Drag Queen With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Yvie Oddly Wins 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
Editor's Note
Editor’s Note: This post contains spoilers for season 11 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
On Thursday, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” crowned its season 11 queen — Yvie Oddly, who revealed earlier in the season she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). The win is a victory for Oddly and chronic illness representation.
• What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
• What Are Common Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Symptoms?
During a sneak preview for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in March, Oddly revealed she has EDS during a group choreography rehearsal. She said she was concerned about how some dance moves would impact her knees and that she planned to be “soft” with her body.
“I’m just a little worried about hitting my knees ’cause they come out of place a lot,” Oddly said. “It’s part of my disease I’ve got, girl. All of my s–t pops out.”
EDS is a genetic condition that impacts the genes that regulate collagen, a connective tissue important to many areas in the body, including joints, ligaments and skin. Oddly said she was diagnosed with type 3 EDS, now called hypermobile EDS (hEDS). The most common symptoms of hEDS include loose or stretchy skin, chronic pain and frequent joint dislocations and displacements.
During the season 11 finale, Oddly won over the audience and judges with a stunning final reveal in a head-to-head lip-sync battle against fellow contestant Brooke Lynn Hytes. They performed to Lady Gaga‘s “Edge of Glory.” Wearing a headpiece outfitted with mirrors on the side to make it look like she had multiple heads, Oddly turned around to show a second mask. This creative choice took Oddly straight to the top.
Today @RuPaulsDragRace reminded us that great drag is whatever you want it to be. @OddlyYvie, you gagged me. Congratulations! ???? pic.twitter.com/O9gVgArwFO
— Miz Cracker (@miz_cracker) May 31, 2019
In celebration of her win — and $100,000 prize — Oddly dropped a new track and music video, “Dolla $tore,” a rap track that shows the queen cruising straight to the dollar store. Oddly goes on a shopping spree flanked by dancers and other queens.
How I plan to spend that $100k henny… Link in bio and below! Single available now on iTunes and all digital platforms. #DollaStore #YvieOddly #OddBlesshttps://t.co/5dYYXnKh68 pic.twitter.com/ywqYowKYpm
— Yvie Oddly (@OddlyYvie) May 31, 2019
Image via Wikimedia Commons/DVSROSS
Renée Fabian was the features editor at The Mighty. She has also written for The Washington Post, VICE, Healthline, Talkspace, The Fix, The Establishment, The Culture Trip, and GRAMMY.com, among others. Renée was named a 2019 AHCJ Comparative Effectiveness Research fellow, a 2020 USC Center for Health Journalism California fellow, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. You can follow her on Twitter @ryfabian.
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