The Week in Drag – The RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8 reveal, season 15 finale reactions, the return of Alyssa Edwards and more

15 Min Read
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8

Hello, hello, hello! Welcome to a news-packed round-up of everything you need to know from the wild world of drag. The finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 left us all gooped and gagged and we’ve got the tea on the live finale party and crowning of Sasha Colby as America’s Next Drag Superstar.

Our favorite Ru-cappers and fashion Ru-viewers are also here to discuss the fierce fashions showcased by the season’s super talented cast of queens. We also have big news about the next season of All Stars, the third season of Drag Race España and the return of “Alyssa’s Secrets”.

And, as always, we have news and videos from some of your favorite queens. Strap in and get ready for one fabulous post…let’s bring it to the runway!

On Thursday, the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 8 was announced. The queens competing for the crown (and $200,000) are Kandy Muse, Kahanna Montrese, Heidi N Closet, Jaymes Mansfield, Naysha Lopez, Jessica Wild, LaLa Ri, Jimbo, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Alexis Michelle, Monica Beverly Hillz and Darienne Lake. The new season debuts on May 12 on Paramount+. I think it’s a fabulous cast and, being from Atlanta, I am rooting for a full LaLa Ri Rudemption.

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The season 15 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race brought us high-energy performances from our top four, gorgeous runway looks and the crowning of Sasha Colby. Bianca Del Rio and Monét X Change take us through the episode on the last “Pit Stop” of the season.  

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Monét and Bob the Drag Queen weigh in on the finale on “Sibling Watchery.”

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The returning queens and top 4 served some amazing looks at the finale and Raja and Willow Pill are here to toot and boot the fashions on “Fashion Photo Ruview.”

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Bosco and Yuhua Hamasaki also have thoughts on the finale looks and share them on “Bootleg Opinions.”

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The top four – Sasha Colby, Anetra, Luxx Noir London and Mistress Isabelle Brooks – watched the finale together and their reactions to the announcement of the season champion is truly a touching moment. 

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Season 14’s Miss Congeniality, Kornbread, ruled the finale Red Carpet and interviewed some of your faves before handing the title to Malaysia Babydoll Foxx.

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Your season 15 champion, the amazing Sasha Colby, chats with Johnny Sibilly about why she decided to do Drag Race, representing the trans community, the future of drag and lots more – and proves why she’s “your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen.”

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On her “victory lap” Sasha also had the chance to talk to GLAAD about trans representation and the current issues facing the LGBTQ community.

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Sasha joins Heidi N Closet to see if she’s a good candidate for PrEP in the latest installment of the MISTR’s GOT PrEP? video series. Only 25% of the 1.2 million people in the US who would benefit from PrEP are actually using it, so Sasha has partnered with MISTR, the gay-owned and operated telehealth platform, to increase awareness and help bring that number closer to 100%. MISTR provides easy, discreet online access to no-cost pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-term HIV care in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. With judges at the state and federal level directly attacking and eliminating access to PrEP, getting the word out about MISTR’s services is more important than ever.

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All Stars alum Ginger Minj chats with new queen-testants Alexis Michelle, Darienne Lake and Mrs. Kasha Davis (with the wonderful Adam Barta serving as moderator.)

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I am so happy to see Jaymes Mansfield on All Stars and I can’t wait to see how she’s evolved since being eliminated too soon on season nine. In this video (the first in a new series) she discusses her All Stars promo look.

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I love trash TV, so I was glued to the set for Netflix’s “social experiment” (a/k/a dating reality train wreck) Love is Blind. While the season finale was a disappointment (for many reasons) this recap from Trixie and Katya totally makes up for it.

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Trixie’s video editor, Nick, does her makeup. The end result is hilarious and proves why Nick should probably not give up his day job anytime soon.

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The stunning Naomi Smalls kikis with the always delightful Delta Werk on the latest episode of “Very Delta.”

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Behind the Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition, a new docu-series that goes behind the scenes of legendary drag queens Alaska Thunderf*ck and Lola LeCroix’s Drag Queen of the Year contest premiered on Friday on OUTtv. The six-episode series follows Alaska and her creative drag partner Lola as they put together their annual drag pageant to crown the Drag Queen of the Year.

The docu-series provides a detailed look into the planning and creativity that occurs backstage at drag competitions, and closely follows the duo as they come up against challenges and setbacks, including a nightmare in tech rehearsals with just hours until showtime. Contestants on the show include Andrew Barret Cox, Bambi Banks-Couleé, Dvvsk, Militia Scunt, Neon Calypso, Ramona Slick and Twink Trash.  

Alaska and Lola said, “Our goal with The Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition is to provide a platform for Drag artists who come from a variety of unique Drag perspectives. In a time where the artform of Drag is under attack, amplifying queer voices is more important than ever, and we’re looking forward to continuing this Pageant’s legacy. We’re grateful to all of the incredible 2022 DQOY contestants, our crew behind the scenes, and to OUTtv and Froot.tv who, through this series, will show the Pageant from all sides– capturing the stressful, chaotic, and ultimately inspirational essence of Drag Queen of the Year.”

The Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition is returning for its 5th incarnation on Sunday, May 14, 2023 live and in-person at The Montalban Theatre in Hollywood. Tickets are on sale now HERE.

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The organizers of “Drag Isn’t Dangerous,” the biggest fundraising effort to combat recent anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation to date, are proud to announce that an overwhelming wave of entertainment industry talent, executives and businesses have signed on to participate in the live telethon broadcast worldwide Sunday, May 7 at moment.co/dangerous

Along with performances from a packed slate of drag favorites, guests include Ali Wong, Amber Tamblyn, Amy Schumer, Margaret Cho, Sarah Silverman, Leslie Jones, Kelly Osbourne, The Boulet Brothers, Charlize Theron, David Cross, Isaac Mizrahi and tons more. Writer/Actor/Comedian Justin Martindale serves as head writer and co-host alongside Peppermint. 

Ticket sales & donations for the telethon have already surpassed $100K since the event was first announced. All net proceeds from the event will be divided among approved charities that support LGBTQIA+ causes and drag performers in need, especially in states where they face discrimination and bans. None of the performers or organizers are taking fees for their work on the campaign. All donations are tax-deductible and 501c3 verification will be available on request.  The official pre-show donation page for “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” is at: https://tiltify.com/dangerous.  For more information and updates on the “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” campaign, visit www.dragisntdangerous.com.

Did you catch the premiere of season three of the fantastic Drag Race España? In addition to an out-of-this-world talent show and a bonkers mini-challenge where the queens channeled their inner farm animals, viewers were treated to a Shangela-level surprise. Season one queen The Macarena made a smokey entrance into the werk room during the season three premiere this past Sunday. Everyone’s jaws were on the floor as they discovered that she is back for a second chance at the crown. She joined Bestiah, Chanel Anorex, Clover Bish, Drag Chuchi, Hornella Góngora, Kelly Roller, María Edilia, Pakita, Pink Chadora, Pitita, Vania Vainilla, and Visa for a chance to be Spain’s next Drag Superstar. Catch new episodes every Sunday on WOW Presents Plus.


Ten years ago, fresh off the set of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5, Alyssa Edwards started sharing secrets in the studio at World of Wonder. After a decade of foolishness and tomfoolery, it’s time to get back to the basics. Alyssa’s Secret: The ReBOOT is a revamp of the OG series we fell in love with a decade ago. In each episode, Alyssa will share her secret to a variety of topics, such as: keeping calm, feeling seductive and her secret to a healthy, happy day. The ReBOOT would not be complete without a surprise celebrity guest. Tune in every Wednesday to WOW Presents Plus starting April 26 when the secrets will be revealed.

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“UNHhhh” is back! Trixie and Katya are here to talk all things jealousy on the season premiere.

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Bob and Monét talk divas, Taylor Swift and lots of other random topics on the latest “Sibling Rivalry.”

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Jaymes Mansfield takes us behind the scenes of Las Vegas’ A Whole Brunch of Queens show. She’s joined by Jasmine Kennedie, Maddy Morphosis and Rock M Sakura.

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Get teleported to Mars with the quirky Tammie Brown as she tells us who she loves to tour with, who understands her most intimately, who she loves to party with and reveals so much more on “A Queen Who.”

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The fabulous Peppermint is one busy queen and has an exciting slate of projects coming your way. First up is SO-SIGH-ETY Effects, her first-ever stand-up comedy special. On the special, she takes you on an all-inclusive journey through New York City to get a first-hand look at what it’s like to be a single Black transgender woman in today’s society. She invites you to cry and laugh with and at her as she tells tales of love and heartbreak from the stage to the bathroom stall — drawing audiences to one inevitable conclusion: “Hey, at least I don’t have it that bad!” SO-SIGH-ETY Effects is available now on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Vimeo, and cable providers worldwide.

Peppermint will then take her turn on the stage live in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum where she will star in A Transparent Musical from May 20 thru June 25. Based on the hit Amazon Prime original TV show Transparent by Joey Soloway, A Transparent Musical is the ground-breaking new musical that shines a light on a Los Angeles Jewish family who are universally relatable, imperfectly human, and startlingly familiar. Peppermint will be originating the role of Davina in the musical that was first created by Alexandra Billings in the drama TV series. More information and tickets can be found here.

Then, just in time for summer comes the hilarious new Netflix series, Survival of the Thickest which centers on Mavis Beaumont (Michelle Buteau). Black, plus-size and newly single (not by her choice!), Mavis unexpectedly finds herself having to rebuild her life as a struggling stylist. She’s determined to not only survive but thrive with the support of her chosen family, a body positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss. Peppermint, who portrays a social media influencer and owns the local drag restaurant plays the funny, super sassy and very caring “adopted” drag mother of Michelle’s. The scripted comedy is based on Buteau’s acclaimed book of essays. 

Whew! I’m overdosing on charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent…how about you? We’ll be back next week with more from the queens so, until then, stay safe, stay healthy, support the queens and say LOVE!


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