“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” concluded its 9th season on Friday, July 26 with the 12th episode featuring returning queens from seasons past. Making their way back into the Werk Room for the second time are Angeria Paris VanMichaels (season 14), Gottmik (season 13), Jorgeous (season 14), Nina West (season 11), and Plastique Tiara (season 11). Three queens are returning for the third time: Roxxxy Andrews (season 5 and All Stars 2), Shannel (season 1 and All Stars 1), and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo (seasons 10 and 11).
In addition to their chance at the coveted crown, this season the queens competed to have a $200,000 contribution, provided by The Palette Fund, to a charity of their choice. Series judges RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage were joined on the dais by friends and series regulars Carson Kressley, Ts Madison, and Ross Mathews as well as a rotating cast of guest judges to help determine episodic winners and their choice for “next drag superstar.”
In episode 11, the “Grand Finale” kicked off in a “Part 1” that featured Tic Tac lunch one on ones between RuPaul and each of the competitors, rehearsal sessions for the final variety show performances, and a Double Diamond twist where the queens voted to award one of their own a doubling of their Beautiful Benefactress Badges.
In the race to be one of the three queens with the most badges by the end of the episode, Roxxxy was at the top with five, Jorgeous and Plastique both had four, Angeria and Shannel had three, and Nina, Vanjie and Gottmik all had two.
Now, check out our recap of episode 12, titled “Grand Finale Variety Extravaganza: Part 2,” below to find out who joins the Drag Race Hall of Fame as the newest “All Stars” winner:
As the queens walked into the Werk Room for the last time on performance day it hit them how big of an opportunity they were afforded this season to bond with each other with no eliminations and in the spirit of playing for charity. They all knew that the talent show was their final chance to impress the judges and the pressure was on because each of them could earn the final badges and skate into the top three with a challenge win. Despite the pressure, Angeria and Shannel felt most at ease in this moment because if they felt nervous about any other challenge, this was the one where they could show their own true talent.
To kick off the festivities, AS6 winner Kylie Sonique Love popped into the Werk Room to wish the queens well and encourage them to have “no expectations” of winning because being in the moment and “doing it for yourself” is what matters in their careers. She also introduced a video chat with AS8 winner Jimbo which excited everyone in the room. Both of the former winners were proud of the new crop of hopefuls and excited to see which of them would join them in the winner’s circle.
Having already voted in the Double Diamond twist, everyone expressed that they had different strategies for casting their votes, but at the end of the day they knew that it would come down to the two variety show winners. Based on numbers, Roxxxy had the best chance at automatically making the finale because she already had five but she knew that nothing was certain because of the doubling option.
On the Main Stage, Ru was joined by Michelle, Ross and the final special guest judge of the season, Connie Britton. In the variety performances, Angeria delivered a comedic but glam cabaret number, Gottmik felt her Kiss gig with a guitar rock moment, and Jorgeous fulfilled the promise of a dance-heavy original song that ended in an incredible toss-n-slide across the stage. Plastique embodied a robot-ninja era with a light saber moment and an exploding bra for roasting marshmallows, Nina stayed true to herself with a Broadway number about how “drag is for everyone,” and Roxxxy also had a cabaret number that showed a funnier side to her sultriness. Shannel brought the colors of Vegas to the stage with a black light juggling act and Vanjie closed with a high octane pop diva number about her own confidence. Then, in the “Grand Finale Eleganza” category, the queens walked the runway for the final time in their highest drag of the season.
In their critiques, the judges called Angeria’s final look “extraordinary” and Ross wished that her performance never ended because it was so good. Ru called her the “total package: glamorous, clever and funny.” Connie said she admires Gottmik and enjoyed her rock n roll fantasy, Michelle thought the final lift in Jorgeous’ performance was incredible and that she’s “changed the trajectory” of her career, and Ru said Plastique’s final look was “nothing short of spectacular.” Michelle appreciated that Nina “put the costuming aside” for her final look and Ross likes that she always brings a message to her drag. Ross was jealous of Roxxxy’s last look and noticed that she “feels comfortable” on stage throughout the season and Ru complimented her versatility. Ross “loved” Shannel’s talent because it was different and Connie appreciated that her final runway was a 180 from her talent look. Michelle gave Vanjie props for dedicating an entire song to leotards and the other judges thought she brought her own level of Beyonce-isms to the stage.
After further deliberation, Ru brought the queens back to the stage to announce the top two of the challenge. Based on their final presentations, the three badges each went to both Angeria and Vanjie, confirming them both as finishers within the top three. Still, to confirm the last finalist, Ru revealed that the queen earning double badges in the Double Diamond vote was Nina. Because Nina only had two and was doubled to four, it wasn’t enough to surpass Roxxxy who had five. As consolation prizes, Nina, Gottmik, Shannel, Jorgeous, and Plastique each received $5,000 for their charity.
To determine the ultimate winner of the super donation of $200,000 and who would earn their crown and scepter, Angeria, Roxxxy and Vanjie performed one last time in a lip sync to “Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson. Roxxxy, an undefeated lip sync assassin, presented a controlled and deliberate number, Angeria brought out every standard drag queen trick in the book, and Vanjie looked like a pop diva with the hardest hitting choreo moments of the three. Afterward, Kylie brought the crown and scepter to the stage and bestowed them upon the queen that Ru chose as her newest drag superstar: Angeria Paris VanMichaels!
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