's Jazell Royale.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- I am someone that has dedicated their entire life
to this art form.
At 19, I did my very first pageant.
I've won so many pageants, I honestly could not
sit here and name them all.
And I take it very seriously because it's my livelihood.
Tonight, I'm really excited about my song
because I get a chance to sing for Vanessa,
and I'm actually singing one of her songs.
- Oh! - Really?
- I love Vanessa Williams.
She is the first Black woman to win Miss America.
She has truly been an inspiration all of my life.
Seeing a Black woman that carried herself like that,
it was just something about her that I just saw in myself.
I've been to a lot of things in my life.
You know, to think that I'm still here
just makes me really, really emotional.
There were a lot of people that did discriminate
against me and some people that did call me names.
A lot of times, Black entertainers
have to work a lot harder to get the same respect.
Because of Vanessa's resilience
and because of her talent,
she was able to become one of the largest superstars
that we know.
It's a really special moment, a full circle moment for me,
to be able to sing for her, and hopefully,
be able to just express to her the impact
she's had on my life.
Even when other people didn't see it,
I knew that I had something.
If I could go back, I would tell that person,
"See? I told you."
That's what I would do.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
♪ Sometimes the snow comes down in June ♪
♪ Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon ♪
♪ I see the passion in your eyes ♪
♪ Sometimes it's all a big surprise ♪
♪ Because there was a time when all I did was wish ♪
♪ You'd tell me this was love ♪
♪ It's not the way I hoped or how I planned ♪
♪ But somehow, it's enough ♪
♪ And now we're standing face to face ♪
♪ Isn't this world a crazy place? ♪
♪ Just when I thought our chance had passed ♪
♪ You go and save the best for last ♪
♪ You go and save the best ♪
♪ For last ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
- Jazell Royale, everybody!
Choosing to sing a Vanessa Williams song
in front of the woman herself, why did you do that?
- I first saw you in 1993 on "Soul Train."
- [laughs] OK.
- And it was just something about that
that just captivated me.
And so when I started doing drag,
I started performing, "Dreamin'."
So this is my moment to pay homage to you.
Like, this is your Life Achievement Award or something.
[laughter]
- Thank you, Jazell.
- So let's have a look at your first time in drag.
- Aww. - Ooh.
Oh, the hair.
- That was my first pageant.
Because of perseverance, because of believing in myself
and never stopping, I was able to win things
that afforded me the opportunity to better my drag.
- Well, you have bettered your drag.
It's amazing. - Thank you.
- Let's go to Vanessa.
What did you think?
- "So Save the Best for Last," you know,
it's not as easy as you think.
You think it's a throwaway song.
But the intervals are tough because if you don't hit them,
you're really apparent.
And you made us all feel
the fact that you can move the audience.
I think this is your moment.
Congratulations.
[cheers and applause]
- I know I look like a Muppet in a puppet.
- No you don't. - But my favorite--
- Yes, she does. - Thank you, Michelle.
- No, she doesn't.
- My favorite types of drag is touchability,
and silhouette, and hyperfeminine presentation.
And just before you even sing,
I am hook, line, and sinker for you.
- Thank you.
- That song is really about the voice.
And I thought you did a really good job.
You had one wobble in the word "crazy."
But honestly, it was done so beautifully.
One teeny-tiny request.
I think this has been three ballads in a row.
Just maybe an up-tempo track of some sort next time.
- I would love to.
- Let's go to Mel. What did you think?
- It's very--
I'm going to say it-- overly confident for you to be
singing such a classic song,
and the lady that sung it is right here,
and this is her song.
And I think you were being very nice, Vanessa,
because I do think some of it was quite nasally.
Some of it, the notes didn't hit at the end.
- I would have liked to hear you sing "Dreamin'."
That's what I would have loved--
- There you go.
That's what she really meant to say.
- ♪ For the life of me, I never-- ♪
- Well, it's too late now. It's too late now.
You sung it. But you look stunning.
- Thank you.
- OK.
Congratulations.
Give it up for... - Thank you so much.
- Jazell Royale, everyone!
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- Up next to perform from Coventry, UK, it's Viola!
[cheers and applause]
[upbeat electronic music]
♪ ♪
- So my first time in drag was a musical.
I really, really wanted to play this role because I had seen
a drag queen playing the role.
And I was like, oh, my gosh, I could do that.
I was out there in full costume, makeup all done.
And I just remember loving that feeling.
I've only been doing drag for two years,
but I'm pretty unique.
This week, I will be singing one of the first songs
I ever sung in drag.
Personally, I'm feeling quite confident.
I think I have the best voice in the competition.
And I'm actually not kidding.
The judges are looking for someone
who's got it all, the whole package.
They're looking for a pop star.
And that's what I want to show them.
♪ Tonight, I'm gonna have myself ♪
♪ A real good time ♪
♪ I feel alive ♪
♪ And the world ♪
♪ I'll turn it inside out, yeah ♪
♪ Floating around in ecstasy ♪
♪ So don't stop me now ♪
♪ Don't stop me 'cause I'm having a good time ♪
♪ Having a good time ♪
♪ I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky like a tiger ♪
♪ Defying the laws of gravity ♪
♪ I am a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva ♪
♪ I'm going to go, oh, oh ♪
♪ There's no stopping me ♪
♪ I'm burning through the sky, yeah ♪
♪ 200 degrees ♪
♪ That's why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit ♪
♪ I'm traveling at the speed of light ♪
♪ I want to make a supersonic man out of you ♪
♪ Don't stop me now because I'm having such a good time ♪
♪ I'm having a ball ♪
♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ If you want to have a good time, just give me a call ♪
♪ Don't stop me ♪
♪ Yes, I'm having a good time ♪
♪ I don't want to stop at all ♪
♪ ♪
- Viola!
Oh!
Let's turn back time and see your first drag look.
Oh, there she is. When was that?
- This was outside my school theater in year 12 after--
well, during the school performance of,
"We will Rock You."
And I played the evil villain, the killer queen.
- Panel, we turn to you.
- I started drag the exact same way in a musical
where somebody was supposed to be a drag character.
And they dropped out, and I had to fill in.
Ultimate, like, type A gay move to be like,
"She's sick. I know the whole number."
[laughter] And I fit her costumes.
Thank you.
I have to be honest.
I think that this look is about on the level with that.
And I actually love that look.
I actually might have preferred that look.
- So I thought that this song was very ambitious of you
and very risky.
And to be honest, your vocals were
kind of all over the place tonight.
And as far as the look goes, I just think
it's too basic for me, Viola.
I think you've got to amp it up.
- The good thing is, you had good breath support.
The bad thing is, some of your lower notes,
you didn't quite hit the bottom.
So I don't know whether that was not in your range.
But your bottom notes were not--consistently not in pitch.
- OK, I get it.
- What I'm about to say is not very nice,
but I'm going to be as constructive as possible.
Your performance right now is very school play
and very amateur, and you're better than that.
We're halfway through the competition.
You can't let anything drop because somebody else
is going to snatch your place, and you'll be gone.
And I don't want you to be gone.
- You can do it.
- I believe you can too.
- Give it up for Viola!
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
[cheers and applause]
- Tonight's theme is My First Time.
Our queens have been drawing inspiration
from their early days in drag.
Speaking of the early days...
[laughter]
- Oh, work, bitch! - Yes!
- That is my bedroom in South Plainfield, New Jersey.
I was probably 15 or 16 years old there, yeah.
- Can we just say to all the queens,
when Michelle criticizes your hair--
[laughter]
- You didn't think this night was gonna go by
without me showing everybody the one I found of you...
- Oh. - Did you?
[laughter]
- Wow, the ugliest drag queen in the world.
Check it out. - Gorgeous.
- Right, back to business.
Here to prove she belongs on top,
from Sydney, Australia, it's Trevor Ashley.
[cheers and applause]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- My first time in drag, I was 17 years old.
It was sort of in that late '90s era
when you still weren't comfortably able to be gay.
I really was trying everything to not be gay.
But then finally, Mum and Dad said,
"We know. It's fine."
My mother was amazing.
She was really supportive.
All week, she'd be at her job.
And then after work, she'd come and race me
to a piano lesson, a singing lesson, and an acting class.
So I feel very grateful.
My mother was my biggest fan.
And we lost her a few months ago.
Yeah.
And that sort of grief, it's just--
it takes a lot to get over.
And I don't know if I'll ever fully get over it.
And I miss her.
The song I'm singing tonight is one of her favorite songs.
I wanted to sing it tonight to remember her
and send love out there to all the other gay boys
who have lost their mums, who was the most special person
in their life,
and to sing it for all of them.
♪ ♪
♪ Some say love, it is a river ♪
♪ ♪
♪ That drowns ♪
♪ The tender reed ♪
♪ Some say love ♪
♪ It is a razor ♪
♪ That leaves your soul to bleed ♪
♪ Some say love ♪
♪ It is a hunger ♪
♪ An endless aching need ♪
♪ ♪
♪ I say love ♪
♪ It is a flower ♪
♪ And you, it's only seed ♪
♪ And you think that love ♪
♪ Is only for the lucky ♪
♪ The lucky and the strong ♪
♪ Just remember ♪
♪ In the winter ♪
♪ Far beneath the bitter snow ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Lies the seed ♪
♪ That with the sun's love ♪
♪ In the spring becomes ♪
♪ The rose ♪
- Oh, I loved that.
I loved that.
[cheers and applause]
- Trevor Ashley, everybody!
Trevor, I know that's a really special song for you.
- It was my mother's favorite song.
And we lost her at the beginning of the year.
And I miss her so much.
- They gave me tissues in case you needed them,
and now I need them.
We also want to have a look at your first time--
it's not even fully your first time.
- Yes. - Oh, love it.
- Finally! - Love it.
Love it. Love it.
- My friend, Leslie, she put that face on me
and plopped a wig on my head, but we didn't have a frock.
So tonight, I've done a nice hairy chest...
- Oh. - Love it.
- Inspired by my hairy chest back then.
- [laughs] - Love it.
- Trevor, let's go to the panel.
I'm going to start with Michelle.
- You know, I just want to touch upon how lucky
you were to even have a mother that loved you,
supported you, accepted you, and encouraged you.
Though the time was cut short,
I guarantee you she is with you tonight in spirit, 100%.
That song is one of those songs that I feel,
even though it's a Bette Midler classic--
we all know it from the movie.
Vanessa and I actually went to the theater and saw it.
- Oh, wow. - Yes, back in the day.
- We were young.
It was-- it's just an iconic song.
I'm just going to say this, team.
This is the first pitch perfect song I've heard all season
yet, I think, so far.
Yeah. - Thank you.
- And you know what, it's really hard to sing
such an emotional song and still hold it
because the first thing that goes when you
get emotional is your voice.
But you did what you came to do.
- Thank you so much.
- We all were moved to tears because,
not even knowing the story, you made us feel like
we should know your story.
So congratulations for just being in the moment
and giving us that pure, simple energy.
- Thank you. - And you nailed it.
- And you look so beautiful. - Oh, thank you.
This is your best makeup you've done.
This is the standard now.
I mean, this is, like--this is Queen of the Universe shit.
I mean, you have to be this good forever now,
so good luck.
- Thanks. [laughter]
- Ladies and gentlemen, Trevor Ashley!
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- Tonight, in honor of their first time,
our queens have served sickening looks
and sung their padded asses off.
And now comes the hard part.
Studio audience, you've watched the performances,
and you've heard what our panel had to say.
Now it's time for you to vote for your favorite queen
of the night.
While you lock in your vote, here's a reminder
of tonight's performances.
- ♪ What a feeling ♪
- ♪ Love is a losing game ♪
- ♪ Let's get it crunk up on ♪
♪ Have fun up on up in this dancery ♪
- ♪ Oh, no ♪
- ♪ I hope you're somewhere praying, praying ♪
- ♪ It's not the way I hoped or how I planned ♪
- ♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm having such a good time ♪
- ♪ Becomes ♪
♪ The rose ♪
- Welcome back, queens.
You are all absolute stars.
But tonight, some of you shone brighter than others.
Our drag-loving studio audience has spoken.
[tense music]
The queens going through to the next stage
of the competition are...
♪ ♪
Jazell Royale!
♪ ♪
Trevor Ashley!
Maxie!
Taiga Brava!
♪ ♪
Three queens remain standing:
Viola,
Aura Eternal,
and Militia Scunt.
The final queen definitely staying
in the competition is...
♪ ♪
Viola!
♪ ♪
Aura Eternal, Militia Scunt,
would you like to step forward, please?
♪ ♪
Based on the audience vote,
you are the bottom two queens of the night.
Tonight, your fate lies in the hands of our pop diva panel.
I will come to each of you individually and ask
which one queen you want to save.
Mel.
♪ ♪
- The queen I'm gonna save,
I feel has more to give,
more to learn.
And that's
Militia Scunt.
[cheers and applause]
- Trixie, I turn to you.
- If I have to choose one of you,
I'm gonna choose to vote for Aura Eternal.
- Congratulations, Aura.
- Vanessa, who are you saving?
- Oh, I hate this part.
But as I said, I always want more.
And I was surprised by the more that I got.
And that was Aura Eternal.
I vote for you. You surprised me.
- Okay, that's
two votes for Aura Eternal,
one for Militia Scunt.
Michelle, you have the deciding vote.
Who are you going to choose?
- Tonight, though you both were great,
I saw a rebirth from Aura Eternal.
So I'm going to save her.
- Aura Eternal with three votes.
That means you are safe.
Congratulations, Aura.
You may join the other queens.
Well done.
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- Huge commiserations to Militia Scunt.
I'm so sorry.
[cheers and applause]
- Olé!
- I'm so honored to have been able to come out here
and, like, share with you what I love to do.
And I'll see y'all soon.
Y'all will see me soon, period.
- Well, thank you so much for making the US of A proud.
You leave us tonight, but your star
will continue to shine bright.
Militia Scunt, everybody!
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- Citizens of the world, I present our top six queens!
♪ ♪
All still in the running to be crowned Queen of the Universe
and win a grand prize of...
1/4 million dollars!
♪ ♪
But what have we got in store for you next time?
Well, our queens will be serving modern day bangers
with full-on choreography that would make
even Beyoncé take a disco nap.
Until then, shoulders back, tits out,
and always reach for the stars.
- ♪ Queen of the universe ♪
- ♪ She is the queen of the moment ♪
♪ She is the queen of the night ♪
♪ And she brought the heavens and brought the light ♪
♪ She's the queen of the universe ♪
♪ Queen of the universe ♪