Top 20 RuPaul's Drag Race Queens Who Should've Won

#20: Lady Camden

Season 14

For the first half of Season 14, Lady Camden was practically invisible. While she did have a few moments in the spotlight, she was easy to overlook in a cast that included much bigger personalities. Then the “Daytona Wind” acting challenge came along, and suddenly she transformed into a full-fledged frontrunner. Camden collected three maxi challenge wins and proved she could do just about everything. She could sew, dance, act and even deliver comedy when the moment called for it. By the finale, she'd ticked every box a “Drag Race” winner traditionally needs to tick, but she ultimately lost the final lip sync to Willow Pill. While Willow was a worthy champion, Camden's late-season surge made the outcome feel agonizingly close.

#19: Roxxxy Andrews

All Stars 9

Talk about a redemption story a decade in the making. After becoming a polarizing figure on Season 5 and enduring an infamous All Stars 2 run, Roxxxy Andrews returned to All Stars 9 looking calmer, happier and more self-assured than ever. The confidence was still there, but so was an undeniable warmth. Roxxxy reminded everyone why she’s one of the greatest pageant queens in “Drag Race” herstory, as she delivered exquisite runways and incredible lip syncs throughout the competition. More importantly, her run felt like the emotional payoff to a decade-long journey. Angeria Paris VanMicheals ultimately took the crown, but many fans felt like this was finally supposed to be Roxxxy’s moment.

#18: Sapphira Cristál

Season 16

Some queens walk into the werk room and immediately radiate “winner.” Sapphira Cristál was one of them. She was poised with a razor-sharp wit, and had the kind of effortless confidence that made everyone around her feel at ease. Across the season, Sapphira excelled in acting, comedy, performance and design challenges, earning four maxi challenge wins and landing in the bottom only once. She also naturally stepped into a mentor role, helping other queens while never losing sight of her own game. Nymphia Wind’s historic victory as the first East Asian winner was incredibly significant and well-deserved. Still, had Sapphira been crowned instead, very few viewers would have been surprised.

#17: Jane Don't

Season 18

If consistency won crowns automatically, Jane Don’t would already have one sitting on her shelf. She accomplished an astonishing feat by placing in the top three for 10 consecutive weeks and collecting three maxi challenge wins along the way. Jane looked almost untouchable heading into the latter half of the competition. Then came the “Karens Gone Wild” improv challenge. One stumble was all it took for her to be eliminated – an elimination that sent shockwaves through both viewers and her fellow contestants alike. Many fans argued her track record alone should have saved her. Myki Meeks ultimately took the crown, but had Jane reached the finale, it’s genuinely difficult to imagine anyone stopping her momentum.

#16: Ra'Jah O'Hara

All Stars 6

It’s still genuinely hard to believe that this queen made her entire runway package, with just $600 no less. Ra’Jah O’Hara’s All Stars 6 run remains one of the greatest redemption arcs in “Drag Race” herstory. Gone was the defensive queen viewers met on Season 11; she had been replaced by someone warm, funny, confident and completely secure in herself. Week after week, Ra’Jah showcased a different skill set and made every challenge look effortless. More importantly, she became the emotional center of the season, earning immense support from both fans and her competitors. To this day, many viewers still see Ra'Jah as the true protagonist of that season. Thankfully, “Canada vs. the World” eventually gave her the crown she deserved.

#15: Brooke Lynn Hytes

Season 11

Sometimes “Drag Race” boils down to a battle between polish and uniqueness. On Season 11, uniqueness won. Brooke Lynn Hytes was arguably the most complete competitor of the season. She won three maxi challenges, delivered a series of stunning runways and cemented herself in “Drag Race” herstory with her jaw-dropping lip sync against Yvie Oddly. As a professionally trained ballet dancer, her stage presence was undeniable, but she also excelled in acting and design challenges. For much of the competition, she genuinely felt inevitable. Yvie’s unconventional perspective ultimately secured her victory, but Brooke Lynn represented excellence at every turn. If reliability alone determined the winner, she would've walked away with that crown.

#14: Chad Michaels

Season 4

You know someone is good when the phrase “consummate professional” follows them around for years afterward. Chad Michaels was that queen. Throughout Season 4, she landed in the bottom only once and consistently delivered polished, refined drag that still inspires many drag queens today. Her legendary Cher impersonation was already world-renowned before she entered the competition, but she showed tremendous versatility beyond just that. Sharon Needles changed “Drag Race” with her alternative aesthetic, and despite her infamy today, her victory was deserved. Still, Chad embodied what many viewers envisioned as the perfect ambassador for the franchise at the time. In a way, her eventual All Stars 1 victory felt more like the franchise correcting a previous mistake.

#13: Jujubee

All Stars 5

How many times can one queen almost win “Drag Race”? Apparently, infinity. Jujubee may not have dominated All Stars 5 statistically, but she practically carried the season emotionally. Her confessionals were hilarious, as were her performances across the board, and her ability to connect with everyone around her remained unmatched. Even during slower episodes, she gave viewers a reason to tune in. It’s no wonder she’s considered one of the greatest narrators in “Drag Race” herstory. Shea Couleé delivered a fantastic run and absolutely deserved her crown, but Jujubee winning would have been a fitting celebration of one of the franchise’s most beloved figures. Plus, maybe it would've finally stopped her from returning every few years. Maybe.

#12: Bosco

All Stars 10

The version of Bosco who showed up for All Stars 10 was barely recognizable from the one viewers saw on Season 14, and that's meant as the highest compliment. Her runway package was breathtaking, her lip sync performances were electric and she carried herself like someone who had completely settled into her artistry. Most importantly, she felt fearless. Every week, she seemed willing to take risks while still maintaining impeccable polish. Unfortunately, many fans felt the season was heavily tilted toward Ginger Minj from the start, which made Bosco’s path to victory feel significantly steeper. Even so, her growth was impossible to ignore. If there was ever a season that proved Bosco had become a complete drag superstar, this was it.

#11: Monét X Change

All Stars 7

When she tied for the crown on All Stars 4, some fans questioned whether Monét X Change deserved it. With her run on All Stars 7, Monét proved so without a doubt. Facing an entire cast of winners, Monét came with tremendous confidence and demonstrated just how much she’d evolved since the last time. She excelled at comedy, acting, lip sync performances, and even surprised viewers with her sewing skills. By the finale, she actually had more Legendary Legend Stars than Jinkx Monsoon. Also, Monét quite clearly won the lip sync for the crown, despite some rather creative editing choices that tried to make it seem otherwise. Jinkx absolutely earned her crown overall, but Monét had a very legitimate case for winning too.

#10: Gigi Goode

Season 12

From the moment she arrived, Gigi already caught the eye of the judges and many fans. She was a fashion queen, but she managed to subvert expectations by also being great in other areas. Gigi surprised everyone with her phenomenal performances in the Rusical and the Snatch Game, both of which she won with relative ease. She ultimately earned four maxi challenge wins, a feat achieved by only a handful of queens in the franchise. Her momentum did slow midway through the competition, and some fans argued she benefited from favorable judging during weaker weeks. Still, she rebounded by winning the final challenge before the finale. Jaida Essence Hall was an incredible champion, but Gigi was also a very plausible alternative winner.

#9: Alaska

Season 5

This installment of “Drag Race” had no shortage of huge personalities. And for that, we’re eternally grateful. Even while competing against the likes of Alyssa Edwards, Coco Montrese, and Detox, Alaska managed to make a huge impression. She excelled in the competition, scoring as many maxi challenge wins as her rivals in the top three and demonstrating diverse skills in the process. She made all of us laugh during her hilarious perfume commercial, and had legendary designer Bob Mackie raving about her looks in the “Sugar Ball.” Jinkx Monsoon was a captivating and lovable presence on Season 5 — but Alaska was arguably just as deserving of the win.

#8: Latrice Royale

Season 4 & All Stars 4

This queen competed on “Drag Race” and “All Stars” a total of three times. But we don’t think we’ll ever get tired of watching her on our screens. Latrice is extremely likable, has personality in spades, and is one of the most captivating lip sync performers to ever grace the mainstage. It’s no wonder she was voted Season 4’s Miss Congeniality. Her performance in that installment was definitely solid. Of course, she also made waves on All Stars 4, where she finished 5th after fighting her way back into the race. This eternal fan-favorite embodies charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent with aplomb. Even without a crown, she’s responsible for countless unforgettable “Drag Race” moments.

#7: Nina Flowers

Season 1

This runway queen had an incredibly consistent showing on the first-ever season of “Drag Race”. With no appearances in the bottom two, she sailed into the finale as a serious contender. Her shoot for the “Cover Girl (Put the Bass in Your Walk)” video was strong, and her verse was definitely engaging. However, it all came down to the final lip sync against Bebe Zahara Benet. The pair’s interactions during the number were thoroughly entertaining, but Bebe’s unconventional floor-ography stood out. Still, as the most popular contestant of the season, Nina could’ve easily emerged victorious.

#6: Ginger Minj

Season 7

Violet Chachki undoubtedly changed the game for fashion on “Drag Race.” With this and her stellar track record in mind, it made total sense to crown her. However, her competitor Ginger Minj arguably brought more personality to the table, shining extremely bright throughout her run. Sure, she had her stints in the bottom two. But she gave us hilarious and unforgettable lip syncs, like her chaotic duet with Sasha Belle. Plus, she used her razor sharp sense of humor to win important challenges like the “Snatch Game.” If her excellent run on “All Stars” Season 6 proved anything, it’s that Ginger’s an entertainer through and through. Her decade-long journey on “Drag Race” eventually ended in a win on All Stars 10.

#5: BenDeLaCreme

All Stars 3

During her comeback run, this comedy queen’s track record spoke for itself. In the first part of the competition, she delivered numerous killer performances. From her impersonation of Paul Lynde in the “Snatch Game”, to her turn in the “Divas Lip Sync Live'' challenge as a rapping Julie Andrews, DeLa repeatedly had us cracking up. And it’s safe to say the judges felt the same, given that she was consistently in the top. Of course, the frontrunner famously - and shockingly - ended her “All Stars” stint herself. But had she stayed, there’s no question she would’ve had an excellent chance of winning the whole thing.

#4: Katya

All Stars 2

Alaska undoubtedly killed it in her return to the “Drag Race” franchise. However, “All Stars” 2 also provided a chance for Katya to prove herself. She was shut out of the Season 7 top four after being bested by Kennedy Davenport. But fortunately, she succeeded in becoming a finalist during her second run. She had many hilarious showings, like her ad for “Krisis Kontrol.” And some of the moments that landed her in the bottom, like her Princess Diana role in the “HERstory of the World” challenge, still weren’t half bad. So of course, we would’ve loved to see this beloved star get the crown she deserves.

#3: Shea Couleé

Season 9

Sasha Velour gave us one of the most iconic lip sync moments in “Drag Race” her-story. After that moment from the Season 9 finale, Shea simply didn’t stand a chance of outshining her. But we were still disappointed to see her go, considering how well she performed in the season. The Chicago queen had numerous memorable moments, including her role as Blac Chyna in the Rusical and her iconic looks in the Gayest Ball Ever. She also played well with others, scoring two maxi challenge wins for her collaborations with Sasha. Shea finally got her crown on “All Stars” 5, but she was just as deserving in her original appearance.

#2: Manila Luzon

Season 3 & All Stars 4

In her three appearances on “Drag Race” and “All Stars”, this queen has never failed to entertain us. We got to know her as a “Heather” in the show’s third installment, where she made it all the way to the finale. Despite performing very similarly to Raja in the competition, she was made a runner-up. And things only got more controversial on All Stars 4, where she was eliminated despite having one of the best track records in the competition. Naomi Smalls made the choice to keep Latrice over Manila, perhaps because the former contestant had previously saved her. Needless to say, it was downright painful seeing such an inimitable queen go home early.

#1: Raven

Season 2 & All Stars 1

Few “Drag Race” contestants have come so close to the crown twice. We first met Raven in Season 2 as a queen with fierce fashion sense and a great sense of humor. Although she started the race with a couple of stints in the bottom two, she built momentum throughout the competition. Her track record leading up to the finale was stellar, yet Tyra Sanchez seemingly edged her out in the final lip sync to RuPaul’s “Jealous of My Boogie.” Granted, her performance on “All Stars” wasn’t as impressive, but it was still hard to watch her become a runner-up once more. Fortunately, she enjoys icon status even without a win to her name.

Which queen do YOU think deserved to win her season? Let us know in the comments!