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ARE ALL FORMS OF DRAG ACCEPTED ON RPDR?: ADORE DELANO AS2
While the show and RuPaul say they encourage diversity and that there’s no one standard for drag, at times it seems that some styles of drag just don’t fit in. There have been times when a queen has gone home that made me wonder whether she really was the weakest contestant left in the competition, or whether it was more about her drag style not conforming to what RuPaul deems good drag.
The surprise of All-Stars season 2 was Adore Delano’s early departure, not through elimination, but through a decision of her own to “tap out” of the competition. Although RuPaul assured a teary-eyed Adore, “I love all forms of drag”, it didn't feel like Adore's drag was loved on the show her second time around. Harsh critiques of her look in the first episode were what led her to consider leaving and ultimately she decided to do so.
Had she stayed, would Adore’s style of drag really have been acceptable?
A fan favorite from season 6, Adore seemed to have the potential to do very well in the competition the second time around. She had made it to the top 3 on season 6 as a younger queen still working on her drag and has experienced success since being off the show both as a queen and a singer. In season 6, Adore always had a drag style that was a bit out of the norm compared to other queens.
In both looks and personality, Adore is more likely to serve edgy teen pop star realness than glamazon or old-school diva. From her blonde wigs with dark roots, to her often-worn cutoff denim shorts, to her signature lines of “party!” and “i’m a Libra”, Adore sets herself apart.
Her unique aesthetic clearly differs from other queens and their style. On her own season, Adore was a younger queen, clearly talented, but working on becoming more polished. She was pushed to improve and the judges reminded her that they were tough because they wanted her to improve. As she returned to the competition on All Stars, she entered the workroom with a classic, on-brand, Adore Delano look.
Adore returned to Drag Race ready to serve her well-established aesthetic. But the judges weren't buying it. Michelle immediately went in on Adore's look and read her for wearing "...a 14th street dress that doesn't fit..." Michelle did not spare Adore's feelings whatsoever in her critique.
"First and foremost, this is All Stars Season 2. This is the best of the best. I mean, we are looking at such a powerhouse of talent. I’m going to break down all the T. If you get hurt, get over it and up your game...It’s just, I expected more for you."
Adore found it difficult to once again be judged by Michelle, who she had worked and toured with since season 6 ended. She talked about her success outside of drag race and how the way she performs and what she wears is normally met with approval and praise from her fans. She was surprised to be “put back into a bubble of cinching my waist” and she began to doubt her place in the competition.
In the second episode, she revealed to Ru that she was thinking of leaving because Michelle's critiques were overly harsh and she eventually decided to leave the competition. There has been much speculation since her departure on whether or not she regrets it and why she did it.
The answer seems unclear, but I believe that after spending time developing her drag and building a career, Adore realized that staying in the competition would put her up against a yardstick she didn't want to be measured by. By returning to the competition of Drag Race, she wasn't able to be an individual because regardless of what was said, her style was not accepted. When she spoke to Michelle in the second episode, Michelle tried to get her to stay. However even in her apology and explanation, she tried to encourage Adore to change her look.
Although RuPaul says that all forms of drag are welcome on the show, the truth is that only some forms of drag are praised and accepted. Part of this has to do with the fact that as much as RuPaul may intend to celebrate drag, the competition is a reality show and has to sell. While I think it's a mistake to think that Adore's alternative style of drag would somehow make her less lovable to fans of the show, RuPaul and the producers of the show have to consider what will play well with audiences and ensure the success of Drag Race.
When it comes to Adore, glamour is not the driving force behind her drag. I feel that the show does allow for queens to show a certain level of individuality and boundary pushing, glamour still has to be at the center of their looks at least most of the time. We see this emphasized not only in the competition and what is judged kindly, but in RuPaul's drag and the looks he features every week on the main stage. I think it's fair to say glamour is an important part of the show and the way that RuPaul wants to present drag.
Starting in season 6, Adore's style of drag was a problem for her success in the competition. While Ru and the judges maintained that Adore's unique style was a good thing, there were constant critiques to look more polished, wear a full-length gown, and cinch her waist, etc. She did make it to the top three, but only after taking this criticism and adapting her drag to what the judges wanted to see.
I think as a younger queen in season 6, she didn't mind making these changes because she was eager to learn and improve. However in the episode where she decides to leave, she talks about having struggled with changing her style to what other people wanted before realizing she was unhappy and working hard to be confident in who she really is.
Although Michelle or other judges try to call Adore's style unpolished or lazy, Adore has a very clear idea of what she's doing.
"The Adore thing is the flannel and the fuckin’ riot girl and grunge-inspired 90’s movement kinda thing and uh...it’s such a sensitive subject for me. To work with hundreds of queens that don’t get it. And then to come back here and I feel like Michelle did not take me seriously. I believe in beauty in a denim jacket and barefoot."
None of that sounds polished. But to Adore and her fans, that's not what matters.
I think Adore realized that if she had stayed, she would have continued to be harshly judged and forced back into a box that she has worked so hard to break free from. Her decision to "tap out" was not weak or motivated by fear. She knew that she wasn't going to fit in, and at the end of the day that's not what she was there to do.
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