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"Big Opening #1" is the first episode of the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3] It originally aired on January 7, 2022. Lizzo is a guest judge.[4] Kerri Colby wins the mini-challenge, and Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté wins the main challenge. Orion Story is eliminated from the competition, after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against June Jambalaya to "Water Me" by Lizzo.
| "Big Opening Number 1" | |
|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 14 Episode 1 |
| Guest appearance | |
| Lizzo | |
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Seven new contestants enter the Werk Room. They learn that this season will have a split premiere. For the first mini-challenge, the contestants participate in a photo shoot with guest photographer Albert Sanchez, while strapped to a spinning wheel. Kerri Colby wins the mini-challenge.[5]
For the main challenge, the contestants perform in a talent show for the judges. Following are the contestants and their acts:
- Alyssa Hunter – lip-syncing
- Bosco – burlesque
- June Jambalaya – African dance
- Kerri Colby – jump roping and lip-syncing
- Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté – original song
- Orion Story – comedy skit
- Willow Pill – self-care in quarantine[6]
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On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes judges Michelle Visage and Ross Mathews, as well as guest judge Lizzo. The runway category is "Signature Show-Stopping Drag".
Bosco, Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté, and Willow Pill receive positive critiques, and Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté wins the challenge. Alyssa Hunter, June Jambalaya, and Orion Story receive negative critiques, and Alyssa Hunter is deemed safe. June Jambalaya and Orion Story place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync to "Water Me" (2017) by Lizzo. June Jambalaya wins the lip-sync and Orion Story is eliminated from the competition.
Trae DeLellis of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'A-'.[7]
Honeysuckle Magazine wrote, "During the talent show maxi challenge, Willow Pill delivered a jaw dropping performance. Her adorable but psychedelic aesthetic shone through in a chaotic yet comedic skit while she lip synced to 'Only Time' by Enya. Looking like an angel ready for bed, Willow spilled wine and spaghetti into a bathtub, then a toaster, before she dove into the electrifying food-filled bath."[8] Sam Hurley of Screen Rant wrote, "Willow's performance was kooky, hilarious and nothing like the show had ever seen before. At that moment, not only did the fans fall in love with Willow, but RuPaul did as well."[9] Out magazine called her performance both "bizarre"[10] and "bizarrely entertaining".[11] Dale Fox included her performance in Attitude magazine's 2024 list of fifteen "favourite iconic moments" from the show, writing: "Never have we seen so many bemused looks from RuPaul in one sitting. Willow's performance was iconic for so many reasons, but mainly because it introduced the omnipotent goddess that is Enya to the show for the first time."[12]
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