Redemption, reflection, and an emotional farewell defined Episode 8 of ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’, which aired Wednesday, October 1.
The episode featured the ‘DragCon Slaysia’ maxi challenge, a touching tribute to the late Jiggly Caliente, and the elimination of fan-favorite queen Khianna.
Before the main challenge, the queens took part in a quirky mini challenge that had them photobombing iconic Philippine tourist spots. Khianna scored the win, earning the advantage of deducting a minute from a fellow competitor’s presentation.
Host Paolo Ballesteros, fondly called Mama Pao, then introduced the queens to ‘ragCon Slaysia,’ where each queen had to create an interactive booth to highlight their drag brand and personality. On the runway, the theme was ‘RuBirth,’ symbolizing reinvention and self-expression.
Sitting on the panel were special guests ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15’ winner Sasha Colby and ‘Drag Race Philippines season 1’ winner Precious Paula Nicole.
The booths brought out each queen’s unique persona: Brigiding staged a mock talk show, complete with audience games, interactive interviews, and an “Alarma!” moment that ended with a merch giveaway. Suki Doll leaned into her couture roots, presenting custom designs for Sasha and Precious alongside her quirky “Lasusu” merch, a playful nod to Labubu toys. Viñas Deluxe revisited references from her past season, including her popcorn gag and manananggal character, but her presentation was critiqued as rushed and lacking polish. Arizona Brandy built “Arizona Brandy’s Speakeasy,” an orange-lit lounge concept where she charmed with vape tricks, wine, and witty banter. Khianna went all-out chaotic with her “i-Khiannic” booth—offering street food, mock chiropractic sessions, and dance-offs. While entertaining, the judges felt her booth lacked structure and didn’t capture return appeal.
Backstage in ‘Untucked’, the queens reflected on the judges’ critiques and the growing pressure of the looming finale. A surprise guest appearance from Mama Remz, the infamous “five minutes girl,” injected comic relief before the results.
On the main stage, Arizona Brandy and Suki Doll were declared joint winners, each taking home a RuBadge and sharing the week’s cash prize. Brigiding was safe, leaving Viñas and Khianna to battle for survival in a lip sync to Calista’s “Race Car.”
Both queens delivered with intensity, but Viñas emerged victorious, ending Khianna’s run in the competition.
When asked to sashay away, Khianna held back tears before telling the judges and her sisters:
“I promised you, guys, that this is not the end. What’s next for Khianna, I don’t know, what’s going on in my head… but there’s a bigger picture out there.”
Khianna’s exit was bittersweet. She entered the competition with a strong premiere performance but later landed in a mixed track record, ultimately falling short of the Top 4. Still, she remained one of the season’s most beloved queens among fans.
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The episode also honored the late Jiggly Caliente, who passed away earlier this year at 44. Each queen shared how Jiggly supported them in their journeys. Brigiding recalled: “When I was in New York, she even booked me a hotel so I’d have a place to stay in.” Viñas admired her as a judge: “I love how Jiggly judged us during our season. It’s very intelligent. She knows what she says.” Arizona remembered how Jiggly guided her during DragCon LA 2024: “It was my first time in the US… and Jiggly was there with me the whole time. She even helped me set up my booth.”
With Khianna’s departure, Slaysian Royale now heads into the semifinals with its official Top 4: Viñas Deluxe, Brigiding, Arizona Brandy, and Suki Doll. The queens will next face their biggest challenge yet as they team up with the drag supergroup REYN4.
The winner of ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ will walk away with ₱2 million from BingoPlus, a year’s supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics, and the honor of being the first queen inducted into the Slaysian Hall of Fame.
Catch ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ every Wednesday on WOW Presents Plus.
