The results of the lipstick vote are revealed and three final queens battle for the all star crown and title. Actress Connie Britton is a guest judge…
We have finally made it to the end of our ninth All Stars journey. This season was a little different as the queens all competed for donations to the charities of their choice, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t unexpected twists and turns we came to over the last 12 weeks. We saw queens sink and swim, cut and blocked by the ruby snippers, and discover new confidence within themselves. Last week we watched as the queens prepared for their last challenge; a variety show extravaganza that will be the cherry on top of the whole competition. This week the result of last week’s lipstick vote will be revealed and we will see three queens battle head to head for the crown and a massive donation to their charity of choice. Let’s get into it!
Before this very special grand finale, a special message from Vice President (and presidential candidate) Kamala Harris plays urging viewers to have pride and stick together while using their voice to stand up for what they believe in. Surrounded by queer icons and friends of the show Lance Bass, Cheyenne Jackson, Jamal Sims, Leslie Jones and of course, Michelle Visage, Vice President Harris reminds everyone that their voice matters when they head to the polls later this year. This week’s episode begins with the queens in the werk room all feeling a little sad that this is their last day in the competition. Everybody is emotional and crying because this has been a journey and all of the queens have used their time to bond. They’ve got to wipe the tears away though because they have a talent to perform and some money to win for their charities. It’s the final lap of the competition and the stakes are high. While they put their makeup on they talk about how much they want the crown and how the pressure of the competition has led to them feeling surprisingly calm for this final challenge.
Drag Race All Star and winner Kylie Sonique Love enters the werk room to give the queens a pep talk and offer some of her personal advice on how to snatch the crown. Kylie presents the queens with a video message from Canadian icon and All Stars 8 winner Jimbo all the way from Dublin. She wishes the queens luck on their final challenge and pump them up for the variety show. They get back to doing their makeup and Jorgeous is thinking about her hot firefighter she got to give a makeover to over this season. They go around the room and talk about their favourite challenges and how much they’ve grown as performers. Voting strategy comes up and Roxxxy tells some of the other queens about her thought process going into the lipstick voting last week.
Out on the main stage, Ru makes her grand entrance and introduces us to the all star panel of judges for the last time. Sitting on the final panel is Michelle, Ross, and this week’s extra special guest judge, actress Connie Britton. Angeria kicks off the variety show with a sweet and sultry cabaret performance of an original song infused with her signature sense of humor that really catches the judge’s attention. Gottmik also performs an original song with more of a rock edge and even a little guitar shredding too. Next is Jorgeous whose original song perfectly showcases her dance ability all leading to a final stunt that the judges can’t get enough of. Plastique’s performance incorporates her Vietnamese culture with her personal experience as a queen along with a sparking bra which she roasts marshmallows on for a show stopping number that has everyone gagging. Nina’s ballad pokes fun at the drag and ballroom slag making it to the mainstream that really tickles everyone on the panel. Roxxxy pays homage to her All Stars 2 burlesque performance with a saucy song and dance while Shannel uses her performance to showcase her truly impressive juggling (with knives) and balancing act. I’ll give it to her, it’s something different! Vanjie’s song about eating up leotards with a fan in her hair is fiercely Vanjie. She claps back at Michelle with a few leotard reveals which Michelle adores and has everyone clapping by the end of it.
Following the variety show the category on the runway is “Grand Finale Eleganza” and all of the queens strut down the runway in their most stunning looks.
Critiques begin with Angeria. Michelle says her dress is “a vision” and Ross says he wished her performance never ended. Connie tells Gottmik getting to see her up close and personal living out a rock and roll fantasy was a gift. Ross tells her that her final look is so outrageous it’s perfect. Ru tells Jorgeous she tore up her performance and Michelle tells her that her flip was the star of the entire performance. Connie tells her that her outfit perfectly pays tribute to latina legends while still staying true to her. Ru tells Plastique her look is “nothing short of spectacular” and Connie says her sense of humor sprinkled through her performance is what sets her apart from the others. The judges say Nina looks glamorous and beautiful and Ross specifically says her performance perfectly incorporated everything Nina is good at and known for. Michelle calls Roxxxy’s outfit dynamic and Ross wants to be buried in it. Roxxxy’s comfort during her performance really impressed the judges, mainly Ru who says her versatility has made her a total star. Ross loves Shannel’s talent was so personal to her and Connie adores her Elizabeth Taylor-esque runway look. Finally, Michelle tells her she loved the song about leotards and that her dancing was fabulous. Ru calls her a superstar. Vanjie gets emotional listening to the judges singing her praise and Ru closes out critiques talking about how great of an ensemble this group has been.
Following a lengthy deliberation, Ru announces that the top two all stars of the week are Angeria and Vanjie. Both queens will receive three benefactress badges. After a quick updated tally of everyone’s badges Ru reveals that the winner of last week’s double diamond vote (and the doubling of their badge count) is…Nina West! Even with the doubling, it’s not enough to get Nina into the top three, but she’s thankful for the votes. The top three queens of the season are officially Angeria, Roxxxy, and Miss Vanjie. The rest of the queens will each receive an extra $5000 for their charities, and they exit the stage to take a seat. The final three lip sync for the grand prize to Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson. They’re all given solo time on the stage, so they can take full advantage of the space. All three of them give every last ounce of energy they have to try and convince Ru to pick them and their charity to donate to. There’s passion, hairography, and even a confetti cannon.
After their electric final performances, Kylie Sonique Love walks the runway with her scepter ready to crown the next All Star. Ru reveals that the winner of All Stars 9, a crown and scepter, a coveted spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame, and a cash prize of $200,000 for their charity is… Angeria Paris VanMicheals! The runners up will also each receive a $25,000 donation to their charities. Condragulations to our new reigning queen of queens!
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