Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 7 Moments

Although Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition of “Old MacDonald'' was an unexpected song choice, the most notable departure from standard lip sync tracks was the week nine duel between Jinkx Monsoon and Monét X Change. The two battled it out to the famous “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” monologue from “Designing Women.” Although spoken-word mixes are common in live drag performances and even in some “Drag Race” challenges, this was the first time the show featured one in the Lip Sync for Your Legacy portion of an episode. It’s not just a callback to an iconic TV moment, but a tribute to the artform of drag and its ability to recycle classic pop culture and make it new again.

In the season premiere, RuPaul surprised the eight returning winners with a runway coaching session from the legendary Naomi Campbell herself. This opportunity left one queen in tears. Shea Couleé, winner of “All Stars 5,” was floored when Naomi called her runway walk “perfection.” The usually composed queen began stumbling over her words as she tried to respond to the compliment, which was all the more meaningful coming from Campbell. Having looked up to the famous supermodel since childhood, Shea later described their interaction as one of the most “affirming” moments of her life.

The Season Three winner was always known for her polished runway looks, but this season allowed viewers to see a softer side of Raja. After being passed over for challenge wins throughout the All Winners season despite her consistent performance, the curse was finally broken in Episode 8. Raja was named a top two All Star in the “Santa’s School for Girls'' acting challenge, nabbing her second Legendary Legends star and winning the lipsync to Rick James’ funk classic “Super Freak.” On top of this, she was also granted the power to block one of her competitors with the all-powerful Platinum Plunger. It was an overdue win, and Raja milked it for all it was worth. The entire episode was a masterclass from a “Drag Race” trailblazer.

In the season’s biggest comeback story, Shea Couleé served pop star bravura with her original song, “Your Name.” Accurately described by the performer as a cross between Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross, her sharp choreography and stunning command of the stage was a great throwback to 80s pop revitalized for the current moment. The performance all but guaranteed Shea a top two spot when she needed it most. The judges were awed, and RuPaul awarded Shea three Legendary Legend stars, catapulting her into the finale she was sure she had no chance of being in.

In the penultimate episode of the season, RuPaul revived the show’s long defunct Tic Tac Chit-Chat segment to give the eight winners the chance to talk about the charities they were competing for. Season 11’s Yvie Oddly was forthright about her experience with domestic violence and her struggles living with a connective-tissue disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The disorder was making it harder for her to do some contortion tricks safely. It was a frank and vulnerable conversation about the toll art can take on the body, and Yvie’s eagerness to share her experiences made the performance all the more special.

For many American fans, All Stars 7 may have been their first glimpse of The Vivienne, but her effortless performance in the Fairytale Justice challenge cemented her place among the legendary cast. The “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” Season 1 winner showcased her deft hand with dialects in the episode four improv challenge. With her performance as the compulsive liar and porridge thief Goldilocks, she was able to shift seamlessly between a Scottish, German, and American accent while still delivering jokes and comebacks without ever breaking character–or a sweat. She was named as one of the top two All Stars of the week, giving the cast’s other resident improv maven, Jinkx Monsoon, a run for her money.

This ambitious theme asked the queens to incorporate lights and illumination in their runway looks for the week. These champions did not disappoint. As each queen strutted down the runway, the lights dimmed, and each dress became a walking light show. We’ve seen some incredible looks on “Drag Race” over the years, but never have we seen a bioluminescent mermaid, glimmering mushrooms, a shining sunflower, or a witch being burned alive on the runway. Each look left an impact, and this runway will surely go down as one of the best the series has ever seen.

Alongside her successful drag career, Monét X Change is also a podcast host, talk show host, and even a pop singer and rapper. Her past as a trained opera singer was more of an anecdote than a part of her repertoire. Until All Stars 7, that is. Monét’s deep, resonant bass blew away her competition. As she powered through an aria from Vincenzo Bellini’s “La sonnambula,” the judges and her fellow queens were spellbound. Although “Drag Race” has celebrated many skills from its competitors over the years, Monét’s performance brought an amount of technical skill and polish rarely seen on the mainstage.

All season long, the queens were vying for a chance to win $200,000 in the Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown finale. But at the end of the penultimate episode, Ru had another surprise in store. The four queens that didn’t make the cut would compete for a consolation title, which came with its own $50,000 prize. This gave every cast member one last chance to strut their moves and show their stuff. While all the queens walked away with their own scepters and titles, the two big winners were Raja and Jinkx, who were crowned “Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses” and “Queen of Queens”, respectively.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Return of Wintergreen, “The Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall of Shade”
Peppermint’s Honorary Drag Daughter Made a Grand Return to the Mainstage

Shea’s Platinum Plunger Ploy, “The Realness of Fortune Ball”
Shea’s Lie About the Platinum Plunger’s Super Secret Powers Psychs Out Her Competitors

Vanna White Realness, “The Realness of Fortune Ball”
The Queens Are Stunned When They See Vanna White Introducing the Vanna-Themed Runway

Tove Lo’s Name, “Total Ru-quest Live”
The Pronunciation of Pop Star & Guest Judge Tove Lo’s Name Shook the Social Media Sphere

Trinity Redeems Herself, “The Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall of Shade”
Trinity the Tuck Had the Last Laugh When She Nailed the Roast Challenge

Eventual winner Jinkx Monsoon showcased her comedy chops throughout the season, but it was her performance as Judy Garland in the “Snatch Game” that cemented her place at the front of the pack early on. While queens like Raja and Trinity the Tuck also shined in the episode, as the beloved gay icon, Jinkx demonstrated her masterful command of mimicry. She even harkened back to her winning season when she forgave Dave, the Marine veteran who memorably confessed that he may have killed the real Judy Garland. It was a tour de force that left Broom, excuse me, Ru, cracking up the whole way, and set the tone for a season full of the best talent “Drag Race” has to offer.