After a grueling and glamorous competition, Angeria Paris VanMicheals won the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and snatched the crown. She joins previous All Stars winners Chad Michaels, Alaska, Trixie Mattel, Trinity the Tuck, Monét X Change, Shea Couleé, Kylie Sonique Love, Jinkx Monsoon, and Jimbo for a coveted spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame,” as well as a donation of $200,000 to the National Black Justice Coalition, the charity she competed for throughout the season,
“In a season full of giving, Angeria Paris VanMicheals won me over with her kindness, uniqueness, nerve, and talent,” said RuPaul in a statement. “Condragulations to all the queens for serving world-class entertainment while raising money and awareness for so many worthy causes.”
As an added bonus, Vice President Kamala Harris made a special guest appearance alongside Michelle Visage, Jamal Sims, Lance Bass, Leslie Jones, and Cheyenne Jackson to kick off the episode, encouraging viewers to continue to fight back against attacks on the LGBTQ+ community’s rights and freedoms.
After a glammed-out Old Hollywood-ish performance, Angeria lip-synced for her life to the tune of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” against fellow contestants Vanessa Vanjie and Roxxxy Andrews to win the crown.
After pomp and circumstance of her win, Angeria spoke with GLAAD about her journey to the crown and what’s next for her.
What made you want to return to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars besides the check?
I already knew leaving season 14, that I had unfinished business and I wanted to do it again. Because as much fun as I had the first time, I genuinely wanted to win. So I knew if given the opportunity to go back, I was going to go back. Hearing that it will be for charity — that just sweetened the pot. I would have done it regardless but that made it even that made it even better. I genuinely do love Drag Race. I love doing it. It’s my happy place and it really was something that I knew I was going to do again, and I knew that this time around, I wanted to win. That was the goal. That was the mission. It was accomplished.
How do you think your drag has evolved since season 14 going into All Stars 9? And How have you evolved as a person?
Well, first of all, she has more money. (laughs)You know, she could go to different designers and there’s more detail — but also, there’s more thought and detail into my drag. Now, I’m not just wearing pretty dresses. I knew coming back into this competition. I really wanted to push myself to think about what I was going to wear for this particular theme or runway concept. I wanted them to look at it and say, “Oh, you really thought about this — there’s a story being told here.” That’s not something I felt like I did a lot in my original season. But this time, I really wanted to try some concepts and some work — and some didn’t but at the end of the day, it taught me so much about myself.
As a person, I’m just so much more fully realized of myself now as a brand. Even on 14, I was still figuring myself out; still experiencing things for the first time. I had never acted; never done any comedy; never hosted or anything like that. Season 14 is what gave that to me.
Besides winning, what was the most memorable moment for you this season?
I will never forget what it felt like to be standing there on that stage when Roxxxy was pretending to cut me off! I’m telling you in that moment — it was so much more intense. It was quiet. I could hear everyone collectively gasp like a choir — including RuPaul and Michelle. At that moment, my heart was in my foot! I will never forget what it felt like and watching it back on TV was so fun and so entertaining. I loved it. I loved watching it. That’s probably one of my favorite, nonchallenging moments of the season.
How has the phrase “You ugly bitch” changed your life? And can we expect more merch with that phrase on it soon?
You know what? My team and all my friends around me have been saying “You need to bring that back. We need more effort now!” It’s funny because of course, I recognize it as my primary catchphrase but I guess I didn’t know how big of a moment it was gonna be again after the talent show. But it really is. I didn’t realize that there were people that are just watching me for the first time. I think for people who hadn’t watched my season — who didn’t know — now they know! And yes, there will be new “ugly bitch” merch coming!
Considering the current craziness in the world and the anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country, what does it mean for you to win All Stars 9 — and to have Vice President Kamala Harris pop up during the finale?
It feels incredible. It feels important. It feels impactful. It feels so great because it’s so needed, especially for me competing for my charity, the National Black Justice Coalition, an organization that, fights for the rights of Black, and POC queer people. It feels amazing because there’s so much right now that queer people are still fighting for and to have Kamala Harris… I’m just so proud to see it. To have her on the finale episode– that I won! You know, it’s it’s all just amazing.
Now that you have snatched the crown, what’s next for you?
I want to do more television and movies! Whether it’s major roles, guest roles, voiceover work — I want to see me back on TV! Even more reality TV! More TV in general! I enjoyed seeing myself back on the screen and I think everybody else did too.