The 5 Iconic Struts: How RuPaul's Drag Race Walk Evolved From Ballroom Realness To A New York Times Clue

The simple, four-letter answer to a recent New York Times crossword puzzle—"STRUT"—has inadvertently cemented the iconic status of the RuPaul's Drag Race runway walk in mainstream culture. This seemingly straightforward clue, appearing in the November 2024 NYT crossword, highlights how a performance art rooted in underground ballroom battles has become a globally recognized television spectacle, defining modern fashion and confidence for a new generation. The "walk" is far more than just movement; it is a complex language of defiance, self-expression, and high-stakes style, where every step tells a story of drag history and personal resilience.

The evolution of the *Drag Race* runway walk mirrors the show’s own journey, transforming from a raw, scrappy display of "realness" in early seasons to a highly polished, million-dollar fashion show. Understanding this journey requires looking beyond the sequins and examining the foundational cultural movements that gave birth to the strut, and the queens who have mastered its modern iteration.

The Cultural DNA: From Harlem Ballroom to the Mainstream Stage

The "Drag Race Walk," whether it’s a confident strut, a campy stomp, or a graceful glide, is directly descended from the ballroom culture of the 1980s and 90s, predominantly in New York City. This underground scene, primarily created by Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities, was a safe space for people to "walk" in various categories and achieve "realness," a term for embodying a specific gender, class, or style with conviction.

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The runway on *RuPaul's Drag Race* is essentially a televised, commodified version of the ballroom floor. The vocabulary of the show—reading, shade, trade, and "You Better Werk"—are all direct imports from this foundational culture. The walk itself is judged not just on the look, but on the queen's ability to sell the fantasy, a concept known in the ballroom as "serving."

• Vogue: While a full Vogue performance is a dance style, its foundational elements of posing, attitude, and dramatic movement are integral to a successful runway presentation.
• The Duck Walk: Popularized in the mainstream by queens like Naomi Smalls, this move is a low, rhythmic squat-walk that demands core strength and attitude.
• The Death Drop: A high-impact, dramatic finish to a walk, though technically more of a dance move, it is often incorporated as a signature exclamation mark on the runway.

The Evolution of the Runway: From Camp to Couture

Early seasons of *Drag Race* (Seasons 1-4) saw queens prioritizing resourcefulness and camp. The walk was often more straightforward, focusing on showcasing a homemade or thrifted garment. As the show’s budget and cultural reach grew, so did the financial burden and expectations for the runway. The walk had to become more sophisticated, evolving into a high-fashion spectacle that demanded the poise of a supermodel.

The modern Drag Race walk is a blend of high-fashion modeling and theatrical performance. Queens now invest heavily in couture garments, and their walks must convey the narrative of the outfit, whether it's an avant-garde piece, a political statement, or a classic Hollywood silhouette. This shift is what allowed the New York Times to distill the action down to a single, powerful verb: STRUT.

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The 5 Queens Who Defined the Modern Drag Race STRUT

While hundreds of queens have graced the runway, a handful have developed signature walks that are instantly recognizable and have fundamentally changed the standard for runway excellence. These queens are the true masters of the modern STRUT and are key topical entities in any discussion of Drag Race fashion.

1. Violet Chachki: The Pin-Up Perfectionist

Violet Chachki (Season 7 Winner) brought a level of hyper-feminine, cinched pin-up style and fetish fashion to the runway that was unprecedented. Her walk is less about high-energy theatrics and more about precise, controlled movement. It’s a slow, deliberate glide that exudes old-Hollywood glamour and an almost intimidating sense of confidence. Her career post-show, including walking the Moschino runway and attending the Met Gala in full drag, proves her walk is truly fashion-house worthy.

2. Symone: The Embodiment of Attitude

Symone (Season 13 Winner) is perhaps the most celebrated runway queen of the modern era. Her walk is a dynamic blend of high fashion and street attitude. It's often described as a signature walk—a rhythmic, bouncy, and playful movement that perfectly matches her whimsical and culturally resonant looks. Symone’s ability to inject personality, humor, and historical context into every step made her runway appearances feel like cultural moments, transforming the simple walk into an act of storytelling.

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3. Naomi Smalls: Legs for Days

Naomi Smalls (Season 8 & All Stars 4) weaponized her physique. Her signature walk is a long, powerful stomp that makes full use of her towering height and famously long legs. Her runway presence is all about exaggerated, dramatic poses and swift, commanding movement that fills the runway space. Her walk is a masterclass in using body language to convey power and confidence, often ending with a sharp, memorable pose.

4. Alyssa Edwards: The Theatrical Powerhouse

Alyssa Edwards (Season 5 & All Stars 2) represents the theatrical side of the walk. Her runway appearances are characterized by high-energy, almost frantic movement, dramatic hair flips, and a constant, unwavering smile. While technically a dancer, her walk is a performance in itself—a relentless, captivating display of energy that is pure, unadulterated "showbiz." This is the walk that screams "You Better Werk!"

5. Icesis Couture: The Reigning Poise

Icesis Couture (Canada's Drag Race Season 2 & UK vs The World) is a more recent example of runway perfection. Her walk is often cited for its poise, beauty, and cunty confidence. It is a highly polished, intimidatingly chic stride that embodies the term "evil queen"—serving high-end fashion with a cold, powerful glare that demands attention. Her consistent excellence shows the current, high bar for runway presentation across the global *Drag Race* franchise.

The Legacy: Why the STRUT Matters

The fact that the New York Times can now use the "RuPaul's Drag Race walk" as a common cultural touchpoint, easily answered by the word "STRUT," is a powerful marker of LGBTQ+ cultural integration. It signifies that the art form of drag, once relegated to the underground, is now a recognized and celebrated part of the mainstream lexicon. The walk itself is a powerful lesson in self-acceptance and confidence: it teaches viewers that no matter what you are wearing, owning your movement and your space is the ultimate form of realness. This ongoing evolution ensures that every new season brings a new generation of queens ready to redefine what it means to truly STRUT down the runway.