Two of the most iconic queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race are keen to return to All Stars for a third shot at the crown.
For the All Stars 9 viewing party at Roscoe’s Tavern, Chicago, host Naysha Lopez was joined by Batty Davis, Kara Mel D’Ville and former contestants Naomi Smalls and Detox.
Naysha, Drag Race season eight and All Stars 8 star, asked her fellow alumni if they have considered following in the footsteps of previous three-time contestants, such as All Stars 9‘s Roxxxy Andrews and Shannel, by sashaying back into the werkroom for a non-elimination season.
Detox responded: “Honestly, even if there were [eliminations], I have an itch. I do, and I haven’t had it in so long. I do have a little bit of an inch, but also – I was gonna say this earlier – it’s the first time we’ve seen Roxxxy without Rolaskatox on the show, and that excites me.”
After placing fourth on season five, Detox made her comeback on All Stars 2, where she sashayed away in joint second place with Katya.
Although she previously claimed that she wouldn’t return to the franchise as a competitor, she feels swayed after watching the most recent seasons of Drag Race with “having Sasha [Colby] on” and “so many of my other friends”.
“I miss that comrarderie in the werkroom, I miss the fun of it, when it’s new and exciting. For years I was like, ‘No, no, fuck them,’ but now I’m like, ‘Wait a minute now,” she said.
Naysha then directed the question to Naomi, who responded: “No, I’m not very ‘fuck them’. I’m not a pageant girl, but I feel like RuPaul’s Drag Race is such a pageant. I mean, it’s a competition.
“I love a competition, I love winning, and I haven’t won yet, so who knows? One day. Watching this season, and you have all your friends there, you feel like you have FOMO.”
Naomi memorably competed on season eight, placing joint second with Kim Chi. She returned for the fourth season of All Stars, where she was at the forefront of one of the franchise’s most shocking moments when she chose to eliminate Manila Luzon, frontrunner, from the competition. Naomi ultimately placed joint third/fourth.
The cast for All Stars 9, which marks the smallest cast in All Stars herstory, is as follows: Angeria Paris VanMichaels, Gottmik, Jorgeous, Nina West, Plastique Tiara, Roxxxy Andrews, Shannel and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.
The queens will compete for a $200,000 charitable donation to an organisation of their choice, which is provided by The Palette Fund, a private foundation that is “dedicated to breaking down barriers and advancing social change in communities that are under-resourced and facing significant challenges.”