Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Contestants That Should've Won
#10: Alaska Season 5
Top 10 Alaska Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
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.
#9: Latrice Royale Season 4 & All Stars 4
Top 10 Best Latrice Moments RuPaul's Drag Race
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.
#8: 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.
#7: 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.
#6: BenDeLaCreme All Stars 3
Top 10 BenDeLaCreme Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
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.
#5: Katya All Stars 2
Top 10 Katya Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
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.
#4: Shea Couleé Season 9
Top 10 Shea Couleé Moments on RuPaul's Drag Race
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.
#3: Manila Luzon Season 3 & All Stars 4
Top 10 Manila Luzon Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
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.
#2: Raven Season 2 & All Stars 1
Top 10 Stars You Forgot Were on That's So Raven
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. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Gigi Goode, Season 12 She Brought Gorgeous Fashion & Hilarious Comedy to the Mainstage Kim Chi, Season 8 Never Failing to Serve a High-Concept Look, This Queen Definitely Won Our Hearts Alyssa Edwards, All Stars 2 This “Drag Race” Icon Would Make Reading the Phone Book Seem Fun Jujubee, All Stars 5 This Unforgettable Queen Had What It Takes to Win the Crown Chad Michaels, Season 4 She Won All Stars 1, but This Pro Was Just as Polished in Her First Run
#1: Shangela All Stars 3
After BenDeLaCreme controversially sent herself home in the middle of this “All Stars” season, Shangela became the clear frontrunner. She won all three of her “Lip Syncs For Your Legacy” and truly cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with. What’s more, she improved her art significantly since her original two “Drag Race” appearances. Despite being the most obvious choice by the end, Shangie shockingly received the fewest votes from the “jury of her queers” in the finale. With the eliminated queens independently determining the top two, there was little doubt as to the personal reasons behind their decision. Suffice it to say, choices were made.
