Boston Drag Gauntlet Cycle 5

The Boston Drag Gauntlet Cycle 5 was held at Legacy Nightclub in Boston, MA, every other Tuesday from March 1, 2022 til June 7, 2022. The theme is "Newcomers vs. Veterans." It includes 7 returning contestants who had been in previous cycles, and 8 new contestants who have never competed.

One June 7th Pancake was crowned the winner of the cycle.

### Contestants

* Veteran Team
	+ Bast (Providence Cycle 1)
	+ Binx (Boston Cycle 2, All Stars)
	+ Pancake (Boston Cycle 3)
	+ Throb Zombie (Providence Legends)
	+ Travis Tí (Boston Cycle 3, All Stars)
	+ Villinda Vile (Boston Cycle 4)
	+ Zayn X (Boston Cycle 3/Co-Host of Providence Cycle 1 and 2)
* Newcomer Team
	+ Bella Luna
	+ Celia Smokinbutts
	+ De'zyre Cassidine Dupree
	+ Clara Divine
	+ Giri Spades
	+ Jean Chandler
	+ Nadia Nice
	+ Zad Gravebone

### **Challenge #1- Let Me (re)Introduce Myself**

Contestants were asked to create an introductory number based on their life story. For this challenge the team member’s scores were be averaged to determine which group will be the top group and which will be the bottom group. The winner needed to be from the top group, and the eliminated person from the bottom group, regardless of personal scores.

* Highest Score: Zad Gravebone
* Winning Team: Veterans
* Challenge Winner: Travis Tí and Villinda Vile (double win)
* Bottom 2: Celia Smokinbutts and Nadia Nice
* Eliminated: Double save

De'zyre Cassadine Dupree's number included confetti cannons, which were cleared with Kandi Dishe prior to the show. However, the volume was more than expected, and some of the other contestants felt this was unfair as confetti cannons are not normally allowed. This caused some controversy on Twitter.

### **Challenge #2 – Inappropriate Remixes**

Contestants were asked to find and perform to sad and devastating songs that have been remixed into club bangers. Again, for this challenge the team member’s scores were be averaged to determine which group will be the top group and which will be the bottom group. The winner needed to be from the top group, and the eliminated person from the bottom group, regardless of personal scores.

* Highest Score: Throb Zombie
* Winning Team: Veterans
* Challenge Winner: Throb Zombie
* Bottom 2: Giri Spades and Nadia Nice
* Eliminated: Giri Spades

### Challenge 3: Dungeons and Drag-ons

Contestants were split into two teams, one led by the previous week's winner Throb Zombie and the other by Zad Gravebone, who had the highest score of the veterans. They were allowed to select their teams and had to create a group number based on Dungeons and Dragons. Scoring was no longer under the Veterans v. Newcomers rules.

* Winning Team: Throb Zombie's Team
* Challenge Winner: Celia Smokinbutts
* Bottom 2: Clara Divine and Bella Luna
* Eliminated: Clara Divine

### Challenge 4: TransTape Makeover

Contestants were asked to find a partner to make over in drag, and to create an advertisement for TransTape, the sponsor of the cycle. There was a runway portion as well as a number.

* Challenge Winner: Pancake
* Bottom 3: Zayn X, Nadia Nice, and Travis Tí
* Eliminated: Zayn X and Nadia Nice

De'zyre Cassadine Dupree dropped this week as she won the Miss Gay Maryland pageant and needed to focus on preparing for nationals.

During their elimination, Zayn X took the mic and proceeded to complain about the challenge, most notably saying "this is bullshit" and that they felt it was an unreasonable prompt.

### Challenge 5: Snatch Game

Contestants were asked to impersonate a celebrity, answer questions in the Snatch Game, then perform a number as the celebrity.

* Jean Chandler: Gollum
* Zad Gravebone: Derek Zoolander
* Celia Smokinbutts: Jerri Blank from Strangers with Candy
* Villinda Vile: Miranda Sings
* Bast: Jesus Christ
* Bella Luna: Arnold Schwarzenegger
* Travis Tí: Mark Zuckerberg
* Pancake: Sammi Sweetheart from Jersey Shore
* Binx: Ana Delvey

Throb Zombie missed this week as his flight was stuck in Austin after the Austin International Drag Fest. He elected to drop out.

* Challenge Winner: Jean Chandler as Gollum
* Bottom 3: Pancake, Binx, and Travis Tí
* Eliminated: Binx (chose not to lip sync)

### Challenge 6: Spoopy Ball

Contestants had to create a spooky look and twist it so it's cute.

Bella Luna and Bast both decided to drop out prior to this week.

* Challenge Winner: Zad Gravebone
* Bottom 3: Pancake, Celia Smokinbutts, and Travis Tí
* Eliminated: Travis Tí

#### Challenge 7: The Roast of Kandi Dishe

Contestants needed to prepare a 2 minute roast of producer/host Kandi Dishe and then perform a number in her style.

* Challenge Winner: Pancake
* Bottom 3: Zad Gravebone, Celia Smokinbutts and Jean Chandler
* Eliminated: None

#### Challenge 8: Finale

Contestants were asked to prepare a finale number on why they should win Gauntlet. The top 2 were named as Zad Gravebone and Pancake. After a lip sync, Pancake was crowned the winner.

Jean Chandler was named both Fan Favorite and Miss Congeniality.

### Production

#### Hosts

* MT Hart (Cycle 3, 3rd Place; All Stars)
* Pristine Christine (Cycle 4, 3rd Place)
* Arabella Ladesse
* Kandi Dishe

#### Judges

* Teasha Boo (Head Judge)
* Violencia!
* Jayden Jameson KA St. James
* Raquel Supreeze