All Stars 9’s confirmed cast pits fan favourite queens against Drag Race royalty
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 9 is finally set to hit screens on 17 May, and the cast of queens re-entering the werk room for a second shot at glory has been confirmed.
Following Nymphia Wind’s win at the tail end of season 16, the Drag Race wheel just keeps on turning, and the cast of All Stars 9 has been confirmed.
All Stars 9 was officially confirmed by Paramount+ on Monday, 21 August 2023, and it’s believed that production on All Stars 9 began at the beginning of July 2023, following the conclusion of filming for season 16.
The All Stars 9 cast contains some fan favourite personalities, some all-time greats, and a couple of curveballs that could be the start of some unexpected Ru-demption arcs, especially if All Stars 8‘s Fame Games makes a comeback – and this time, the queens are playing for charity, as well.
Which queens are appearing on All Stars 9?
As of today (23 April), eight queens have been confirmed to be taking part in All Stars 9, making it the smallest cast since All Stars 7‘s all-winners season.
Here are the queens who are appearing on All Stars 9.
Angeria Paris VanMicheals (Season 14)
Angeria’s heart of gold catapulted her straight into the hearts of fans during season 14 – as well as to a joint 3rd place finish.
After returning to the runway as a surprise lip sync assassin on All Stars 8, Angeria is still very much part of the Drag Race family, and we can easily imagine her climbing to the top of that family tree during a second run.
Gottmik (Season 13)
As the first trans man to appear on Drag Race, Gottmik’s place in history was already assured when she entered the season 14 workroom, but the LA queen quickly established herself as one of the strongest competitors in recent years, combining jaw-dropping looks with plenty of charisma and comedy chops (Paris Hilton Snatch Game anyone?)
After being relegated to a joint 3rd place finish after being drawn against Symone in the season 14 finale lip sync, Gottmik feels like a queen who never quite got paid her dues. With a post-Drag Race career that includes appearances in Sam Smith music videos, a book release and even auditioning for the Hellraiser remake, she’s one to beat on All Stars 9.
Jorgeous (Season 14)
Beloved by RuPaul – always handy when competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race – Jorgeous had a wild ride on season 14, becoming the first queen on a US edition of the franchise to survive four bottom lip syncs and and proving you can never count her out.
Another season 14 star to return as a lip sync assassin on All Stars 8, Jorgeous is ready to shake her way into the Hall of Fame on All Stars 9.
Nina West (Season 11)
Given she was such popular figure on season 11 among fans and queens alike, it’s easy to forget that Nina West only finished in 6th place during her original run – though she was, naturally, voted Miss Congeniality.
Combining campy humour and a sweet nature with a defiant activist streak, the children’s author is set to bring some political urgency to All Stars 9 at a time when drag remains under attack across the US.
Plastique Tiara (Season 11)
Plastique Tiara may only have finished in a relatively modest 8th place on season 11, but her runway looks up until that point in the competition had been beyond compare.
After a couple of years away from Drag Race to hone her craft and confidence, Plastique Tiara could bring it with the best of them on All Stars 9.
Roxxxy Andrews (Season five and All Stars 2)
She’s Roxxxy Andrews and she’s here to make it clear! Again! Roxxxy’s run to the top four of All Stars 2 as part of the unbreakable Rolaskatox alliance remains controversial to this day, but there’s no denying that the season 5 runner-up remains bona fide Drag Race royalty. After all, this is the woman responsible for the franchise’s first-ever lip sync wig reveal.
One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be fascinating to see how the ever-outspoken Roxxxy navigates the politics of All Stars rules without Detox and Alaska (and a borrowed tank top) at her side.
Shannel (Season one and All Stars 1)
Another member of Drag Race royalty who’s no stranger to making it all the way to finals, season one and All Stars 1 queen Shannel has the greatest vintage of any rumoured All Stars 9 queen, in both age and association with the franchise.
After returning as a lip sync assassin in All Stars 8, it’s clear Shannel is still very much in the Drag Race fold – but can she do a Kylie Sonique Love and go all the way as an early-season queen?
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo (Season 10 and season 11)
Never underestimate the woman who generated perhaps the most viral meme in Drag Race history before promptly riding it straight back into the werk room the following year after a week one departure.
Miss Vanjie remains one of the most popular queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race 2.0 – otherwise known as the post-Logo TV, VH1 years – and as a queen who’s always managed to entertain while leaving room to grow, a Hall of Fame position could be the perfect end to the story.
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 1-8 are available to stream on Paramount+ in the US and WOW Presents Plus in the UK and internationally. All Stars 9 premieres on 17 May.
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