Monopulence!
| (This table may not be a final or consensus view; it may summarize developing consensus, or reflect assessments of a single editor.) | ||||
| Source | Independent? | Reliable? | Significant coverage? | Count source toward GNG? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autostraddle | 
|
|
|
✔ Yes |
| IN Magazine |
|
|
|
✔ Yes |
| Vulture |
|
|
|
✔ Yes |
| Xtra Magazine |
|
|
|
✔ Yes |
| Table created using {{source assess table}} | ||||
| "Monopulence!" | |
|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 17 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Nick Murray |
| Presented by | RuPaul |
| Featured music | "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" by Paula Abdul |
| Original air date | January 17, 2025 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
Search Monopulence! on Amazon.
"Monopulence!" is the third episode of the seventeenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, and the 226th episode overall.[1][2][3] The episode first aired through cable network MTV on January 17, 2025. It was followed by an episode of the companion series RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. The episode's main challenge tasks contestants with designing a monochromatic outfit inspired from board game Monopoly. Sandra Bernhard is a guest judge, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Ts Madison. Sam Star wins the main challenge. Lucky Starzzz is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync contest against Joella to "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (1988) by Paula Abdul.
Episode
All fourteen contestants return to the Werk Room after Hormona Lisa was saved from elimination because she pulled a correct lever on the previous episode. On a new day, RuPaul greets the contestants and reveals the main challenge, which tasks contestants with designing a Monopoly-inspired look for the runway.[4] The category is "Monopulence". The contestants draw cards to win money and determine which color to use for the challenge, then create their looks in the Werk Room. RuPaul visits to offer individual feedback and leaves the results of the Rate-A-Queen votes.[5] The contestants review the results together, then continue to work on their runway looks.
In the Werk Room on elimination day, Hormona Lisa removes rhinestones from her outfit, in order to comply with a rule requiring use of supplied materials. Jewels Sparkles and Onya Nurve have an argument over the latter stealing material from Jewels Sparkles, after Jewels Sparkles helped Onya Nurve with her outfit.[6][7]
On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes regular panelists Michelle Visage and Ts Madison, as well as guest judge Sandra Bernhard. The contestants present their looks on the runway and the judges deliberate. Arrietty, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star place in the top. Sam Star is declared the winner of the main challenge. Joella and Lucky Starzzz place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync contest to "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (1988) by Paula Abdul. Lucky Starzzz loses and is given the opportunity to pull one of nine levers that may cause Visage to be dropped into a dunk tank. Lucky Starzzz chooses an incorrect lever and is eliminated from the competition. She returns to the Werk Room to write a message on the mirror using lipstick.[8]
Production
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The episode originally aired on January 17, 2025.
Lucky Starzzz's exit line is "RuPaul, it's Starz-z-z-zah!". The message she writes on the mirror at the end of the episode reads, "Lucky Starzzzzzzzz was here! And don't you forget it! Keep on shining my 13 lucky stars."[9]
Fashion
For the runway, Lucky Starzzz, Hormona Lisa, and Lexi Love present orange-colored outfits. Suzie Toot, Arrietty, and Lana Ja'Rae wear red dresses. Suzie Toot has a headpiece with devil horns. Acacia Forgot, Kori King, and Lydia B Kollins present yellow dresses. Joella, Onya Nurve, and Jewels Sparkles wear green dresses. Sam Star and Crystal Envy present blue dresses.[10]
Reception
Jason P. Frank of Vulture rated the episode five out of five stars.[6] Stephen Daw of Billboard said of "Monopulence!": "Episode 3 is filled to the brim with classic Drag Race tropes audiences have come to look for, while also giving viewers some new moments of juicy drama in between. Bickering back and forth over the premiere's Rate-A-Queen rankings? Girls still somehow not knowing how to sew in season 17? A literal jewel heist? Yeah, episode 3 has everything." Daw ranked "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" fourteenth in the magazine's list of the season's lip-sync performances, writing: "Joella utilized the words to her advantage, kept the judges focused on her and pulled off a series of solid (and yes, basic) stunts. Lucky Starzzz gave a good effort, but her performance came off as sweaty and sloppy as she tried to pull out every trick in her bag to remain in the competition. Say what you will about Joella, but one thing is for sure — she cleared the boards with her Paula performance."[11] Raja and Raven "tooted" Joella's look on Fashion Photo RuView.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citeq at line 53: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value)., Wikidata Q137426754
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citeq at line 53: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value)., Wikidata Q137426757
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citeq at line 53: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value)., Wikidata Q137426806
- ↑ "Watch RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 Episode 3 live for free or on demand". The Oregonian. 2025-01-17. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
- ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 3: A Fateful Week for One South Florida Queen". Miami New Times. 2025-01-17. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in Module:Citeq at line 53: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value)., Wikidata Q137426588
- ↑ Tourangeau, Ariana (2025-01-18). "How to watch 'Untucked: RuPaul's Drag Race' episode 3 for free tonight". The Republican. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
- ↑ Robledo, Jordan (2025-01-19). "Drag Race season 17: Eliminated queen addresses shock exit". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ↑ "Every 'Drag Race' season 17 eliminated queen and the crowned winner". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ↑ "Monopulence!". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 17. Episode 3. January 17, 2025. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
- ↑ Daw, Stephen (2025-04-14). "Every Lip Sync From 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17, Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ↑ Guerra, Joey. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Q&A: Joella says she 'didn't really realize how mean I was'". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 8, 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
External links
 Joella & Lucky Starzzz’s Paula Abdul Lip Sync 💓 RuPaul’s Drag Race on YouTube | |
| FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 Ep 3 - Monopulence! on YouTube |
- Monopulence! at IMDb
- Drag Race RuCap: "Monopulence!", The Film Experience
- ‘Drag Race’ Brings Monopulence To The Main Stage, Out South Florida
- RuPaul’s Drag Race: Monopulence! (S17 E03), Werrrk
- ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 17, Episode 3 power ranking: The queens united, Xtra Magazine
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