Rupaul's Drag Race... let the best woman win!

I hate to say it, but Tyra and her America's Next Top Model has taken a back seat for a while with me. I do love her, after all she is a tall, Amazonian, strong woman (my ideal if ever there was!), but, as the title of this post suggests, Rupaul has stolen my heart (again). Let's face it, as tall, Amazonian, strong 'women' go, Ru is most definitely up there. And with his new season of Drag Race in full force, there's no other show for me at the moment.

A mixture of ANTM and Project Runway with added glitz, glam and better frocks, Rupaul's Drag Race really is compelling viewing! It is, obviously, tongue in cheek, however there are the same kind of emotional stories behind the contestants as there are on ANTM, and still a substantial cash prize for the winner.

As you can imagine with a room full of inflated egoed queens, there are enough amusing tantrums and bitchy comments flying around to keep you entertained forever, plus Ru's infectious sayings ("Gentlemen, start your engines... and let the best woman win" and "It's time to lip-sync for your life. And remember, don't fuck it up!") and laugh make it a show you can't miss out on!

Ru really IS the Queen of TV at the moment. It makes me want to don the heels and wig... again (oops!).

Check out this little mash up of the best bits...

And some Ru-candy...

From the show:

From elsewhere, deep inside Ru:

To crimp or not to crimp. THAT is the question!

I think I was about 10 when my older sister got a pair of hair crimpers. She must of been about 14 or 15. I was intrigued, probably a little more than I should of been, but oh well. She'd grip her hair in between the large corrugated clamps for a few seconds (or was it minutes back then? It must of taken a while, not like GHDs) and hey presto, she'd have huge, zig zag red hair. AMAZING. Or was it? Back in the 80s it was all the craze. People went crimping mad. The 90s still embraced it, hence my sister walking around looking like she had fried herself with a plug. Poor me, I was desperate to give it a go!

Christina's done it a few times. Remember in the Lady Marmalade video? I seem to recall everyone slating her. Was it the same people who crimped back in the day I wonder? I have to admit though that she DID look like a lollipop head. By that I mean head too big for her spindly body. Bless her though. Now she's had a little baby, and with a few more years (and pounds) under her belt, she stepped out with a crimped mass once again. Is it wrong that I don't mind it?

Now then. Here comes the crux of this post. Miss. Trya. Banks. I think it's a gay man's prerogative to love at least ONE tall, amazonian, dark haired (most of the time), ridiculously gorgeous star. I love at least four; Beyonce (of course), Iman (obvs!), Grace Jones (controversial) and of course, America's sweet heart, Trya.

Tyra's had more hair changes than anyone I know, including Bey. It's obviously not her own, but she paid enough for it. She's gone every colour, every finish, every style, all courtesy of some poor hairdresser and some equally poor hairless ladies (I estimate thousands). I've been looking at some old pics of lovely Tyra, and look what I found...

The first time was in 2004, the second four years later. No 1980s or 90s in sight. She's a brave lady, and often faces scrutiny, even braver with this hair. But is it bad? Is it not just like a fashion trend that makes a 'welcome' return? Like, say, flares or hotpants?

To be honest I'm biased. I love Trya with whatever her hair. But does everyone else? There's been so many articles and debates about black women and their hair. Should they have weave? Should they go au naturale? Should they have colour?

I think 'they' (excuse me for generalising, but TV shows and articles do too) should make up their own minds. Even take a leaf from Tyra's encyclopedia-of-hair book. I would if I could!