'RuPaul's Drag Race' Contestant Yvie Oddly Reveals She Has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Article updated August 1, 2019.

In a sneak preview for Tuesday’s episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” season 11 contestant Yvie Oddly revealed she was nervous about the group choreography challenge because of her Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

• What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
• What Are Common Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Symptoms?

The contestants must perform a series of challenging steps as part of their live production. In one move, they drop to the ground on their knees and roll to the side.

“I’m just a little worried about hitting my knees ’cause they come out of place a lot,” Oddly told the dance instructor during group practice. “It’s part of my disease I’ve got, girl. All of my s–t pops out.”

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder with 13 subtypes. Since connective tissue is what most of the body uses to provide strength and elasticity, EDS can result in widespread structural issues that range in severity. Some of the most common symptoms include joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility and tissue fragility.

Because the body’s connective tissue is faulty in those with EDS, joints may often be loose or unstable. A person with EDS may experience frequent joint subluxations or dislocations, joint pain or joints that move beyond the typical range of motion.

Oddly explained that EDS could cause her joints to pop out of place if she hits the ground too hard during the dance routine. “I’m gonna try and be soft,” she said.

The dance instructor was understanding of her need to make adaptations and told her, “You should always be careful with your body.”

In a separate confessional, Oddly explained that she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type 3 – a subtype that is now known as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).

“I don’t produce a whole lot of collagen, so I have extra skin, like, everywhere,” Oddly said, stretching out the skin on her cheeks and scrunching up the skin on her scalp to demonstrate. “And I’m prone to dislocating my knees and things like that, but it’s not gonna hold me back in this competition.”

You can watch the full sneak preview below.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on VH1.