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What is B.A.P.S? Utica Queen worried about appropriating Halle Berry's iconic character from 1997 movie

Utica seemed to be apprehensive about this week's challenge – she didn't want to cross the line between appreciation and appropriation

If there's one thing we know about 'RuPaul's Drag Race' it's that sometimes, the challenges, both mini and maxi, can be outrageous, creative and sometimes downright hilarious. But something fans always wait for would have to be the standard challenges we see each season and how the queens take them on.

With 'Snatch Game' having just gone by, the maxi challenge this episode is none other than the makeover challenge, where the queens usually makeover a stranger and creating a drag family resemblance. But with COVID 19 putting a damper on things, having strangers come into the studio is a big no-no. Thankfully, the queens have a solution – they're just going to makeover each other.

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With Char Margolis' divine intervention creating the team pairings, the teams for this challenge are. - Tina Burner and Rosé, Denali Foxx and Olivia Lux, Utica and Symone, and finally, Kandy Muse and Gottmik.

While some queens seem to be getting into the flow of the challenge, others are clearly struggling to make it work. Gottmik and Kandy Muse definitely got the short end of the stick, seeing that they're two different body types, but the experienced makeup artists know how to beat a mean mug. Another duo that seems to hit a road bump would be Utica and Symone. Symone is big on celebrating Black Culture. So for this challenge, she decides to put Utica in a B.A.P.S inspired look. Utica was extremely nervous about the look seeing that she didn't want it to come off as appropriation. Utica has been very sensitive about this boundary - she even refused to wear an Afro during 'Snatch Game', even though she was impersonating Bob Ross. When the pair asked RuPaul about bringing this look to the runway, his response was simple - make sure it comes from a place of love and respect. So, what is B*A*P*S? Here's a look at the iconic movie that's a part of Black culture and creativity. 

Starring Halle Berry as Nisi and Natalie Desselle as Mickey, the two as waitresses at a food diner and dream of opening a combination salon and soul food restaurant. Finding the funds for the same isn't easy and after staring in a music video in LA, the two end up caring for Mr. Blakemore, an aging billionaire. The two figure out that they can scam him, by having Nisi pretend to be the granddaughter of Blakemore's long-lost love, the family's Black maid, Lily. The two, however, have a change of heart and decide to actually take care of Blackmore instead. The movie is a comedy and is deeply rooted in Black culture, seeing that it has two Black women as the leads, was written by a Black woman, Troy Beyer, and directed by a Black man, Richard Townsend. There is a lot of significance here - as reported by Refinery 29, 143 movies premiered in 1997, out of which only 17 starred Black artists, most of which were opposites white counterparts. To have two Black women play leads is one of the reasons this movie is important. 

Twitter seemed torn about the choice. "If utica didn’t know what BAPS was than I wonder how many other white people saw the WAP music video and didn’t get the reference #dragrace" tweeted a fan. "So @QueenUtica it’s not offensive at all to do BAPS. It’s dope. And we know @the_symonee is not going to put you in blackface or make a weirdo out of you. She is the best person to do this with. #DragRace" added a fan.

But once Utica made it to the runway, it seemed like the look won Twitter over. "Okay but Utica def is killing this Symone/BAPS lewk omg #RuPaulsDragRace #DragRace" tweeted a fan. "RE: Utica doing BAPS, I know my opinion on this does not count AT ALL, but I felt like she did the look justice. This felt more like appreciation than appropriation. And the zany-ness felt very in Utica’s wheelhouse. #rpdr #dragrace" tweeted a fan. "Utica dressed as Symone dressed as Nisi from BAPS is giving me everything I need tonight. Come through! #DragRace" added another

Seeing that the judges loved the way the queens did both their looks justice, turns out, they make a good team after all - they went on to win the challenge as well! 

Catch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13 on VH1. For more information, check your local listings.