The RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 finale broke this record
All Stars 10 winner Ginger Minj says she was at a ‘complete disadvantage’ on the spinoff. (WOW)
All Stars 10 winner Ginger Minj says she was at a 'complete disadvantage' on the spinoff. (WOW)
The recent finale for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10, in which Ginger Minj snatched the crown, broke a record that had remained untouched for three years.
After the first ever ‘Tournament of All Stars’, a season that saw MVQ points and the Bracker system for the first time, a reign of psychological terror from Mistress Isabelle Brooks, and the return of Nichole Paige Brooks from Atlanta, Georgia, Ginger Minj was crowned a winner, baby.
Though not everyone was thrilled with the results, Ginger now undeniably resides in the Hall of Fame; and it seems that the new format that got her there is also a winner.
According to The Wrap, the season finale of All Stars 10 scored the highest rating for the spinoff in three years – since All Stars 7.
The publication reports that the episode saw an 11% increase in viewers on All Stars 9‘s finale, and the Tournament format twist meant that the whole season retained higher viewership, too, “according to internal data”.
All Stars 10 saw an overall 15% increase on its charity-based predecessor.
The All Stars 10 finale saw its seven remaining queens (Aja, Bosco, Daya Betty, Ginger, Irene the Alien, Jorgeous and Lydia B. Kollins) joined by wildcard queen Kerri Colby for a lipsync smackdown for the crown.
Ginger and Jorgeous both won their two preliminary lipsyncs, eventually facing off for the crown (and $200,000) to “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls.
Both had appeared on multiple seasons of the show before, with Ginger competing on season seven, All Stars 2 and All Stars 6, and Jorgeous first appearing on season 14 before returning for All Stars 9.
Ginger has spoken out against those claiming she was “favoured” during All Stars 10, telling Entertainment Weekly that it was like a “witch hunt”.
“I wish I could say I don’t let it bother me, but I do. Of course I care about what people think, particularly when it’s a project I’ve put all of me into,” she said.
“What made me laugh a little bit and gave me some solace was the fact that I’ve done this competition three previous times, and RuPaul hasn’t had an issue putting me in the bottom, making me lip-sync for my life, and not giving me a crown.
“There’s never been an instance where I was favoured throughout the past. Once I was announced for [All Stars 10], before the first scene of me ever rolled, the chatter started. They built the narrative for themselves. It gave me a bit of peace. All I can do is my best and live in the success of the moment.”
For anyone suffering immediate withdrawals, never fear; Drag Race UK vs. the World‘s third season is on the way, and Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale recently confirmed its first ever cast. And the All Stars 11 cast is already kicking about…
The RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 grand finale is streaming now on Paramount+ in the US and WOW Presents Plus internationally.
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