RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11 Queens Share Why They Returned to the Competition

A twist so nice they did it twice. RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars is bringing back its Tournament of All Stars format for Season 11, but with a twist: only two queens from each bracket will advance to the semi-finals. The two-episode premiere aired Friday on Paramount+.

Meet the Cast: Three Brackets, 18 Queens

The competition features 18 queens divided into three brackets:

Orange Bracket

• A’keria C. Davenport
• Dawn
• Lucky Starzzz
• Morgan McMichaels
• Morphine Love Dion
• Mystique Summers

Pink Bracket

• April Carrión
• Aura Mayari
• Crystal Methyd
• Salina EsTitties
• Silky Nutmeg Ganache
• Vivacious

Purple Bracket

• Hershii LiqCour-Jeté
• Jasmine Kennedie
• Joey Jay
• Kennedy Davenport
• Sam Star
• Shuga Cain

RuPaul will have the final say over who advances, but she’ll be joined by a judging panel including Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews and Ts Madison. The season also features special celebrity guest judges such as Brian Tyree Henry, Bronwyn Newport, Christina Ricci, Cooper Koch, Evan Mulrooney, Gina Gershon, Jamal Sims, Janelle James, Juno Temple, Kate Hudson, La Toya Jackson, Law Roach and Reneé Rapp.

Why Did These Queens Return to All Stars 11?

The cast includes representation from 10 main seasons, four former All Stars, and two queens who competed on Canada’s Drag Race. Here’s what some of them shared with TheWrap about their motivations:

Dawn: “I felt somewhat misunderstood on Season 16, at times. There would be people who said they didn’t understand my concepts or where I was coming from. But the thing is, to me, I didn’t always need a concept, I didn’t need to come from anywhere. It was just fun! So I wanted to come back to really show that I can reference, I can have more significant concepts and I can be a bit more drag-y. Like, I’m Dawn and I do my sickening thing.”

Mystique Summers: “‘Bitch, I am from Chicago’ comes up every single year. Everybody is quoting one of my catchphrases … Nowadays, the girls go in and are trying to say 50 million catchphrases. One episode will be this catchphrase, one episode another. OK, so you’re all just trying to throw everything at the wall? Like, just let it come naturally. Me, I just start talking, and if I start rambling, just going crazy, you will get s–t.”

April Carrión: “My goal was to really be present in the werk room, to let everybody get to know me. In Season 6, there were a lot of queens and I was an early out. So coming back, it’s just getting my voice out there and my vision, just showing my growth.”

Aura Mayari: “A lot of girls say they don’t regret things from their past season, but I think it’s OK to have regrets. For me that season, there were a lot of insecurities, a lot of anxiety. I was going through a lot in my personal life, and I think coming back was a way for me to prove to myself that I could do it again.”

What’s Next for All Stars 11?

The Tournament of All Stars format promises high-stakes competition, with only six queens advancing to the semi-finals. Fans can expect drama, growth, and a fresh take on the beloved franchise when the season continues on Paramount+.