17 "Snatch Game" Impressions From "Drag Race" That Didn't Win, But Were Phenomenal To Watch

"This ain't my first time... At the Snatch Game."

When one thinks of "Snatch Game", one tends to think of blockbuster impressions like Bianca Del Rio's Judge Judy, BenDeLaCreme's Maggie Smith, or, more recently, Jinkx Monsoon's Judy Garland.

Logo TV

All three of these contestants nailed their respective Snatch Games, and have gone down in her-story as bona-fide legends of the game.

You've clicked on a post about Drag Race, so I'm guessing you know what the Snatch Game is...

BBC Three

...If for some reason you don't, Snatch Game is a challenge that occurs in every season of Drag Race, in which contestants impersonate a famous person on a parody version of the panel show, Match Game. Sometimes, in All-Stars seasons of the show, Snatch Game is substituted for "Snatch Game of Love", which is essentially a parody of Blind Date.

So, what it boils down to is, it's a celebrity impression challenge.

Now we all know queens like Jinkx and DeLa kill at impressions, but what of the other queens who thrived in the Snatch Game, but didn't receive the recognition for it? Well, here are 17 incredible impressions that didn't win, but are still iconic...

1. Chi Chi DeVayne as Eartha Kitt – season eight

Logo TV

The late, great Chi Chi DeVayne was the first queen to impersonate Ms. Kitt, who has since gone on to "appear" a total of four times across all editions of Drag Race. People came for this impression, but I simply adore the bizarre accent and Chi Chi's physical performance. Jujubee did it better, but this is still brilliant.

Memorable line: "WeLl i'M SoRry GIGi...".

Here's the season eight Snatch Game:

youtube.com

(Chi Chi's in the bottom row!)

2. Denali as Jonathan Van Ness – season 13

VH1

Gottmik might have stolen the show with his incredible impersonation of Paris Hilton, but I was also ~obsessed~ with Denali's JVN back when season 13 aired... And it turns out I'm not the only one! JVN themself wrote "Yassss!!! So Good... Brava sis" on Insta in response to Denali's story. BRAVA INDEED.

Memorable line: "I do have a thing for men with the kind of beard's that say, hold me in your arms until all the pain goes away, but also, power drills are on aisle seven, henny."

Here's Denali's addictive performance:

Can you believe?! 😍 @denalifox as @JVN has me full struggs to func right now! 😂 @antoni #DragRace pic.twitter.com/P8PFzvu3kS

— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) March 6, 2021

Twitter: @RuPaulsDragRace

3. Aja as Crystal LaBeija – All Stars season three

VH1

I feel like not many people will remember this one, but for some reason I LOVE IT. Aja is pretty much recycling Crystal's lines from the pioneering 1968 documentary film The Queen, but it just works!! The look, the attitude, the unbreakable character work – honestly, tens across the board, IMO.

Memorable line: "Darling, I'm having the worst time of my life."

Here's a taste for ya:

youtube.com

4. Pearl as Big Ang – season seven

Logo TV

Pearl had a real rough season, but was fairly consistent in the challenges. One of her triumphs for me was her impression of the Mob Wives star, who I did not know of before this. RuPaul didn't even rank this one in the tops of the week, but I walked away with a pretty solid idea of who this woman was, as well as some hilarious phrases to add to my day-to-day vernacular.

Memorable line: "I love money, yachts, and mansionnnnnnns."

Here's Anggggggg:

youtube.com

5. Jessica Wild as RuPaul – season two

Logo TV

Is this a good impression? No. Is it fun? Hell yes! Jessica turned the party with her absurd, so-bad-it's-good take on RuPaul herself. This episode proved that Jessica wasn't just a look queen, and showed a funny, off-the-wall side to her that fans fell in love with. I mean, she was never gonna beat Tatianna's Britney, but I loved it nonetheless. Did she have to wear Ru's Project Runway hair though?

Memorable line: "Oh hello darlingggggg, how are you?"

Here's season two's Snatch Game ft. Jessica:

youtube.com

6. Valentina as Miss Colombia – season nine

VH1

Valentina is probably one of the most dusted queens to ever appear on Drag Race, but I remember more than a few of us at the time were worried that she could deliver on looks, but not comedy. Well, Valentina proved the doubters wrong (kinda) with this hilarious and topical impression that kinda slayed.

Memorable line: "I can never win anything!"

Here's Miss Colombia's best bits:

youtube.com

7. Symone as Harriet Tubman – season 13

VH1

I think we all held our breath when we found out that Symone would be taking on legendary social activist and abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the Snatch Game. Boy, did she kill it though! From confusing her Jennifers to hiding under a desk, Symone delivered comedy without resorting to mockery.

Memorable line: "FOR FREEEEEEDOM!"

Here she is if you wanna see more:

youtube.com

8. Sasha Velour as Marlene Dietrich – season nine

VH1

She did go on to win the whole season, but Sasha's impression of queer icon Marlene probably should have also won this episode. No shade to Alexis Michelle – who will appear later on this list – but Marlene is much harder to pull off than Liza, let's be honest. And this Marlene was phenomenal.

Memorable line: "You know, when I wear a suit, people ask me 'Marlene, are you a lesbian?' And I say, 'Yes.'"

Here's a little more Sasha if you're interested:

youtube.com

9. Joslyn Fox as Teresa Giudice – season six

Logo TV

How you possibly gonna win Snatch Game when the competition is this fierce? In season six, Bianca, Adore, Darienne, and BenDeLaCreme all killed their celebrity impressions, but the one that was great and somehow overlooked was Joslyn's. She didn't too much, she just stayed in character, was smart with her answers, and gave us some hilarious moments.

Memorable line: "Cummin."

Here's Joslyn's Teresa, plus some of her other highlights:

youtube.com

(Teresa Giudice appears from 01.50).

10. Alexis Michelle as Bea Arthur – All Stars season eight

WOW Presents Plus/Paramount+

This was never, ever gonna win against Jimbo's Shirley Temple (honestly, what could????) but I think it deserves recognition for just being an excellent impression. I love The Golden Girls, and Alexis was really serving up some sharp-tongue, sarcastic Dorothy to the max! 

Memorable line: "In George Peppard's pool house."

Here's just a little taste:

youtube.com

11. Shea Couleé as Naomi Campbell – season nine

VH1

Shea killed the look and the comedy in this challenge, and had a great back and forth with Ru and the other contestants. I kinda love this also because Shea is SUCH a big fan of Naomi, and it feels nice to watch her pay tribute to someone she loves so much. Naomi herself loved it too, and tweeted her support for Shea during season nine's airing.

Memorable line: "When I got here to set, your crew confiscated my phone, but luckily my good friend back here had a little pre-paid Cricket phone that she let me borrow for the afternoon."

Here's a little best of edit:

youtube.com

12. Chad Michaels as Bette Davis – All Stars season one

Logo

Chad Michaels is another Snatch Game legend and, I think many would agree, a very competent celebrity impressionist. Amongst the chaos of All Stars season one episode two – which features "RuPaul's Gaff-In" in lieu of Snatch Game – Chad delivers a brilliant Bette. It something he's well known for, and I just wanted more, godammit!

Memorable line: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

Here's a clip if you can make head or tail of it:

youtube.com

13. Alyssa Edwards as Joan Crawford – All Stars season two

Logo TV/VH1

While we're in the vicinity of Bette Davis, I cannot bypass Alyssa's ludicrous turn as Ms. Joan Crawford. This was the season of Alyssa getting a free pass to do whatever she wanted because everyone loves her so much. I have to admit, I think it's iconic that she basically just quoted the best of Mommie Dearest to Ru (a huge fan) and was safe. Not everyone could get away with that, but it was perfection. Plus, the paint and her mannerisms were EVERYTHING!

Memorable line: "This ain't my first time... At the Snatch Game."

Here's a little bit of Joan for ya:

youtube.com

14. Jackie Cox as Lisa Rinna – season 12

VH1

Jackie's impersonation of Lisa landed her in the tops of the week, and she probably would have won if it weren't for Gigi Goode's masterful take on Maria the Robot. The thing that stood out the most was that Jackie was having fun, and when she got up and threatened Heidi N Closet as Leslie Jones, I about lost it!! The impression was so good, that Jackie was even invited to co-star in Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem with Lisa herself.

Memorable line: "DON'T talk about my husband."

Here's a look at the best of season 12's Snatch Game:

youtube.com

15. Ilona Verley as Rebecca More – Canada's Drag Race season one

BBC Three

In 2018, Rebecca shot to gay fame with her BFF (at the time), Sophie, as The Cock Destroyers. Ilona took advantage of the porn stars' ongoing success by appearing as Rebecca, and it was honestly so bad it was GREAT. Ilona often had no idea what to say to host Brooke Lynn Hytes' questions, but what she came up with actually nothing short of hysterical.

Memorable line: "C... Ock."

See for yourself:

youtube.com

16. Marcia Marcia Marcia as Tim Gunn – season 15

MTV

Like Jackie Cox, Marcia just seemed to be having a lot of fun with this character – and who would've ever expected it from her?! It was camp, it was interactive, and it was high energy. I don't know have a single idea who Tim is really, so I can't comment on the accuracy, but I was laughing all the way through!

Memorable line: "Honey, a word of advice, the devil's in a raw edge... Look at those sleeves, honey."

17. Raja as Diana Vreeland – All Stars season seven

WOW Presents Plus/Paramount+

I have to give it up to Raja for taking a rather esoteric character and making it fun for everyone (unlike others before her!) And that paint!! Honestly, this is proof that Raja is one of the great look queens and makeup artists of Drag Race, because this was stunning.

Memorable line: "Purrrrrrrple mittens."

Here's Raja as Diana:

youtube.com

Did we miss anyone out? Let us know in the comments below!