Format Variation

The main differences in format to the main series are as follows:

• Season 1: The first All-Stars season was a pairs competition. Queens competed in teams of two, determined by the contestants themselves. Both members of the losing team would be eliminated each week. The bottom two teams chose one member to "lip-synch for their lives". The non-lip synching teammates had the option during the first minute of the performance to declare a "she-mergency", hit a panic button, and "tag in" to complete the performance. In the finale, two pairs remained, at which point the pairs were disbanded.
• Seasons 2–4: The second season was an individual format much like the main series and introduced the format of having the contestants eliminating each other. This season also introduced the lip-sync for your legacy, where the top two contestants in each main challenge would compete in the lip-sync. The victor is awarded a cash prize of $10,000 and the power to eliminate any of the worst-performing queens from the main challenge. This format returned in the third and fourth seasons as well.
• Seasons 5–6, 8: The fifth season made a minor adjustment to the format from seasons 2–4. Only the sole main challenge winner can lip sync for her legacy against a Lip Sync Assassin (a notable contestant from a previous season), while the bottom contestants are the only ones eligible for elimination. If the Assassin wins, the eliminated queen will be determined by a vote by the rest of the contestants. The $10,000 lip sync prize jackpot rolls over to further episodes until an All-Star queen wins a lip-sync. If the competing All-Star wins the lip sync, she will get the power to eliminate a fellow queen, as well as win a jackpotting cash prize. This format returned in the sixth and eighth seasons.
• Season 7: The seventh season featured past winners from the franchise returning to compete and no contestants were eliminated prior to the final stage of the competition. The top two queens in each main challenge are awarded a "Legendary Legend Star" and compete in a lip-sync for the win. The winner of the lip-sync receives a $10,000 cash prize and the ability to block one of the safe queens from receiving a star the following week. The contestants with the most stars at the end of the competition participate in a lip-sync smackdown for the title "Queen of All Queens".

Judging

Current judges RuPaul (top left), Michelle Visage (top right), Ross Mathews (middle left), Carson Kressley (middle right), and Ts Madison (bottom)

Season 1 (2012)

RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars is the first All-Star season of RuPaul's Drag Race and premiered on the Logo network on October 22, 2012.^[4] Cast members were announced on August 6, 2012.^[5] The queens that were invited back to compete were: Alexis Mateo, Chad Michaels, Jujubee, Latrice Royale, Manila Luzon, Mimi Imfurst, Nina Flowers, Pandora Boxx, Raven, Shannel, Tammie Brown and Yara Sofia. The season featured these twelve returning contestants from seasons one to four, for a chance to be inducted into the "Drag Race Hall of Fame". It is the only season of All Stars to have the contestants compete in teams of two. This series consists of six episodes, each aired in a 60-minute time-slot.^[6] Contestants were judged on their "charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent" and, since they competed in teams of two, also "synergy". The winner received a supply of MAC cosmetics, a "one of a kind trip" and $100,000.^[7]

In each episode, the judges provide their critiques on the contestants' performances in the main challenge and on the runway before RuPaul announces which team is the winner and which teams had the weakest performances. The teams deemed as being the bottom two must "lip sync for their lives" and choose a queen to represent their team in the lip sync in a final attempt to impress RuPaul. After the lip sync, RuPaul decides who stays and who leaves. RuPaul describes the qualities the contestants must have to be crowned the winner of the show as "Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent... These are people who have taken adversity and turned it into something that is beautiful and something powerful."^[8] The phrase "charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent" is used repeatedly on the show, the acronym of which is CUNT. On the All Stars season, "synergy" was added to provide an explanation behind the contestants being sorted into teams (expanding the acronym into CUNTS). The winner was Chad Michaels, while Raven placed as the runner-up, again.

Season 2 (2016)

A second season of All Stars was announced in 2015 and started shooting immediately after season 8. The show was to begin airing on August 25, 2016. Along with the season premiere's announcement, the cast of All Stars 2 were revealed. The cast consisted of 10 returning contestants, Adore Delano, Alaska, Alyssa Edwards, Coco Montrese, Detox, Ginger Minj, Katya, Phi Phi O'Hara, Roxxxy Andrews, and Tatianna.^[9] A new twist was revealed for this season changing the format of the show. In previous seasons, the two lowest performing queens had to "Lip Sync for their Life" to avoid elimination. This season has the two best-performing queens of the challenge "Lip Sync for their Legacy", with the winner of the lip sync earning $10,000 and choosing which one of the bottom queens to eliminate. However, on their exit, RuPaul advised the first four eliminated queens that they will have the opportunity to come back for their "revenge", with the winner gaining entry back into the competition.

This season featured a lip-sync to the Rihanna song 'Shut Up and Drive' by Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna that has frequently been rated the number one best Drag Race lip-sync performance.^[10][11] The winner was Alaska, while Detox and Katya placed as the runners-up.

Season 3 (2018)

On August 21, 2017, VH1 announced it would air a third season of the series in early 2018.^[12][13][14] On October 13, 2017, VH1 announced that a one-hour special, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Exclusive Queen RuVeal, would air on October 20, 2017, announcing the season's returning contestants.^[15][16] The contestants competing on the third season of All Stars were Aja, BenDeLaCreme, Chi Chi DeVayne, Kennedy Davenport, Milk, Morgan McMichaels, Shangela, Thorgy Thor, and Trixie Mattel. Season one winner BeBe Zahara Benet was announced as the surprise tenth contestant.^[17] On December 14, 2017, it was announced that the third season would premiere on January 25, 2018.^[18] A new twist on how the top queens of the season were to be chosen was revealed in the season's final episode. The previously eliminated queens returned in the finale and voted for the top two out of the remaining top four finalists. The two queens with the most votes advanced while the others were eliminated. The winner was Trixie Mattel; Kennedy Davenport was the runner-up.

Season 4 (2018–2019)

In August 2018, during an episode of his podcast, Whats the Tee?, RuPaul confirmed he was filming the fourth season of All Stars.^[19] On August 22, 2018, VH1 officially announced a fourth season of All Stars, with the cast still yet to be revealed.^[20] On November 9, season 3 winner Trixie Mattel hosted a live stream with season 2 finalists Katya and Detox to announce the cast.^[21] The ten contestants competing on the fourth season of All Stars were Farrah Moan, Gia Gunn, Jasmine Masters, Latrice Royale, Manila Luzon, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, Naomi Smalls, Trinity the Tuck, and Valentina.^[22] Gia Gunn was the first transgender contestant to compete on a season of All Stars, while Latrice Royale and Manila Luzon were the first contestants to return after competing in a previous season of All Stars.^[22] The fourth season premiered on December 14, 2018, on VH1.^[22] The winners were Trinity the Tuck and Monét X Change; this marked the first double crowning in the ‘’Drag Race’’ franchise.

Season 5 (2020)

On August 19, 2019, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a fifth season.^[23] It was announced on February 20, 2020, on the show's official Twitter account, that the season would premiere on June 5, 2020, on Showtime.^[1] The cast was revealed on May 8, 2020. Following the cast announcement, producers announced that the show will air on VH1 instead of Showtime due to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused "various scheduling and programming adjustments."^[2] The ten contestants competing that season were Alexis Mateo, Blair St. Clair, Derrick Barry, India Ferrah, Jujubee, Mariah Paris Balenciaga, Mayhem Miller, Miz Cracker, Ongina, and Shea Couleé. The winner was Shea Couleé, leaving Jujubee and Miz Cracker as the runners-up.

Season 6 (2021)

On August 20, 2020, VH1 renewed the series for its sixth season.^[24] On February 24, 2021, ViacomCBS announced that the sixth season of the show would move to Paramount+.^[25] On May 26, it was announced that the season would air beginning June 24, 2021.^[26] The season's thirteen contestants were A'keria C. Davenport, Eureka!, Ginger Minj, Jan, Jiggly Caliente, Kylie Sonique Love, Pandora Boxx, Ra'Jah O'Hara, Scarlet Envy, Serena ChaCha, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Trinity K. Bonet, and Yara Sofia.^[27] The winner was Kylie Sonique Love, leaving Eureka!, Ginger Minj, and Ra'Jah O'Hara as runners-up. Kylie made history as the first transgender queen to win the crown on the American version of the show.

Season 7 (2022)

The series was renewed for its seventh season on February 15, 2022, to be aired on Paramount+.^[28] The cast was announced on April 13, 2022. It included eight winners of past seasons returning to compete, making it the first season featuring only past winners. ^[29] It also became the first US season to feature a contestant from another franchise. ^[30] The cast consisted of four winners of Drag Race: Jaida Essence Hall (season 12), Jinkx Monsoon (season 5), Raja (season 3) and Yvie Oddly (season 11); three winners of All Stars: Monét X Change and Trinity the Tuck (co-winning season 4) and Shea Couleé (season 5); and the winner of UK season 1, The Vivienne. ^[31] Jinkx Monsoon was crowned the Queen of All Queens, becoming the first to win two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. Monét X Change was the runner-up, and Raja won a second title, "Queen of 'She Done Already Done Had Herses'."

Season 8 (2023)

Season 8 premiered on Paramount+ on May 12, 2023. The cast consisted of Alexis Michelle, Darienne Lake, Heidi N. Closet, Jaymes Mansfield, Jessica Wild, Jimbo, Kahanna Montrese, Kandy Muse, Mrs. Kasha Davis, LaLa Ri, Monica Beverly Hillz and Naysha Lopez. Jimbo won the competition on July 21, 2023, becoming the first queen from a non-American franchise (in this case, Canada's Drag Race) to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Kandy Muse was the runner-up, and LaLa Ri won the title, "Queen of the 'Fame Games'."

Season 9 (2024)

On August 21, 2023, World of Wonder announced that the series had been renewed for a ninth season set to begin airing on Paramount+ on May 17, 2024. On April 23, 2024, the cast was announced. It's eight contestants are Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Gottmik, Jorgeous, Nina West, Plastique Tiara, Roxxxy Andrews, Shannel and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo. For the first time in the franchise's history, the contestants will be competing for a $200,000 contribution to a charity of their choice.

Accolades

Critical response

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Extended plays

Singles