Drag Race UK vs The World episode one power rankings: ‘Jimbo ascends’

Words: Jamie Tabberer; pictures: BBC

Drag Race UK vs The World burst on to screens on Tuesday night (1 February) amid a frenzy of hype for the franchise’s first-ever international crossover series.

After processing the laugh-out-loud moments, unexpected apologies and shock exits, we’re ready to see where the queens stand in our own (highly subjective) rankings after one episode.

As we all know with Drag Race though, one week you can be the cock of the walk, and the next a feather duster (or, as is more likely, feather boa)…

1) Jimbo

The clown jumpsuit with the heart on the backside? We want it. But with her latter outfits, Jimbo went to places her rivals wouldn’t dare; you could hear the cogs whirring as Baga and Cheryl tried to decipher their value. (They’d have clicked for Joe Black and Charity Kase). 

That meat-pregnant ghost was envelope-pushing, destined to go down in Drag Race folklore alongside Sasha Velour’s head of petals, and that beautiful, regal nightmare runway to finish? Straight out of an elevated horror movie, à la ‘The Bride of Babadook’.

Intelligent and fascinating, Jimbo’s an early frontrunner.

2) Pangina Heals

The cast reaction upon Pangina’s arrival said it all: she’s upper echelon, with critic-proof lewks worthy of Hollywood red carpets and graceful, easygoing warmth. There were tight dance moves to boot, plus a headpiece as delicate and beautiful as the bone structure on her face. 

For all that laser sharp focus, though, Pangina let a gorgeous touch of vulnerability shine through – she’s a franchise host who’s never actually competed before, after all. It was the secret ingredient to a winning week.

That her and Jimbo’s lip syncs didn’t pop is the producers’ fault: there are better-suited songs in the Spice Girls’ discography than the midtempo ‘Say You’ll Be There’.

3) Blu Hydrangea

Blu’s riotous, youthful silliness was out in force for her first look: a Marge Simpson-meets-the-Smurfs mindscrew. She channelled US cheerleaders for her second look, a production that might’ve landed as stereotypical were it not for some simple but effective puppetry and theatrical storytelling that resonated with a gleeful Jimbo. 

Her finest moment, though, was bravely calling out Mo for prior rude behaviour (credit to Mo for taking it on the chin and apologising). Blu might’ve taken the episode were it not for that disorderly and off-brief third look, by which point the zaniness was getting irksome.

4) Mo Heart

Mo’s decadent, Quality Street-esque green gown was this writer’s favourite ensemble of the night. Meanwhile her astonishing Janet Jackson-adjacent song, performed in a red PVC bodysuit akin to Britney’s in the ‘Oops!’ video, was everything. She oozed confidence throughout.

Like many US queens though, that untouchability can be overbearing when placed in contrast to lesser-experienced queens who rose to fame after her. As such, it’s easy to picture that interaction with Blu in Belfast – the recounting of which took the shine off an otherwise strong week for Mo.

5) Baga Chipz

Talk about a glow up: how sensational did Baga look as Princess Diana? From the collared gown to the stiff body language, it was quite an uncanny recreation, and a gutsy, unexpected move to open with. 

Baga was squarely back in her comfort zone for the talent show, however, with an endearingly ramshackle, if vocally bulldozing performance. Elsewhere, that Oscars statue concept showed some lateral thinking, but looked bizarre and clunky. Nevertheless, this powerhouse personality isn’t going anywhere yet.

6) Jujubee

We see Juju going the distance, too: she’s Drag Race royalty who lends the show gravitas. Last night, though, one could be forgiven for expecting a little more from a seasoned Drag Race veteran. She looked stunning – all figure-hugging dresses and glossy hair and make-up – but that’s a visual even Michelle’s got down to a fine art at this point.

Amidst the madcap comedy and infantile talk-singing, though, Jujubee’s attractive singing voice was a breath of fresh air, and a stark reminder of star power that should not be underestimated. 

7) Cheryl Hole

Is Cheryl’s self-deprecation charming or frustrating? Inarguably it’s self-defeating: her first two looks did nothing to reinvent the Essex girl wheel, and looked increasingly middle-of-the-road next to the likes of Jimbo and Blu. 

She redeemed herself, however, with the va-va-voom boldness and glamour of her final look – we’re getting Elvira meets Elvis meets Dolly Parton – demonstrating that there is more to Cheryl than the Barbie-esque box she puts herself in. Also, her wigs are pretty lux.

8) Janey Jacké

It was a soft start for Drag Race Holland runner-up Janey: the pop star-ready teal bodysuit was eye-catching, but the five-looks-in-one for the talent show was rightly called out for messiness. 

Her lacy final look had weirdness and edge, in that it (perhaps unintentionally) resembled raw flesh: you can imagine Bimini rocking it, or Gaga after the 2010 MVAs, in a demurer version of the meat dress. Crestfallen and withdrawn by the episode’s end, however, Janey lacked the confidence to pull it off. 

Eliminated: Lemon

In a sign of how punishing the standards on Drag Race now are, Lemon’s talent show performance, despite being a lot of fun, played out as predictable, and the death-defying high jump hackneyed.

And while the dusty yellow of that last dress was exquisite, amidst its sweetness, one couldn’t help but crave the acidic, bitter lemon of the UK’s own Ginny. Quite why there are only three UK queens when the spin-off is titled Drag Race UK Verses… by the way, is anyone’s guess. 

Drag Race UK Verses the World continues next Tuesday 8 February at 9pm on BBC Three.