Meet The Queens Picked For ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’

Friday night, RuPaul revealed the cast of the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars well, most of it, at least. A tenth queen is forthcoming when the show premieres next year. But for now, we’ve got an eclectic group of nine that represents a very different kind of All Stars season.

There’s no mass representation from one season here, like season five was in All Stars season two. Six seasons are represented here, a record for the show. Most impressively, there are a couple of queens from the would-be classic era of the show, seasons two and three. (The three All Stars seasons will now have seen half of the season two cast compete though none have won. Yet.)

Who will compete for the crown this time? Let’s meet or re-meet, in this case the nine girls vying to enter the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

Morgan McMichaels

Season: 2
Placement: 8th

In the years since season two, Morgan has become known as an MC and hostess extraordinaire at Showgirls, the Monday drag show at Micky’s West Hollywood where Drag Race girls reign supreme. Through her work there, the lip sync technician has had plenty of opportunities to see what tricks the other girls have up their sleeves. How well will that serve her in All Stars?

Shangela

Seasons: 2 and 3
Placements: 12th and 5th

Halleloo, she’s back, bitches again! Shangela is the first queen to compete on three seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Since she last appeared as a contestant, the Haus of Edwards to which she belongs has become legendary on Drag Race, thanks to matriarch Alyssa Edwards and dancing queen Laganja Estranja. So far, the Haus hasn’t taken home a crown will Shangela finally secure glory?

BenDeLaCreme

Season: 6
Placement: 5th

A fan favorite in season six, BenDeLaCreme had but one weakness in Drag Race: She couldn’t beat Darienne Lake in a lip sync. Her would-be rival beat her twice, though, after the first loss, RuPaul spared her from eviction and kept her for a few additional weeks. The second loss, however, was too far, and Ben went out in fifth. She is the only Miss Congeniality winner to return this season, following in the footsteps of previous returning winners Nina Flowers, Pandora Boxx, Yara Sofia, Latrice Royale, and Katya.

Milk

Season: 6
Placement: 9th

Years working with Marc Jacobs have done Milk’s body good! She’s more gorgeous than ever out of drag, but has become far better known for her boy persona over the years than in drag. What new skills can she bring to the runway and challenges as Milk this time?

Kennedy Davenport

Season: 7
Placement: 4th

The Dancing Diva of Texas returns to slay once again. After losing out to the final three at the last second of season seven, Kennedy has only grown in fans’ estimation. Now, the skills she demonstrated on “Roar,” one of the all-time great lip syncs, will hopefully take her far in a new season with new competitors.

Trixie Mattel

Season: 7
Placement: 6th

Trixie has performed far beyond her placement on Drag Race season seven post-show. Alongside Katya on their web series UNHhhh, she has become one of the most popular Drag Race queens ever, enjoying a massive fanbase that worships her every move. Combine that new audience with her country music career and quick wit, and Trixie’s coming back to the competition a whole new queen.

Chi Chi DeVayne

Season: 8
Placement: 4th

Chi Chi has good right to feel underrated. She missed out on the top three of season eight despite delivering weeks of true excellence on what she admitted at the time was a minuscule budget. With the coin she’s made since, Chi Chi has a real chance of blowing everyone away this season. If she successfully adds fashion polish to the extraordinary entertainment skills in her repertoire, Chi Chi could become one of the all-time Drag Race greats.

Thorgy Thor

Season: 8
Placement: 6th

It’s hard to remember now, but for the first few weeks of season eight, Thorgy was the fan favorite. She was considered robbed of a couple of wins, and made an impression rivaling that of ultimate winner Bob the Drag Queen. Her success was short-lived, though; she went out in sixth with fewer fans, and hasn’t quite kept up the fanbase since. Perhaps All Stars season three will revive interest.

Aja

Season: 9
Placement: 9th

Surprise! Fresh off her ninth-place finish in season nine earlier this year, Aja has already returned for another shot at RuPaul’s Drag Race. Considering what an impression she made in her short time, from the legendary Linda Evangelista monologue to her bold questioning of Valentina’s Miss Congeniality win at the reunion, it’s easy to see why Aja was brought back. The question now: How much further can she go?