“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” is back with a major twist for its landmark 10th, yes, 10th season. The Paramount+ reality competition series is honing in on the “competition” aspect this year as 18 queens will participate in a bracketed, March Madness-style elimination tournament. If you’re not a sports fan, don’t worry. It’s not that complicated.
The 18 contestants, the largest ever for a single season, have been divided into three groups of six. Each group will compete against each other over three episodes, with the top three moving on to the first semi-final. The top three will be determined in a point system with a lip sync for your legacy at the end of every episode. The top nine queens will then face off over two episodes with the tournament culminating in a “Lip Sync Smackdown for the Crown” grand finale episode, where the finalists will battle it out for a grand prize of $200,000 and a place in the coveted, virtual “Drag Race” Hall of Fame (it’s getting crowded in there).
Paramount and production entity World of Wonder have pulled out all the stops after what many thought was a disappointing non-elimination “for charity” All Stars season 9. The network has not revealed the guest judges yet, but we can tell you three very recent Oscar nominees are part of the mix, and one major West Hollywood icon took a break from touring last summer to participate. The queens are also a fascinating mix of old school, new school (including four “Drag Race” season 14 queens), and former All-Stars hoping to finally win that crown.
Former All Stars include Ginger Minj (“Drag Race” season 7 finalist, “All Stars” 2, “All Stars” 6), Aja (“All Stars 3,” “Legendary”), and Jorgeous (yes, last year’s “All Stars” 9…back already).
New members of the All Stars tier of competitors include Acid Betty (“Drag Race” season 8), Cynthia Lee Fontaine (“Drag Race” season 8 and 9), Alyssa Hunter (“Drag Race” season 14), Bosco (“Drag Race” season 14 finalist), Daya Betty (“Drag Race” season 14 finalist), Deja Sky (“Drag Race” season 14), Denali (“Drag Race” season 13), Irene The Alien (“Drag Race” season 15), Kerri Colby (“Drag Race” season 14), Mistress Isabelle Brooks (“Drag Race” season 15 finalist), Olivia Lux (“Drag Race” season 13), and Tina Burner (“Drag Race” season 13).
Moreover, in what will be a major surprise to many viewers, “Drag Race” season 17 favorite Lydia B. Kollins is also a competitor. The Pittsburgh native only had a few weeks off after being eliminated on the flagship franchise before accepting an invite to All Stars. You can guarantee her inclusion will be a major surprise to the other All Stars competitors.
Additionally, two early-season legends from Atlanta, Georgia, Nicole Paige Brooks (“Drag Race” season 2) and Phoenix (“Drag Race” season 3), round out the cast.
The episode groupings of the queens are as follows:
Orange: Aja, irene, Olivia, Phoenix, Bosco, Deja
Pink: Tina, Nicole, Kerri, Jorgeous, Mistress, Lydia
Purple: Alyssa Hunter, Ginger, Acid, Daya, Denali, Cynthia
The first two episodes will air Friday, May 9, at midnight ET/9 PM PT (Thursday). If you’re on the West Coast, tell your local bar this is the “new” time episodes will become available. Will anyone jump on Thursday night viewing parties? We’re about to find out.
New episodes of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked” will also drop every week following the main episode.
The 18 contestants are as follows:
ACID BETTY
Instagram: @acidbetty
Let the acid trip begin! Season 8’s unapologetic iconoclast Acid Betty returns to the competition to kick ass and take names. She’s a gifted visual artist whose punk rock vibes and unfiltered attitude stood out in the workroom and on the Mainstage, making her a hardcore contender for the crown.
AJA
Instagram: @ajathekween; TikTok: @venusthekween
Ayo, sis—Aja is in the building! Part Harajuku, part hood, all attitude. This Brooklyn-bred banjee queen from Season 9 and All Stars 3 is back with a fast tongue, sickening vogue moves, and some unfinished business. She’s here to cement her legacy—and snatch that crown.
ALYSSA HUNTER
Instagram/TikTok: @thealyssahunter
It’s officially hunting season, because the trade of Season 14, Alyssa Hunter is here! Fellow contestants, better watch out — you might end up as prey for this polished pageant queen, because this Puerto Rican knockout has her sights set on All Stars glory!
BOSCO
Instagram: @hereisbosco
Seattle’s demon queen is back—with a monster appetite for the crown! Bosco was saved from elimination by a golden chocolate bar in Season 14 and clawed her way to the Finale. Now this burlesque beauty is armed with cutting-edge fashion and razor-sharp wit, and she’s ready to slice through the competition!
CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE
Instagram: @cynthialeefontaine; TikTok: @cynthialeefontaine_
It’s time to get Cucu! The beloved queen of Seasons 8 and 9 is back! This Puerto Rican singer, cancer survivor, and activist from Texas has the heart of a champion and a zany charm that’ll tickle your funny bone. ¡Prepárate para enamorarte de nuevo!
DAYA BETTY
Instagram/TikTok: @dayabetty
The statuesque punk rock powerhouse of Season 14 is back! After an early elimination, Daya Betty battled her way to the Grand Finale, proving she’s the ultimate comeback kid. Bold, outspoken, and relentless—she’s hungry for the crown and willing to go all the way.
DEJA SKYE
Instagram: @dejaskye; TikTok: @thedejaskye
Season 14’s pastel princess is back, bringing that beautiful mug, a bright sense of humor, and a personality as big as her talent. She single-handedly saved her season’s Snatch Game—Yay-yuh! Now, the sky’s the limit for DeJa in this competition, okayyyy!
DENALI
Instagram/TikTok: @denalifoxx
Drag’s gold medal bitch has entered the tournament! Denali is an ice-skating athlete turned lip-sync assassin, and she’s trained hard for the Olympics of Drag. Queens beware—she just might triple lutz and leave the other queens skating on thin ice!
GINGER MINJ
Instagram: @gingerminj; TikTok: @thegingerminj
Ribbit-Ribbit. The glamour toad and southern-fried queen of sass, Ginger Minj, is back to get this competition cooking! This campy powerhouse from Season 7, All Stars 2 and 6 has been wowing fans for years on tours, in Vegas, in films and TV projects – and she’s a cookbook author! She’s now ready for the next chapter in her story – becoming a winner, Baby!!
IRENE THE ALIEN
Instagram: @irenethealien; TikTok: @irene_the_alien
Greetings, earthlings! Irene the Alien has landed from Seattle, ready to disrupt the competition. Her time on Season 15 was short, but she made a lasting impact. This go around, her far-out looks and flair for the otherworldly will show the judges she’s no one-episode wonder!
JORGEOUS
Instagram/TikTok: @Jorgeous_1
It’s getting muggy in here! Hello-tis, it’s your girl Jorgeous! Fresh off All Stars 9, this pint-sized diva from Season 14 is back to gag the judges with her electrifying performances and remind the world that she was born to do drag. Spicy, stunning, and ready to slay—she’s living proof that dynamite comes in small packages!
KERRI COLBY
Instagram: @kerricolby; TikTok: @thekerricolby
A beautiful baddie straight from the doll factory, Kerri Colby is serving face, body, and hair for the ages. Repping the legendary House of Colby, the confessional queen of Season 14 has business to attend to—starting with getting her puss-perfect portrait in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.
LYDIA B KOLLINS
Instagram: @foreheadbrows; TikTok: @lydiabkollins
Fresh off Season 17, spooky kooky Lydia B. Kollins is making a U-turn back into the werkroom to show she’s been an All Star all along! Her irreverent drag and stamped mug took her far last season, but now this butthole is ready to go all the way—and she’s itching for the crown. No ointment for that!
MISTRESS ISABELLE BROOKS
Instagram: @mistressisabellebrooks; TikTok: @the_mib
The heavyweight champ of Season 15 is back in the ring, ready to knock out the competition! This larger-than-life Houston diva pulls no punches when it comes to drag pageantry—and she lives to stir the pot. With Mistress, there are no safe words, no mercy, and zero tolerance for drag delusion… Get ready to submit.
NICOLE PAIGE BROOKS
Instagram/TikTok: @thenicolepaigebrooks
Hey y’all, it’s Nicole Paige Brooks From ATLANTA, GEORGIA! Fifteen years after her Season 2 debut, this veteran is back to show the children how it’s done. And, yes, her pronouns are “legend” and “icon”!
OLIVIA LUX
Instagram/TikTok: @theolivialux
The delightful diva with the megawatt smile is back for the crown! Olivia Lux lit up Season 13, and now she shines even brighter. A trained musician and proud member of the Miyake-Mugler ballroom house, she’s bringing even more star power to the Main Stage. And this time? She’s not playing nice.
PHOENIX
Instagram/TikTok: @phoenix_atl
Phoenix rises from the ashes of Season 3—bigger, bolder, and ready to burn up her fellow queens. This boss bitch from the Atlanta drag scene has a fierce competitive streak, and wants to show the judges that after all these years, her charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent is still on fire!
TINA BURNER
Instagram/TikTok: @thetinaburner
Hell yeah! New York’s premier camp comedy queen, Tina Burner, is back to turn it and burn it! After blazing through Season 13, this veteran diva is taking a pit stop from her tours and residencies to set the competition aflame. And yes, she’s still on fire!
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