15 of the best queens ever on RuPaul’s Drag Race

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: Shangela Laquifa Wadley attends the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Los Angeles at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 28, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for GLAAD)

Shangela

Shangela has had one heck of a ride over the last year, but back in 2010, she was still just a baby drag queen who wasn’t quite ready for RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The queen from Paris, Texas first appeared on season 2 of Drag Race after only performing in drag for five months. She was a trained dancer and was performing in Los Angeles, but her makeup skills still needed work and she lacked the ability to sew — something Ru has been telling queens to work on season after season. Unfortunately, her shortcomings led to her elimination on the first episode.

But Ru wasn’t done with Shangela quite yet. She was brought back for season 3 with more practice and experience under her belt, and she managed to make it all the way to the top five. She’s also re-appeared several times throughout the series, and her popping out of a box has become a running gag on the show.

She was a force to be reckoned with on All Stars 3, but due to a switch in the rules in the finale, she lost out a spot in the final two in favor of Trixie Mattel and Kennedy Davenport,despite being an obvious frontrunner. But that didn’t stop her either! Along with Willam (more on her later) she had the chance to appear — in drag — in A Star Is Born alongside Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. That led to her attending the Oscars with her friend and actress Jenifer Lewis.

Most recently, Shangela got to perform a Beyonce medley at the GLAAD Media Awards and got a standing ovation from Queen B herself! This Shangela reign just won’t let up!