What was the twist in RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18?

Season 18 of RuPaul's Drag Race featured a two-part talent show where contestants held the power of elimination through Rate-A-Queen rules, rather than relying on judges.

How did the Rate-A-Queen twist affect RuPaul's Drag Race?

The twist shifted the competition's focus from performances and runways to social strategy and subjective voting, creating insecurity among contestants.

Did eliminated queen Ciara Myst like the Drag Race twist?

No, Ciara Myst felt the twist was more suited to an 'All Stars' format and changed the show into an episode of "Survivor" or "The Traitors."

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Drag Race Fans Question "Survivor" Twist

Drag Race Fans Question "Survivor" Twist

7 Feb

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Summary

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 featured a risky two-part talent show format.
Contestants, not judges, held power via Rate-A-Queen rules.
Eliminated queen Ciara Myst felt the twist shifted focus to social strategy.

Drag Race Fans Question "Survivor" Twist

The latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race has viewers questioning the show's dramatic format shift. Season 18 recently implemented a two-part talent show, a departure from the traditional judging panel, giving contestants complete power through Rate-A-Queen rules.

This experimental twist, which began in early February 2026, was met with criticism from one of the recently eliminated queens. Ciara Myst described the change as feeling more akin to social strategy-based shows like "Survivor" or "The Traitors."

She further elaborated that the focus moved away from weekly performances and runways, becoming instead about subjective justifications for votes. This shift reportedly created widespread insecurity and fractured alliances among the contestants as they navigated the unfamiliar dynamics.

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