The girls are fighting.
“You killed it!”
photographer Vijat Mohindra squeals between camera flashes.
EW unites ‘Drag Race’ winners for our ‘All Stars 7’ cover shoot.Vijat M for EW
“I know.”
Beneath the show’s pomp, however, is a deeper purpose.
I just see red when I think of drag losing any grit.
I’d have no purpose to live."
“Drag really is the queer f—ing Super Bowl,” Monet says.
Translation: No matter which queen takes the crown,we’re all winners while watchingAll Stars 7.
Yvie Oddly for EW.Vijat M for EW
JINKX MONSOON:I still haven’t made up my mind.
THE VIVIENNE:There was no prize money in England.
Even if I come away with 10 pounds, I’m better off.
Raja for EW.Vijat M for EW
VIVIENNE:I’m furious!
MONET:I was nervous to go back.
I don’t want to tarnish my reputation…
TRINITY THE TUCK:Too late!
Shea Couleé for EW.Vijat M for EW
JINKX:I’m just a glutton for punishment.
RAJA:I jumped at the chance because I just wanted people to remember me.
MONET:Wait, who are you again?
Jaida Essence Hall for EW.Vijat M for EW
VIVIENNE: She’s still alive!
But you know what?
Bitch, this is a second shot.
Jinkx Monsoon for EW.Vijat M for EW
MONET:Like I said on season 10, we had the voice first.
It was all copacetic, then y’all tried to move and be cute, and y’all changed it up.
VIVIENNE:Give me your British accent, then.
Monét X Change for EW.Vijat M for EW
MONET:[Monet’s voice doesn’t change.
]Thisis a British accent; this is how they spoke in 1742.
MONET:Okay, was that Monet X Change or Barney?
The Vivienne for EW.Vijat M for EW
JAIDA:The gag is Monet X ChangeisBarney.
SHEA:They’ve both got green toes.
We’ve all shown another side of who we are.
Trinity The Tuck for EW.Vijat M for EW
SHEA:It felt different being a three-peat offender with Monet and Trinity.
TRINITY:I just wanted to go on to manipulate my edit and yell at people.
JAIDA:Control the story, huh?
MONET:We also got the chance to introduce Viv to In-N-Out Burger.
VIVIENNE:You’ll see me get slightly wider throughout the season.
Whose performance this season will surprise fans the most, and who slayed hardest on the runway?
TRINITY:I think Yvie.
Legitimately, Yvie blew my mind.
There are so many moments… just goosebumps.
MONET:She tried some new stuff for her face…
TRINITY:And it was awful.
SHEA:I had high expectations, but Raja exceeded them.
Truly blew me away.
Not to kiss her ass, either, but Raja was the first RuGirl I fell in love with.
She proves why she’s the OG fashion queen.
JAIDA:Raja showed that art is timeless.
Not only was she fierce competition, but also compassionate and understanding.
I call her my spiritual guru now.
I come to her for medical advice and what my stars say.
RAJA:Wow, that’s so sweet.
JINKX:I’ll second everything that was just said because I love Raja, obviously.
But I’m also going to say Jaida, because Jaida had a revolving door.
She got off one season and had to get back on another.
We all knew we had to deliver this season, and everyone stepped up.
No one fell short, ever.
VIVIENNE: I’ve looked up to Trinity for years.
She’s a drag queen’s drag queen.
The runways, we know they’re going to come but when you see them, mind-blowing.
SHEA:She hates when we talk nice about her.
TRINITY:You’re going to ruin my Reddit reputation.
Without spoiling, when you heard what the alterations were, what was your immediate reaction?
MONET:I hated it….
I wanted it to not be how it was at the beginning.
Then we got into the game, and I was like, “Oh, Idolike it.”
JINKX:I liked it and I think it’s the reason I said yes.
SHEA:My first reaction was, “What a great idea.
But knowing it’sRuPaul’s Drag Race, what’s the catch?”
When we got there,that’swhen we found out the catch.
We also have a mix ofSnatch Gamelegacies.
VIVIENNE:It’s hard.
Michelle Visage’s comment on my season was it was the bestSnatch Gameshe’d ever seen.
I didn’t feel like I could live up to it.
TRINITY:It was the pressure of doingSnatch Gamewith winners.
MONET:I was nervous going against five winners.
Jinkx won hers, Trinity won hers, Shea won hers, Vivienne won hers.
Raja, did you win yours?
MONET:But you were really good.
RAJA:I was excellent.
JAIDA:An excellent safe.
Either you feel like you have to erase your previous performance, or you have to outdo it.
In the end, we had to pick people we were excited to play.
Good or bad, we all had a lot of fun that day.
MONET: You definitely have to do a double take thisSnatch Game.
RAJA:I was a little terrified walking in.
I expected huge attitudes and spiteful daggers, maybe a bludgeon.
I was a little scared.
JAIDA:It’s not too late.
SHEA:I came in being like, “Raja, my name’s notShahhcoulahh.
Just so you know.”
To keep the spirit alive, can you toot or boot the looks at this table?
RAJA:Let’s keep it easy.
[Motions to all.]
It’s a collective boot.
JINKX:I feel like the bar was so low for me.
I had nowhere to go but up.
TRINITY:We agree.
What’s the drama like this season?
Does it take more to get a group of Women of the Crown riled up?
SHEA:Not at all.
The egos are huge.
It was more like getting [the crew] behind the cameras together.
SHEA:The biggest drama was us being like, “Where’s my phone?”
JAIDA:“Where’s the weed?”
JINKX:It was like eight internal battles all happening in the same room, at the same time.
TRINITY:And that’s just her personality.
JINKX:Cue the circus music, Jinkx is talking!
MONET:I was uninhibited going in.
Like, “You know what?
I’m just ready to have fun and be strategic.
CueUK Versus the World.
I loved that they were being so shady and made good TV.
I felt that energy.
Like, “Let’s create chaos, let’s have fun.”
TRINITY:I didn’t know that.
What are your confessionals going to be like?
SHEA:She’s awfully quiet right now.
What weight does that hold not only for you as queens, but as people?
It’s not about trying to put on a front, or trying to send a message to people.
I don’t think people need to see somebody trying to preach or tell them how they should be.
More so, [they should] see people living their lives just like them, every single day.
MONET:I love being my whole Black self on TV.
SHEA:I said onAll Stars 5that my drag in its purest form is alove letter to Black women.
Monet and Trinity, fans are going to ask if you’re doing this to settle the tie.
Did that factor into your decision to join, or did you form an alliance this season?
TRINITY:I don’t think there’s anything to settle.
These are two different competitions:All Stars 4, that was that.
The rules are different, the way we compete is different.
JAIDA:Butt sizes.
MONET:There’s nothing to settle, girl.
We both got our own money, our own crown, our own scepter.
This bitch bought a house, I bought some Gucci bags.
You got your money, you did your thing.
TRINITY:This is all created by fans.
We have no animosity.
We have nothing to settle.
We’re here to have fun and win a lot more money.
JAIDA:[Coughs] Joining forces?
MONET:We’ll talk about that when it airs.
Jaida, you’ve said you didn’t feel like fans heldyour victoryin the same regard as other winners.
Did a spot on this cast make you feel differently?
JAIDA:There were a lot of fans upset that I won.
[They] didn’t feel like I deserved to win.
VIVIENNE:That’s three things, Jaida.
JAIDA:Four, I think.
Look, I talk too damn much.
TRINITY:Jaida, you’re a star.
RAJA:For sure.
Jaida also wears the “Trade of Season 12” title proudly.
VIVIENNE:It’s Jinkx.
TRINITY:Yvie’s always been the trade, honey.
MONET:Yes, especially after herSnatch Game.
SHEA:That’s because this whole table are a whole bunch of dick pigs.
MONET:After Yvie’sSnatch GameI was like, “Oh, I’m down.
I’ll take it down.”
TRINITY:After Yvie walks around the Werk Room all the time naked I’m down.
She’s the trade.
JAIDA:What they say about Yvie is absolutely true.
I said, “Ohh.”
Raja and Jinkx, your seasons are earlier
JINKX:What are you trying to say?
How much did the competition change this time around?
JINKX:Everything aroundDrag Racehas changed in huge ways.
I’ve known Raja for a decade now.
RAJA:Season 3,Drag Raceitself was in such primitive stages.
In my season, it was more about creating things.
I did some dancing.
It’s a very different world, and I was excited to join.
JINKX:They hadn’t been invented yet.
JAIDA:Tyra Banks was wearing them.
MONET:George Washington had a little lace front
SHEA:George Washington’s frontal was melted, bitch.
That installment was precise.
Given everyone’s reaction to Raja saying she danced: How does everyone feel about it?
JAIDA:I love Raja’s dancing.
MONET:It’s unique.
SHEA:Not afraid to reference or not reference.
TRINITY:It’s very interesting and very herself.
MONET:It’s interpretive.
SHEA:A lot of fans out there will identify with Raja’s dance style.
JAIDA:As Velma Von Tussle once said: “You’ll stop traffic!”
RAJA:I’m going to throw you in traffic.
In theAS7premiere, you all getrunway coaching from Naomi Campbell and Shea, she gives you incredible praise.
Having done her inSnatch Game, what did that experience mean to you?
SHEA:I’m trembling just thinking about it.
There are few people I get starstruck around because people are people, but Naomi Campbell is a goddess.
I’ve looked up to Naomi since I was four years old.
Whatever she is, I want to be her.”
Did anyone incorporate Naomi Campbell’s feedback into their walks?
MONET:Absolutely not.
TRINITY:Yes, I did.
She said she loved my runway walk, so I just continued that.
She was looking delicious.
MONET:I was gagged.
You’ve heard of models making their own wind?
When she did her runway walk, she was making her own wind.
And that virgin hair, it was insane.
SHEA:She’s creating that wind, but it’s almost like a cross-breeze.
I felt like I was being blown away too.
What was she like on set?
TRINITY:She looked beautiful up close inUntucked, and she seemed like a fan of the show.
Some judges that come on don’t seem to be present, but she was very knowledgeable.
She was super nice.
and she said, “No question: Jaida.”
Then she showed up and I could tell how invested she was.
We have a judge who’s not going to be giving fluff.
Vivienne, you’re this season’s only international queen.
What was the biggest difference competing here, among Americans?
It’s a huge drag competition, but we’re making TV as well.
There’s all this energy.
I realized they’re just rotted, horrible drag queens like me.
MONET:You should feel right at home, bitch.
VIVIENNE:It did feel right.
I’ve always looked up at these queens.
I had been doing drag before the show started, but I’ve watched these queens slay their seasons.
We all do the same thing, we all love the art of drag.
Did we all see eye-to-eye all the way through the season?
It’sDrag Race.Did we all leave as an amazing family?
What British snacks hasn’t she eaten yet?"
Turns out: none.
JINKX:I told you not to call my husband a British snack.
MONET:We get it, Drinks… Jinkx is married.
TRINITY:No, you had it right the first time: Drinks.
JINKX:We never thought it was going to happen, but it happened.
MONET:Drinks Monsoon!
Drag will always be so many different things.
The future for drag is going to be more complex, inclusive, different, and varying.
There’s no one direction.
JAIDA:Even in my own drag, things have changed just by watching the show.
It’s going to be a melting pot.
Trans people [have been] part of drag forever, and now the world is realizing that.
I encourage people, if you’re a fan ofDrag Race, become a fan of drag.
Do your research, and support local entertainers.
MONET:I agree with all these girls: Monet X Change really is… no, just kidding.
Drag is unique to the queer experience.
We’re all lucky to live at this time where drag is celebrated the way it is.
TRINITY:I will say this: Pageant queens are superior.
JAIDA:She’s shaking the table.
MONET:Is that the final shot, us flipping the table?
Can we get a loving roast going?
RAJA:Oh my God.
JAIDA:Monet, you are gutted.
SHEA:Trinity, you look so beautiful today that I hardly recognized you.
JINKX:Viv, can I do my impression?
This is my Viv: “Girls, I have to poo.
I don’t think I got it all.”
VIVIENNE:That will be my legacy of this season: Pooing.
JINKX:It’s because you’re the s—.
TRINITY:My only read is: Can the camera do a zoom-up on Jinkx?
JINKX:Oh, that’s your read?
I get it, very clever.
Trinity made a joke, everyone!
JAIDA:The way you kind of can’t read Jinkx.
TRINITY:She’ll always get the last word.
JINKX:[Silence]
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