RuPaul's Next Batch of All Stars!
Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 12:00PM Chris here. Last night the lineup was revealed for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in a big casting extravaganza like Drag Race used to do in the old days. These casting specials really should be required for each season because we get to spend solo time with each queen that the workroom can't afford. And for an All Stars season it allows the newer viewers an opportunity to get to know queens from early seasons. But onto the queens - this year's lineup is also stocked full of "eliminated too soon" queens to go with the fan favorites:
- Aja (Season 9)
- BenDeLaDreme (Season 6)
- Chi Chi Devayne (Season 8)
- Kennedy Davenport (Season 7)
- Milk (Season 6)
- Morgan McMichaels (Season 2)
- Shangela (Season 2 and 3)
- Thorgy Thor (Season 8)
- Trixie Mattel (Season 7)
But wait, there's more! In typical teasing Ru fashion, one queen has yet to be revealed. Whether she will be announced later or saved for the show itself remains to be seen. However with such a build up, its safe to say it's a major competitor. Could it be a shocking game changer like Willam or a cult favorite like Stacy Layne Matthews?
We'll have to wait and see when the new season arrives sometime this winter. This set of queens is on the scrappier side, so we can expect a fight to the top. I'm not ready to name a personal favorite until we see what happens, but current top 3 would be Kennedy, DeLa, and Trixie. I'm already seeing lots of passion for Chi Chi on Twitter, but tell us in the comments: who are you rooting for? (And for the love of RuPaul: let's keep the spoilers out of the comments this go around, readers!)
Reader Comments (33)
Dream top 3 is BenDeLaCreme, Trixie Mattel and Shangela. I think they will do well. I'm happy that there is not an obvious front runner like Alaska or Chad from the first two seasons of All Stars. I'm disappointed in the racist behavior of the fan base who are down on Shangela and Kennedy and even Chi Chi in some places. Many people are saying Shangela doesn't deserve a third chance but Trixie is also getting a third chance and did very mediocre on season 7 unlike Shangela on season 3.
Very sad that we still haven't had Ongina! She's way back from season one but her elimination was shocking, she was a fierce competitor and her HIV reveal is one of the rawest moments from the show. Hoping we get her on AS4.
All can say now is I DO NOT GET RU loves of Shangela (3 times, really?)
My winner hasn't been officially announced yet (I won't ruin it for everyone but they're my dream champion, with Shangela my alternate...)
Shangela is what? A Legend. I will never understood the hate towards her. Sure she cooked some drama in her season, but she never seemed vicious. Always funny Drag Nancy Drew. Also, she's a fierce fierce queen.
I have never fully gotten into Trixie Mattel. I like her and appreciate her, but I can't fully understand the whole hoopla surrounding her. Looking forward though to find out what's so special about her.
I'll always have a weak spot for Milk, even tho I believe competition isn't her strongest side.
Kennedy has grown on me after rewatching S7 so happy to see her back, and Chichi also ofc.
I'm a tad tired of Ben DelaCreme but whatevs
My personal favorites are Milk and DeLa. I love a kooky fashion queen, and I thought DeLa never really got the credit she deserved. I think others have an easier path to the win, but I'm really excited to see them back on my screens. If I had to place a bet, I think Shangela actually is the most likely to take the crown, and I don't know that I would be upset about that. It's almost like a justification for bringing her back for a second (and third) season, kind of like a lifetime achievement oscar.
I reserve the right to revise these rankings should Valentina be the mystery 10th queen...
Kermit - My hero! I know that the missing queen is apparently known in circles, but I am certainly more intrigued by your endorsement. I'm not trying to put down readers who have previously spoiled future episodes, but I would like to keep the show unspoiled for everyone as much as possible
Re: Shangela - I do love her spirit and think she's crazy talented, if with a muted appeal (Uniqueness is her weakest of the C.U.N.T. requirements). I'll be curious to see if she's the drama instigator this time around, even if I don't think she'll be a villain
Dream Top 3: Trixie Mattel, Milk, and BenDaLaCreme. I'd like to see Aja go first. I didn't like her drag at all last season and I feel her insecurities made her really annoying.
Most excited for Dela and Chi Chi. I didn’t quite get why Kennedy made it so far in season 7. I also think Milk never really seemed into the competition part so it seems weird to bring her back. Aja, Thorgy and Trixie will be entertaining but I’m not gunning for a win for them. I have not yet watched season 2 or 3 but I saw Shangela at the Drag Race tour show and she was fantastic. I could buy her as the desired winner because she seemed genuine/like a good spokesperson.
catbaskets - Kennedy made it far because she slayed multiple challenges including Snatch Game and destroyed Katya in the lipsync?
I personally don't get the appeal for Milk. She's beloved for the most part because she is a hot guy.
Trixie, Trixie, Trixie! Unhhhhhh made me a huge fan!!
I completely agree with Andrew about Milk. I don't get it. Weird for weird's sake, no charisma no wit but the fandom going crazy for him because he is attractive as a guy. It reminds me of Liz Lemon dating John Hamm on 30 rock.
I'm hoping that this isn't just a cakewalk for Trixie Mattel like All Stars 2 was for Alaska. I'm rooting for Dela, Chi Chi, Morgan & Thorgy.
Shangela AGAIN?! OK, she’s not that bad, but she’s not *that* good either. Ru’s is going way back with the Morgan McMichaels pick, but McMichaels *did* have the “tightest lip sync” of all time against Sonique, so I’ll allow it. (Speaking of S2, it’s a damn shame that Raven, the best of the best, never won his first *or* second competition, when he was clearly so deserving of BOTH.) Anyway, BDLC FTW!
I think this is a good but not great lineup overall. I do have a few i like but there are some queens who I would love to have come back for this seson (Pearl, Naomi, Joslyn to name a few) from this lineup I am cheering for Trixie, Ben and Morgan.
^ lmao at people saying Raven deserved to win in either of her seasons
#TeamShangie
The bitch is the PUREST definition of Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent. And THAT should be what All Stars is!
DeLa is probably the one with the "least" to prove but she's the one I'm most excited about. One of my favorite wins. Right now I would say her, Shangela and Trixie looking for that top 3. Based on past experience, track record, name recognition, etc.
Also very very happy to see Chi Chi back, who was robbed of that top 3 slot back in S08. While she's probably my second favorite queen here I'm not sure why she was brought back or how much she can give us besides what she already did.
Do not like Aja. Blah drag and bad personality.
I'm super super disappointed (and shocked) Valentina is not in here. I thought her and Trixie were the obvious top 2 contenders "locked" for an All Stars.
Also interesting to me that while the previous All Stars were PACKED with runner ups, no runner ups from S08s or S09 are in here.
10th queen has to be someone *special.* Otherwise an anticlimatic reveal. My guesses are someone maaaaajor like Willam, Adore to rudeem herself or even someone from All-Stars 1.
All Stars isn't just about being a good at the competition--just ask Alyssa and Coco. It's memorable queens who made an impact on the show or fandom. Milk and Trixie weren't great on the show, but they have grown the brand in leaps and bounds in fashion and web culture. It'd be stupid to not use their post-show success to help bring in more potential viewers. Aja's there because they had to have a Season 9 queen in the mix and she brought drama.
I'd love to see someone like Jessica Wild or Ongina as the mystery 10th contestant. Bring me my early season girls. And what's it going to take for Ru to bring back pageant legend Victoria Porkchop Parker for another run at the crown?
I’m fine with having Milk come back...as one of the pit crew.
Top 3 for me, on this line-up is ChiChi, Trixie and Shangela. Not necessarily because I think they are the most talented, but they have the right mix of skills. And Trixie in particular is hungry - she knows that she fluffed season 7 and is probably desperate to prove hel self. Plus, Unnnhhhh is the funniest thing that any Drag Race Alumnus has ever been involved in
Wish it had been Jessica Wild or Vivacious instead of Shangela. :/
stjeans -- i dont get the Shangela thing either. She's basic for me.
Mareko -- hello. i thought i folowed him on instagram but i dont remember when her turned bodybuilder???
arlo -- sorry, laugh at me too then. Raven is my favorite.
Milk is wearing a body suit here FYI. She is fit but not the Hulk like she looks in the promo.
I like that Trixie Mattel. She was funny and memorable
Rooting for Trixie and Chi Chi from that group. Never understood the appeal of Dela, but I am willing to keep an open mind on her, given how popular she is.
Aja seems like an off choice, as does Morgan, but maybe they will surprise.
I hope, for her sake, Thorgy gets at least 1 win.
queens i'm happy to see again: chi chi, dela
queens i'm ok with seeing again: trixie, milk
queens i never needed to see again: morgan, shangela, thorgy, kennedy, aja
obviously, this season is not filling me with hope
The rumored list included Darienne Lake. So I suppose she's number 10 since the other 9 were correctly rumored. And then there's the live audience leaks which seemed to comfirm that list with Darienne in it.
The only reason it might not be her is because who the hell is Darienne Lake to be any sort of surprise, desired queen or shocking enough to be announced after everybody else.
Team Hallelu!
Given her out-of-competition achievements in the entertainment industry, I can't imagine why Ru would bring back Shangela and refuse her the all-star crown.
The bitch is a pro-pro-pro-professional. And dare I say there would be no Bob the Drag Queen crown without Shangela LaQuifah paving the way.
TEAM TRIXIE MATTEL HOOONNEEEEEYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
I would fucking riot if Ru brings back a queen who has already won.
Steve_Man - Valentina would make a lot of sense to me as this potential 10th queen for how much publicity it would get, and that's clearly how this is designed. I however think girls from the last season with massive fan bases like her should wait though
Re: those calling this lineup underwhelming - I do not jive with this thought at all. This lineup has a strong range of aesthetics and approach, and is a lineup of fighters (maybe excluding Milk) - plus guaranteed catchphrase makers and good tv. I get that a lot of this comes from taste and biases, but take a look at what some of these queens have done since their time on the show. The only queen I'm meh on returning (though I like her a lot) is Thorgy because I don't see much evolution there. For those reasons I listed, my money is on Milk and Thorgy to be exit quickly
And I think those underestimating Shangela are likely to be surprised. Like I said, this is a season of fighters and she is the toughest one. Don't underestimate both her scrappy run on season 3 and her professional sustainability over the years. She's beloved for a reason.
Go Trixie!
Honestly, with the 'all winners' talk, it wouldn't surprise me if the 10th queen is a prior winner. My guess would be Tyra Sanchez, since that is the winner that RuPaul is challenged the most on (it is hard to believe she rose the top in a season that included Pandora, Raven, Jujubee, and Tatianna). The only other winner that would be logical is Bebe Zahara Benet - and that would mostly be because no one really knows her since she won before the show really took off.
i really wish Aja wasn't there. Not because i dont like her but because i really dont think they should dip back into the immediately preceding season when they do these things. Give it time to settle!