RuPaul Reveals Which 'Drag Race' Runner-Up Should've Been Crowned

Mama Ru made this revelation during a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live.

All tea, no shade!

With hundreds of contestants appearing in the overall RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise, there’s bound to be some disagreements here and there when it comes to who should have snatched the crown instead. Well, it seems like even RuPaul agrees that some winners might be different under varying circumstances.

Andy Cohen asked during a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live, “Which second runner-up queen would you have crowned as a double winner if you had the chance? Is there someone who didn’t win Drag Race over all the seasons, that in your mind, you thought that one [could have won]?”

Almost immediately, Ru answers with the name on everybody’s lips: “Shangela! Shangela. She’s amazing. We’ve actually put her on the show, like, three times? Something like that. She’s a fabulous queen.”

Shangela has been a fan-favorite for many years amongst Drag Race fans. After first appearing in the second season and being eliminated in the first episode, Shangela returned for season three and placed sixth overall.

Many years later, Shangela came back a third time to compete on All Stars 3. This installment of All Stars included the gag-worthy moment of BenDeLaCreme eliminating herself, which had viewers convinced Shangela was a shoo-in to enter the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

However, a twist on the show allowed a jury of eliminated contestants to decide which two queens would lip sync for the crown at the finale. Since Shangela was responsible for sending many queens home throughout the show, the eliminated competitors ultimately chose Kennedy Davenport and eventual All Stars 3 winner Trixie Mattel for that final lip sync.

As to the “double winner” question from Cohen, RuPaul crowned both Monét X Change and Trinity the Tuck as winners in All Stars 4. If Shangela were in the top two on All Stars 3, it’s possible that it would’ve been the series’ first double win instead.

We may not be able to change herstory, but Shangela has certainly taken the loss in stride. She’s since made it to the finals of Dancing With the Stars, hosts the Emmy-winning We’re Here series on HBO alongside Drag Race alums Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka, and even starred opposite Lady Gaga in A Star is Born.

In our hearts, you’ll always be a winner, baby.

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RuPaul Reveals Which Drag Race Runner-Up Should've Been Crowned