cborgman said:

chocolate1 said:

Yes! And that's what I've been focusing on- how we would NOT get along...

no complaints from me.

a lot of people here and off the org seem to dislike her, and i get it.

I think a lot of it might be for show. Raja seems to be pretty down to earth at times, even compassionate. It was a no brainer for me between Raja and Shangela when they were going at it - Raja's got refinement and is well-spoken and Shangela is neither refined nor well-spoken. But I believe Raja must be a bit of a chameleon because the second Shangela isn't around he turns into a complete bitch. lol. Plus, that speech was so fucking lame. I felt he piggybacked off the theme of struggle from Yara's speech and then started CRYING. CRYING!!! Why the fuck is u cryin, ho!! And then that judge started bawling his gay ass eyes out too! WHAT. For as much as that judge stroked Raja's ego the whole damn time, I am curious if they knew each other prior to the competition since Raja does makeup and he is a well known photographer.

Edit: I keep subconsciously typing "he" when I refer to Raja but "she" for everyone else. I think this is in part because Raja plays up the androgyny shit like Nina Flowers did (only much less feminine than Nina Flowers, if you can imagine).

[Edited 4/12/11 23:22pm]

Spinlight said:

Edit: I keep subconsciously typing "he" when I refer to Raja but "she" for everyone else. I think this is in part because Raja plays up the androgyny shit like Nina Flowers did (only much less feminine than Nina Flowers, if you can imagine).

[Edited 4/12/11 23:22pm]

Yes!

I've had to go back and edit to keep it consistent.

Nina Flowers had a different vibe. I still saw a "she". If I passed her in the Village (NYC), I'd admire her style. I probably wouldn't look twice at "the dude in the dress" if I saw Raja. He comes off more like a performance artist to me, and even though he's creative, as a drag queen he doesn't excite me.

Spinlight said:

cborgman said:

no complaints from me.

a lot of people here and off the org seem to dislike her, and i get it.

I think a lot of it might be for show. Raja seems to be pretty down to earth at times, even compassionate. It was a no brainer for me between Raja and Shangela when they were going at it - Raja's got refinement and is well-spoken and Shangela is neither refined nor well-spoken. But I believe Raja must be a bit of a chameleon because the second Shangela isn't around he turns into a complete bitch. lol. Plus, that speech was so fucking lame. I felt he piggybacked off the theme of struggle from Yara's speech and then started CRYING. CRYING!!! Why the fuck is u cryin, ho!! And then that judge started bawling his gay ass eyes out too! WHAT. For as much as that judge stroked Raja's ego the whole damn time, I am curious if they knew each other prior to the competition since Raja does makeup and he is a well known photographer.

Edit: I keep subconsciously typing "he" when I refer to Raja but "she" for everyone else. I think this is in part because Raja plays up the androgyny shit like Nina Flowers did (only much less feminine than Nina Flowers, if you can imagine).

[Edited 4/12/11 23:22pm]

I don't know him but I do know Raja "supposedly" does have a friend that he's known for 15 years on the panel, which certainly could end up explaining a lot.

chocolate1 said:

Spinlight said:

Edit: I keep subconsciously typing "he" when I refer to Raja but "she" for everyone else. I think this is in part because Raja plays up the androgyny shit like Nina Flowers did (only much less feminine than Nina Flowers, if you can imagine).

[Edited 4/12/11 23:22pm]

Yes!

I've had to go back and edit to keep it consistent.

Nina Flowers had a different vibe. I still saw a "she". If I passed her in the Village (NYC), I'd admire her style. I probably wouldn't look twice at "the dude in the dress" if I saw Raja. He comes off more like a performance artist to me, and even though he's creative, as a drag queen he doesn't excite me.

The funny part is Raja "supposedly" has been doing drag for 20 years. It does not show. To me, he comes across as someone that started recently, though he's very creative with a whole lot of nerve. Unfortunately, the charisma, uniqueness and talent that I admire in drag queens just isn't there.

I understand that Shangela might not have been as "refined" as Raja but for someone who actually did start doing drag in the last year, she had way more of everything else than someone that's "supposedly" been doing it 20 years. I'm just saying.

johnart said:

chocolate1 said:

I agree. There was only one time when I thought it was lopsided.

Drag is not about exaggeration to the point of ridicule unless it's for comedic purposes. While Alexis is full of humor and wit, she continues to swear up and down that she's giving "sickening" body. She's not, she's giving a parody of a sickening body.

Huh? Have you seen the faces of all the queens on every single episode of this show? Sorry, but nobody is respecting the "ridicule line" within drag. Heck, my dear childhood friend Cymone (Saul) would be the first person to contest your statement.

cborgman said:

johnart said:

thankya.

and carmen vs. raja lip synch to "straight up" was incredile

It's fascinating to learn what each of us take from this show. I was thoroughly bored between the two. First off, I give Carmen zero credit for being a queen. While she's got the look down she has zero personality, zero charisma, zero nerve and zero talent. All she has is a booty. IMHO, just because she swept the floor like a wet rag does make up for her deficits.

Regarding Raja: Here's my issue with her, she just isn't entertaining. Even her spirts of "spunk" tend to be windup doll moments where she turns on and off her non-mode in an attempt to sway the judge's panel. Raja really sums up what's wrong with the judging of this show. Sure she can do face and wardrobe, uhh, that's her profession but can she really entertain? I submit the horrible The Other Tyra's absolut ads as Exhibit A.

sosgemini said:

cborgman said:

thankya.

and carmen vs. raja lip synch to "straight up" was incredile

It's fascinating to learn what each of us take from this show. I was thoroughly bored between the two. First off, I give Carmen zero credit for being a queen. While she's got the look down she has zero personality, zero charisma, zero nerve and zero talent. All she has is a booty. IMHO, just because she swept the floor like a wet rag does make up for her deficits.

Regarding Raja: Here's my issue with her, she just isn't entertaining. Even her spirts of "spunk" tend to be windup doll moments where she turns on and off her non-mode in an attempt to sway the judge's panel. Raja really sums up what's wrong with the judging of this show. Sure she can do face and wardrobe, uhh, that's her profession but can she really entertain? I submit the horrible The Other Tyra's absolut ads as Exhibit A.

I thought I was the only one who hates Tyra's commercials. That voice alone is awful.

She's so boring!

chocolate1 said:

sosgemini said:

It's fascinating to learn what each of us take from this show. I was thoroughly bored between the two. First off, I give Carmen zero credit for being a queen. While she's got the look down she has zero personality, zero charisma, zero nerve and zero talent. All she has is a booty. IMHO, just because she swept the floor like a wet rag does make up for her deficits.

Regarding Raja: Here's my issue with her, she just isn't entertaining. Even her spirts of "spunk" tend to be windup doll moments where she turns on and off her non-mode in an attempt to sway the judge's panel. Raja really sums up what's wrong with the judging of this show. Sure she can do face and wardrobe, uhh, that's her profession but can she really entertain? I submit the horrible The Other Tyra's absolut ads as Exhibit A.

I thought I was the only one who hates Tyra's commercials. That voice alone is awful.

She's so boring!

I can't stand Tyra or her voice.

chocolate1 said:

sosgemini said:

It's fascinating to learn what each of us take from this show. I was thoroughly bored between the two. First off, I give Carmen zero credit for being a queen. While she's got the look down she has zero personality, zero charisma, zero nerve and zero talent. All she has is a booty. IMHO, just because she swept the floor like a wet rag does make up for her deficits.

Regarding Raja: Here's my issue with her, she just isn't entertaining. Even her spirts of "spunk" tend to be windup doll moments where she turns on and off her non-mode in an attempt to sway the judge's panel. Raja really sums up what's wrong with the judging of this show. Sure she can do face and wardrobe, uhh, that's her profession but can she really entertain? I submit the horrible The Other Tyra's absolut ads as Exhibit A.

I thought I was the only one who hates Tyra's commercials. That voice alone is awful.

She's so boring!

Tyra's commercial scares me. I don't know if it's just the contacts or the make-up or what but this shit is creepy and she did not use to look like that!

Seriously off topic but this has me ROTFLMMFAO!

LeBron James' Mama is being sued for slapping the shit out of a valet in Miami Beach last Thursday.

Story here: http://www.tmz.com/2011/0...um=twitter

My question is...

Why in the fuck does LeBron James' Mama...look just like Raja?

Arent there rumors that she slept with Lebron's teammates:?

sosgemini said:

Arent there rumors that she slept with Lebron's teammates:?

Well, yes. There is that "rumor".

http://recentissuetoday.c...st-affair/

I don't know if it's true or not...nor do I care.

The picture I posted was recent and everybody here knows that I didn't think Raja presented any "womanly qualities" enough in his drag.

However...errr...uhhh... Now...after seeing that pic of LeBron James' MAMA...seriously looking like a "pretty boy in drag"...I just don't know what in the fuck to think anymore!

HELP!

I've never seen this show...I'm bored so going to watch se 3, ep 1 right now.

JustErin said:

I've never seen this show...I'm bored so going to watch se 3, ep 1 right now.

Knock yourself out. Just be sure to recognize that your bordom is a direct result...of the nothingness that is..."pay for view" digital TV"!

sosgemini said:

johnart said:

Drag is not about exaggeration to the point of ridicule unless it's for comedic purposes. While Alexis is full of humor and wit, she continues to swear up and down that she's giving "sickening" body. She's not, she's giving a parody of a sickening body.

Huh? Have you seen the faces of all the queens on every single episode of this show? Sorry, but nobody is respecting the "ridicule line" within drag. Heck, my dear childhood friend Cymone (Saul) would be the first person to contest your statement.

Outrageous, artistic, avant-garde, outlandish...these things are different from ridicule. Hips that look like hams for no reason, when the rest of you is supposedly selling "realness" and "sickening body" are ridiculous looking IMO.

johnart said:

sosgemini said:

Huh? Have you seen the faces of all the queens on every single episode of this show? Sorry, but nobody is respecting the "ridicule line" within drag. Heck, my dear childhood friend Cymone (Saul) would be the first person to contest your statement.

Outrageous, artistic, avant-garde, outlandish...these things are different from ridicule. Hips that look like hams for no reason, when the rest of you is supposedly selling "realness" and "sickening body" are ridiculous looking IMO.

So Raja and her boy-drag is avant-garde while Alexis' is outlandish? Please share how that makes since? At least Alexis has the proper drag gender. As I've said previously, Raja appears to be running for America's Next Androgynous Superstar, not Drag queen. And don't tell me he is being cutting edge, this isn't the 70s. Maybe he has been listening to his buddy buddy Adam Lambert (who swears he is the first queer artist) too much. Revisionist history is not reality.

sosgemini said:

johnart said:

Outrageous, artistic, avant-garde, outlandish...these things are different from ridicule. Hips that look like hams for no reason, when the rest of you is supposedly selling "realness" and "sickening body" are ridiculous looking IMO.

So Raja and her boy-drag is avant-garde while Alexis' is outlandish? Please share how that makes since? At least Alexis has the proper drag gender. As I've said previously, Raja appears to be running for America's Next Androgynous Superstar, not Drag queen. And don't tell me he is being cutting edge, this isn't the 70s. Maybe he has been listening to his buddy buddy Adam Lambert (who swears he is the first queer artist) too much. Revisionist history is not reality.

Completely different aesthetics.

I'm not making an argument for Raja over Alexis. I've already stated that while I have no issue with any of the remaining contestants winning my preference is Alexis/Manila for the win.

I can be on Team Alexis and still think her hips look ridiculous for her proportions. And I can think this without it having anything to do with Raja.

You asked if I'd seen the faces of the other contestants. Yes I have. For me Yara gives avant-gard face fairly often. I don't think Manila has given ridiculous face (aside from the monkey character). Carmen and Delta did not give ridiculous face. Mariah, for sure did not give ridiculous face (or body).

[Edited 4/13/11 22:28pm]

johnart said:

sosgemini said:

So Raja and her boy-drag is avant-garde while Alexis' is outlandish? Please share how that makes since? At least Alexis has the proper drag gender. As I've said previously, Raja appears to be running for America's Next Androgynous Superstar, not Drag queen. And don't tell me he is being cutting edge, this isn't the 70s. Maybe he has been listening to his buddy buddy Adam Lambert (who swears he is the first queer artist) too much. Revisionist history is not reality.

Completely different aesthetics.

I'm not making an argument for Raja over Alexis. I've already stated that while I have no issue with any of the remaining contestants winning my preference is Alexis/Manila for the win.

I can be on Team Alexis and still think her hips look ridiculous for her proportions. And I can think this without it having anything to do with Raja.

You asked if I'd seen the faces of the other contestants. Yes I have. For me Yara gives avant-gard face fairly often. I don't think Manila has given ridiculous face (aside from the monkey character). Carmen and Delta did not give ridiculous face. Mariah, for sure did not give ridiculous face (or body).

[Edited 4/13/11 22:28pm]

If I may interject for just a moment. I am eagerly awaiting your post show interview with Yara. I really like her.

johnart said:

sosgemini said:

So Raja and her boy-drag is avant-garde while Alexis' is outlandish? Please share how that makes since? At least Alexis has the proper drag gender. As I've said previously, Raja appears to be running for America's Next Androgynous Superstar, not Drag queen. And don't tell me he is being cutting edge, this isn't the 70s. Maybe he has been listening to his buddy buddy Adam Lambert (who swears he is the first queer artist) too much. Revisionist history is not reality.

Completely different aesthetics.

I'm not making an argument for Raja over Alexis. I've already stated that while I have no issue with any of the remaining contestants winning my preference is Alexis/Manila for the win.

I can be on Team Alexis and still think her hips look ridiculous for her proportions. And I can think this without it having anything to do with Raja.

You asked if I'd seen the faces of the other contestants. Yes I have. For me Yara gives avant-gard face fairly often. I don't think Manila has given ridiculous face (aside from the monkey character). Carmen and Delta did not give ridiculous face. Mariah, for sure did not give ridiculous face (or body).

[Edited 4/13/11 22:28pm]

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

johnart said:

Completely different aesthetics.

I'm not making an argument for Raja over Alexis. I've already stated that while I have no issue with any of the remaining contestants winning my preference is Alexis/Manila for the win.

I can be on Team Alexis and still think her hips look ridiculous for her proportions. And I can think this without it having anything to do with Raja.

You asked if I'd seen the faces of the other contestants. Yes I have. For me Yara gives avant-gard face fairly often. I don't think Manila has given ridiculous face (aside from the monkey character). Carmen and Delta did not give ridiculous face. Mariah, for sure did not give ridiculous face (or body).

[Edited 4/13/11 22:28pm]

If I may interject for just a moment. I am eagerly awaiting your post show interview with Yara. I really like her.

In a few days.

sosgemini said:

johnart said:

Completely different aesthetics.

I'm not making an argument for Raja over Alexis. I've already stated that while I have no issue with any of the remaining contestants winning my preference is Alexis/Manila for the win.

I can be on Team Alexis and still think her hips look ridiculous for her proportions. And I can think this without it having anything to do with Raja.

You asked if I'd seen the faces of the other contestants. Yes I have. For me Yara gives avant-gard face fairly often. I don't think Manila has given ridiculous face (aside from the monkey character). Carmen and Delta did not give ridiculous face. Mariah, for sure did not give ridiculous face (or body).

[Edited 4/13/11 22:28pm]

Where the heck did my comment go?

Let me try again, I was pointing out the the majorty (like 90%) of those on Drag Race go for the exagerrated look and are catty towards others who project a more authentic beauty (hello, are we forgetting last season?---and btw Carmen is hot as a dude and straight up plain as a female in the face---if he realized this, maybe his personality would be better).

Anyhoo, Raja isn't going for either one. He is straight up going for David Boiw II.

sosgemini said:

sosgemini said:

Where the heck did my comment go?

Let me try again, I was pointing out the the majorty (like 90%) of those on Drag Race go for the exagerrated look and are catty towards others who project a more authentic beauty (hello, are we forgetting last season?---and btw Carmen is hot as a dude and straight up plain as a female in the face---if he realized this, maybe his personality would be better).

Anyhoo, Raja isn't going for either one. He is straight up going for David Boiw II.

Well for sure, down the line I see Raja being more of a gender-bending performance (live or in images) artist. I think she'd fulfill her drag duties well enough if winner but that's where I think her forte is.

I'm an old school pageant queen so I'm all about keeping authentic beauty alive even if you're current. And I do think you can do both. Perhaps out of the three that is Manila...somewhere inthe middle.

johnart said:

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

If I may interject for just a moment. I am eagerly awaiting your post show interview with Yara. I really like her.

In a few days.

:O

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sosgemini said:

sosgemini said:

Where the heck did my comment go?

Let me try again, I was pointing out the the majorty (like 90%) of those on Drag Race go for the exagerrated look and are catty towards others who project a more authentic beauty (hello, are we forgetting last season?---and btw Carmen is hot as a dude and straight up plain as a female in the face---if he realized this, maybe his personality would be better).

Anyhoo, Raja isn't going for either one. He is straight up going for David Boiw II.

Oh my goodness, you think Carmen is hot as a dude!??!?! Barf.

[img:$uid]http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/74105_149220995124382_115027358543746_243148_3090340_n.jpg[/img:$uid]

CUTE!!!

[img:$uid]http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/76026_149223901790758_115027358543746_243201_6802003_n.jpg[/img:$uid]

Not cute ;(

johnart said:

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

If I may interject for just a moment. I am eagerly awaiting your post show interview with Yara. I really like her.

In a few days.

Pins and needles. Needles and pins.

A happy Bitch....is a Bitch that will ALWAYS...grin!

Spinlight said:

cborgman said:

no complaints from me.

a lot of people here and off the org seem to dislike her, and i get it.

I think a lot of it might be for show. Raja seems to be pretty down to earth at times, even compassionate. It was a no brainer for me between Raja and Shangela when they were going at it - Raja's got refinement and is well-spoken and Shangela is neither refined nor well-spoken. But I believe Raja must be a bit of a chameleon because the second Shangela isn't around he turns into a complete bitch. lol. Plus, that speech was so fucking lame. I felt he piggybacked off the theme of struggle from Yara's speech and then started CRYING. CRYING!!! Why the fuck is u cryin, ho!! And then that judge started bawling his gay ass eyes out too! WHAT. For as much as that judge stroked Raja's ego the whole damn time, I am curious if they knew each other prior to the competition since Raja does makeup and he is a well known photographer.

Edit: I keep subconsciously typing "he" when I refer to Raja but "she" for everyone else. I think this is in part because Raja plays up the androgyny shit like Nina Flowers did (only much less feminine than Nina Flowers, if you can imagine).

[Edited 4/12/11 23:22pm]

granted, yara was more emotional, and more emotionally impactful, but i dont think raja was piggy-backing. the gay community has very similar issues, and i dont think yara's pain is the only valid or the only example of it.

sosgemini said:

cborgman said:

thankya.

and carmen vs. raja lip synch to "straight up" was incredile

It's fascinating to learn what each of us take from this show. I was thoroughly bored between the two. First off, I give Carmen zero credit for being a queen. While she's got the look down she has zero personality, zero charisma, zero nerve and zero talent. All she has is a booty. IMHO, just because she swept the floor like a wet rag does make up for her deficits.

Regarding Raja: Here's my issue with her, she just isn't entertaining. Even her spirts of "spunk" tend to be windup doll moments where she turns on and off her non-mode in an attempt to sway the judge's panel. Raja really sums up what's wrong with the judging of this show. Sure she can do face and wardrobe, uhh, that's her profession but can she really entertain? I submit the horrible The Other Tyra's absolut ads as Exhibit A.

honestly, that was the only time i was even remotely interested in carmen the entire season. i totally agree that while she is hella-pretty, she is a total zero otherwise. i've said it before (and took heat for it) in past seasons, but really tame lip-synching and looking pretty is not a talent. i think carmen is arguably the most boring drag queen the show has ever offered up.

i find raja very entertaining. but i am a big fan of ironic humor. i think raja's talent and entertainment stems from her very meta-cognitive and ironic drag. it's fascniating and quite funny to me. her african tribal look was one of the most clever, funny, and yet still sexy and really fashion forward (in an ironic sense) drag looks i have ever seen. and i also thinks she's very funny and witty any time she talks

just my opinion, but i would be more likely to go see a raja show than i would 90% of the queens the show has offered. i think she is right up there with pandora box and ongina for me

Spinlight said:

chocolate1 said:

I thought I was the only one who hates Tyra's commercials. That voice alone is awful.

She's so boring!

I can't stand Tyra or her voice.

add me to the list of people bored to death by her. i would have chosen raven

and in general, i have yet to agree with either win.

while bebe was a lovely person, i was much more fascinated by nina flowers. and both of my faves of that season were offed rather quickly. i though ongina was by far the most compelling and interesting for me, and tammie brown was doing something radically different that i found very interesting.

second season was all about jujubeee and pandora for me, cause they both had very sharp wits. raven was much more interesting to me than tyra, who i found to be a pretty girl, but nothing more than a show pony.

i think my interest in drag tends to be much more in the odd and unconventional. i suppose it comes from an early love of john waters. divine really set the standard for me. i find traditional drag queens generally very boring.

OMG: Tammy Brown.