The third episode of season 18 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” saw Columbia’s Kenya Pleaser cruising through a live sketch comedy challenge and down the catwalk.
Pleaser is a Manning native who came up in Columbia’s drag scene and is the first S.C. queen to take to the main stage on the popular MTV reality competition show. After a bottom-two placement in the premiere, “the Lizzo of drag” has found her footing in the Werk Room, though not enough to rise to the level of top two.
In the Jan. 16 episode, the 12 remaining queens were cast in “RDR Live,” a parody of “Saturday Night Live.” Much of the contestant dynamics focused on the rivalry heating up between Briar Blush and Athena Dion.
The crux of the challenge is to steal the show and, of course, make RuPaul laugh.
“Bitch, pick a role that comes into a scene and steals it,” Pleaser commentates as the queens pick out roles, “be a scene stealer.”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Kenya Pleaser performs at Capital Club in downtown Columbia on Dec. 5.
Pleaser starred in the “Lipstick Lovers” sketch with Vita VonTesse Starr and Nini Coco. The “Turner Classic Movies” parody saw Pleaser, as a plum lipstick, battling her scene partners in a love triangle gone wrong.
“You just have to act stupid,” Kenya says, “and bitch, this is what I do.”
The other scenes featured a butter churning competition, a sitcom origin story about judge Michelle Visage, and “QNN,” which parodied “Weekend Update.”
On the runway, the category was “Animal Attraction.” Contestants channeled an alligator, cow, poison dart frog and white barn owl. Pleaser took inspiration from a tiger, hitting the catwalk in a full bodysuit, tail and prosthetics. She added a wide-brimmed hat, gold tooth and durag to complete the look.