Drag Race All Stars SHOCKING Twist REVEALED!

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After 10 seasons, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars has undergone a facelift. 

The spin-off show “RuPaul’s Drag Race” first appeared in 2012, inviting contestants from the original series to compete again for another chance at winning. Although the concept seemed poised for success, the first season didn’t go down well with viewers, resulting in a significant four-year hiatus before the second season premiered (which in “Drag Race” time, feels like an entire century has passed).

Wow, the second season of “Drag Race: All Stars” truly hit the jackpot! It featured beloved queens and an unexpected format overhaul that led to countless memorable moments in the series’ history. However, “All Stars” has undergone changes throughout the years, introducing different structural adjustments to maintain audience interest, and now even catering to the queens themselves.

In the debut of season 10, “All Stars,” the series boasts its biggest ensemble of drag performers yet, comprising 18 veterans from previous Drag Race competitions. Initially, the contestants are divided into three teams, each consisting of six queens. A scoring system akin to a bracket is employed to identify the top three from each team. Once the top three from every group have been determined, they will join forces with the leading competitors from all three teams.

Although the format shares some resemblances with the popular reality TV show Survivor, executive producer Tom Campbell clarified to The Hollywood Reporter that the innovative design of the new show was not influenced by the CBS series. Instead, it was inspired by the ongoing drive for innovation seen in RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The ideas behind the shows stem from nearly a decade of producing ‘All Stars’ and almost two decades of working on ‘Drag Race’… For Campbell, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ is both a talent competition and a stepping stone for these local artists to achieve global stardom. Meanwhile, ‘All Stars’ presents a unique challenge because the contestants are already internationally recognized. In his view, ‘All Stars’ serves as a masterclass in navigating the entertainment industry. Throughout various seasons, we’ve introduced numerous twists, which emphasize the importance of refining one’s personal brand.

Campbell additionally noted that the formula resembles “the spectacles derived from our ancestral drag traditions,” as shows like Drag Race seem to draw influences from prestigious events such as the Miss Continental pageant.

Each season, the queens in Miss Continental contest continuously return, so we’ve designed a system that enables numerous queens to compete again. He mentioned that the layout of season 10 was specifically devised to maximize the screen time for each competitor, ensuring at least three episodes per contestant, providing ample time for viewers to fully appreciate and adore their contributions to the competition.

Before Season 10, Seasons 7 and 9 followed a non-elimination format where queens earned points (or badges) by winning challenges. The queens with the most points advanced to the finale. Campbell hinted that they might use this structure again, but with the new tournament format, they can combine both styles, providing an exciting showcase and fierce competition as desired by fans.

Campbell explained that altering the competition’s setup would keep options open for developing “innovative, captivating” formats that spectators crave, such as a first-elimination or runner-up series. It is worth mentioning that the seventh All Stars season emerged following fan requests for a lineup of all victors. Moreover, Campbell hinted at organizing another season featuring only crowned queens once “the right moment” arises.

He pointed out that the first season featuring only champions took place during the pandemic, and everyone’s opportunities to perform were limited. Additionally, there were enough winners available to fill an entire season. Given these circumstances, it appeared to be the ideal moment to go ahead with this concept.

Might it have been fitting for All Stars season 10 to introduce another group of past winners? Campbell suggested that such an event should occur at a significant moment, and while he hinted at the possibility of another all-winners season, he also indicated that they aren’t in a hurry to make it happen.

In the upcoming season 10, some contestants who previously competed in the All Stars franchise will make a return. Among the 18 queens, Aja, Jorgeous, and Ginger Minj have been seen before – Jorgeous from season 9 and Ginger for her third stint on All Stars.

Since the fourth season, the practice of bringing back former contestants, often referred to as “All Stars,” has become quite common. According to Campbell, it’s not unusual to see drag artists participating in drag pageants repeatedly, sometimes for several years in a row.

Campbell mentioned that from the start, we chose to highlight the origins of annual drag queen competitions like the Miss Continentals, where the same queens often return each year. It’s unfortunate not to bring them back repeatedly as they possess such rich talents and experiences. Additionally, I believe fans are captivated by watching these queens evolve over time.

Following the conclusion of season 17, Lydia B (“B” representing Butthole) Kollins had just five days to ready herself for season 10. This was a unique occurrence in the annals of “Drag Race,” as it was the first instance where a queen leaped straight into “All Stars” before their original season even premiered on TV. One might wonder what set Lydia apart that RuPaul Charles quickly invited her back. While it could have been for appearances, Campbell believes that the host had a genuine fondness for the queen from Pittsburgh – not to mention he also finds saying “butthole” amusing.

[Lydia’s] departure occurred because she attempted to free herself from a dress using scissors, and despite signs that there was still potential in her character and her narrative wasn’t complete, it became difficult, given those circumstances, not to release her,” he clarified. “I believe Ru wanted to explore more with her. Additionally, it seems that Ru has a penchant for the term ‘butthole,’ whether openly or covertly.

Another significant source of anticipation arises from the star-studded lineup of celebrity judges, featuring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Chappell Roan, and Ice Spice. Campbell credits his colleagues Thairin Smothers and Alicia Gargaro-Magaña for securing these impressive bookings.

He exclaimed that their performances were absolutely astonishing, attributing this to the remarkable harmony between the show and its featured stars. This synergy, he added, allowed them to attract some of the most prominent actors, musicians, and even the most successful musical of the 21st century to appear on RuPaul’s Drag Race. He hinted at an upcoming challenge inspired by Wicked: For Good.

Given the escalating threats to the rights of the LGBTQ community and drag entertainers, Campbell emphasized that “having some of the world’s most renowned celebrities appearing on Drag Race, not just for the show but because they admire the queens, speaks volumes.

Campbell often expresses his belief that a higher power of Drag has been guiding ‘Drag Race’ since its debut in 2009. He thinks it was risky to air the show then due to its controversial nature, but here we are, discussing A-list celebrities participating now, which shows how everything can be about timing.

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 10 exclusively streams on Paramount+ every Friday.

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2025-05-09 19:25