Warning!
This post contains major spoilers about Thursdays season finale ofRuPauls Drag Race All Stars 3.Read ahead at your own risk!
For the first time inRuPauls Drag Raceherstory, anAll Starschampion was crowned Thursday night with a little help from a riled-up jury of previously eliminated queens each of whom RuPaul brought back to the competition so they could cast individual votes for their favorite pair of finalists among the final four.
VH1
After meeting with each of the queens to hear their case for a chance to advance in the competition, the groups decision vaulted Trixie Mattel and, shockingly, Kennedy Davenport into the top two, thus eliminating BeBe Zahara Benet and presumed frontrunner Shangela.
Though the broadcast didnt show a vote-by-vote breakdown, VH1 released a bonus clip shortly after Mama Ru named Trixie the thirdAll Starschampion, revealing that it was actually a point-based system (the queens first choice received two points, their second choice received one) and not a weighted vote that determined the surprising outcome.
Heres how each ousted lady voted:
Aja:Im picking the queens that I think will benefit the most, but also have worked their asses off this entire time.First vote:Kennedy DavenportSecond vote:Trixie Mattel
BenDeLaCreme:I felt like Kennedy was the person who, statistics-wise, was the one I needed to eliminate instead of myself.
But after seeing what shes done and listening to her speak, I feel good to have been able to step down and dump the way for her.First vote:Kennedy DavenportSecond vote:Trixie Mattel
Chi Chi DeVayne:My first choice is automatic.
My second choice Im a little bit on the fence with that one.First vote:Kennedy DavenportSecond vote:Trixie Mattel
Milk:Having the conversation with the top four, it just reinforced my idea of who I wanted to continue.First vote:Kennedy DavenportSecond vote:Trixie Mattel
Morgan McMichaels:As Im looking at the lipsticks Im seeing longtime friends, people whove worked their asses off in this business.
But Im really confident in my decision and I think the top four is in for a big surprise.First vote:BeBe Zahara BenetSecond vote:Kennedy Davenport
Thorgy Thor:After meeting with all four of the queens, I completely changed my mind.
However, now that Im at the box, Im thinking if I dont trust my gut, Im going to regret it later.First vote:Trixie MattelSecond vote:Shangela
Final tallies:
Though Kennedy had the worst track record of any queen in the top four (she appeared in the bottom and was subsequently up for elimination four times since the season opener), she overwhelmingly took the popular vote among the eliminated queens.
Though the shows fanbase isnt as keen on her, herDrag Racepeers have come to respect her artistry especially after she revealed earlier this year that she often feels like an afterthought among the show community.
Though her scorecard might not justify her place in the top two, Kennedys triumph serves as a touching example of a steadfast sisterhood rallying behind one of its own.
Among the entireAll Stars 3cast, Trixie undoubtedly fronts the most successful post-show career (she hosts her own Viceland talk show on top of a steady music career), so its no surprise that herDrag Racesisters wanted her in the top two to represent the best that the brand has to offer.
Still, the biggest curveball here is that Shangela widely presumed by fans to be the clear-cut winner after winning three challenges was virtually ignored by everyone but Thorgy, theonequeen who was most vocal about her annoyance with Shangelas decision to send her home on the second episode.
As much as the shows contestants like to tout that theAll Starselimination format isnt about preserving relationships, the third season finale confirms that, as long as RuPaul places power in the sequined gloves of her (sometimes emotionally impulsive) cast, were really tuning in for weekly installments ofRuPauls Best Friend Raceversus an actual competition.
