The queens of RuPaul's Drag Race know that it takes charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to snatch the crown — but it also takes observational skills (CUNTOS just doesn't have the same ring to it, y'know?). The queens have to enter the Werk Room confident in their own abilities, but they also need to be able to clock the competition. What talents are the other divas bringing to the challenges? You have to know what you're werking with and who you're werking against.
When Pop Heist got the chance to chat with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17, we had one question at the top of our list: what talents would these fierce queens steal from each other, Rogue-style? Some queens answered strategically, zeroing in on their fellow competitor's signature strength. And some queens answered straight from their hearts, truly giving in an answer to a question about taking.
Below you'll find the answers these divas gave to our question, "Which talent would you steal from the other queens on this call?" It's a kiki about strategy — and also camaraderie.
Lydia B Kollins: I would steal Suzie's very fashionable and very chic wardrobe. I think that she is just the one. And I would steal from Lexi — your ability to perform the way that you move is coveted by me. And if I can move like that, I would
Suzie Toot: From Lexi, I would absolutely steal the modeling talent. There is something about knowing how to pose and be in front of a camera that Lexi understands in such a crazy, crazy way. And from Lydia: People don't know this, but Lydia is actually very proficient with defusing bombs, and there's been many times in my life where I've needed to defuse a bomb quickly, and I wish that I had Lydia's skill for that.
Lexi Love: Absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. I'm just kidding! I think that I would absolutely love to have Suzie's ability to process things and stay level-headed and and just be reasonable. Sometimes I think even though I might look like an angel, I do get a little hot headed. You know, she's kind of old and set in her ways. And Miss Butthole? I think I would like to steal your heart, because you're just so freaking adorable. I'm obsessed with you. I love you to death. I would be your sorority sister and live in a little sorority house with you.
Lydia B Kollins: I love you too.
Onya Nurve: First and foremost, Kori King, I would love to steal whatever corset she is wearing and whatever pads she got on, because the waist is non existent and the ass is from one coast to the other, honey. What I want to steal from Joella is that drag. That drag is fantastic and that mug is untouchable.
Joella: Thank you! I would like to steal [Onya and Kori's] charisma. When I watch them and I'm around them, I can't help but to feel like I'm just having a good time, because these bitches are just so funny. They're so charismatic and I just want at least half of what they have.
Kori King: Onya: I want to steal her voice. She's an amazing singer and if I could sing, that would be such a great thing to have. However, I cannot do that. And Joella: I want to steal her shoes. Joella has some sickening, sickening shoes. Honey! That collection is something that I want.
Acacia Forgot: I think the talent that I would steal from anybody would be Lexi Love's legs. I would steal those.
Arrietty: He said us three, bitch!
Sam Star: She don't want our talents.
Acacia: They don't have talents that I would want to steal, that's okay. No, I think if I was just steal anything I would steal. Arrietty's makeup skills, because that is literally next level.
Arrietty: I mean, I'm going to steal Acacia's answer: Lana's legs. The legs. I want the legs.
Sam Star: I would steal Arrietty's interesting, creative mind, because she just creates the most amazing concepts that I don't think anyone in the world could think of. So it's definitely a talent, and I think it's specific to her. So shout out to Arrietty.
Lana Ja'Rae: I would steal Acacia's voice, Sam's charisma, and Arrietty's mind. I just want to sit in Arrietty's mind for a day, just to understand what the fuck is going on inside.
Hormona Lisa: From Jewels, I feel like she lives in the moment so much and everything that she — I'm not gonna cry, I don't know why — but everything she does and how she interacts with the world is so genuine. And I don't think she thinks about what she's doing. She just does it, and I think that's such an important quality and something that I wish that I would have. And from Crystal, probably my favorite drag queen, I think her mug is so good, but that's just something she can do with her hands. I think what we give from inside is important, and I think that Crystal is one of the most surprising people with how nice and generous she is. And I just think that's so special. And tell your parents, your guardians, that I said they did a good job with you!
Crystal Envy: [Crying/laughing] It's so early in the morning! Oh my God. A quality from my beautiful sister Hormona that I would love to steal is her effervescence. She has this heartwarming quality. When you're near her, you want to hug her and be around her. You feel really safe when you're near her. So whenever I'm with my sister Harmona, I feel at home. She feels like another mom to me. It's just really a heartwarming and comforting feeling you have when you're around Miss Hormona. And not to piggyback off of what Hormona said about Jewels, but Jewels does have this phenomenal live-in-the-moment quality about life. She's young. Me and Hormona are a little older than Miss Jewels, but Jewels is just such a phenomenal, phenomenal person to be around. She makes you just want to have fun. Everyone wants to have fun when you're around Miss Jewels Sparkles. I also wish I could do the splits like Miss Jewels.
Jewels Sparkles: Oh my God. That was so sweet. Thank you.
Crystal Envy: Such a great question.
Jewels Sparkles: What I would take from Crystal? Okay, not only is she the kindest and sweetest person, most generous, thoughtful, all of that — she's fucking gorgeous and her makeup skills? Yeah, I would steal your makeup skills, bitch. And Hormona: I mean, just look at her. Her commitment to her character and her brand in drag is something so incredible. There's not a lot of queens where you can look at them and be like, "That's a Hormona look." She just knows exactly what her brand is in drag. I love that and I want that.
New episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 premiere on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on MTV
