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When Crystal Meathead decided she was ready to return to… RuPaul’s Drag Race privilege for All stars In Season 11, she wasn’t going to let the crown slip through her fingers a second time.
Crystal joined in Drag racing Hall of Fame on Friday, successfully winning Season 11. But this wasn’t the first time she’d found success on the show; In 2020, Crystal made her first appearance in Season 12 of the main series. This is also the year the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world. While its season RuPaul’s Drag Race It premiered in late February, and most of the segment aired during the first major lockdown.
Crystal made it to the final three stages of Season 12, with Jaida Essence Hall ultimately crowned the winner of the show, via Zoom. It took her six years to say yes to going back to her RuPaul’s Drag Race After Season 12, though, she was rumored to have said no to the opportunity to compete All stars Several times.
It was worth the wait. Crystal won RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars Season 11 is out on Friday. “I was so excited to finally be back,” she says. hollywood Reporter, “But I definitely wanted to make sure I had some time to cook, because I knew those expectations [after season 12] It would be loud, and I really wanted to be able to meet them.
All stars Season 11 was partly the right time for Krystal to compete for a second time because she wanted to make sure she got the full RuGirl experience (travelling to parties, attending viewing parties with fans, etc.) that she had lost during the pandemic.
“I felt like I was playing catch-up after my season,” she says. “I couldn’t travel. I didn’t have all the club experiences that a regular member of staff would have, so I just wanted to have the time, and make sure I got every experience I wanted.”
Growth medium Drag racing Concession, some have argued the schedule for one broadcast All stars The premium should be reduced every year to once every few years. Even though there were six years between Crystal RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 and All stars With season 11 coming up, don’t think the series has to slow down its release schedule.
“I don’t think we should ever stop Drag racing“I think more clouds are good for everyone,” Crystal says.
Below, Crystal reflects on what the first few days of his being were like RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars Winner was like the behind-the-scenes differences she felt between season 12 and All stars 11And why you wouldn’t mind the format of the show and what it means to be the first person of Mexican descent to win the main series.
How have the last few days been for you since the win? All stars?
It was really fun and wild. I had to be in Vegas for the finale, and then I had a few days off, so I was living out my Vegas fantasy, staying at the club until 6 a.m., partying with my girls Kylie. [Sonique Love] And the good. It was great. I’ve felt all the love from the fans and my friends, so I’m on top of the world.
Watching the show again, you don’t know who will win; I photographed two results. How did you feel when you finally heard RuPaul call your name and crown you?
It was really wild, because I had almost won before, and I think in Season 12, I didn’t want to win until I realized it was a possibility. And then it became very, very close, and when I didn’t win, I was very sad. I remember shutting down my computer with the Zoom finale and crying over all my makeup. So this time, I didn’t want to get my hopes up either way because, you know, the show is unpredictable. You never know what could happen. So for all of this to come true, it wasn’t even real the day we found out. I think it took a few days to arrive.
You were so likable in Season 12, and yours All stars The return was long overdue. Due to your fans’ expectations of you coming on the show and the fact that you took time off, you didn’t jump right back into the show All stars. Did you feel any pressure coming back or are you more excited?
I was so excited to finally be back, but yeah, I definitely wanted to make sure I had some time to cook because I knew those expectations were going to be high, and I really wanted to be able to meet them. At the same time, I felt like I was playing catch-up after my season. For example, I couldn’t travel. I didn’t have all the club experiences that a regular member of staff would have, so I just wanted to have time, make sure I got all the experiences I wanted, and have some experiences that maybe not everyone else would have. I was so excited that I went in slaughterthe movie Tubi, and actually having these experiences on a set that is not reality TV. I was prepared, though, for All stars 11. It was like I couldn’t wait any longer. We’ve been putting it off for too long.
Season 12 was still the VH1 era Drag racing. now, Drag racing Exists in this MTV-Paramount era. Is there anything you noticed that was different behind the scenes from competing on the show in Season 12 vs.? All stars 11?
Theater has been crazy this year All stars. Like the way the video screens were and stuff. Everything felt bigger since I was there. I was like, I don’t know if I just shrunk or what, but that was the set and everything; It’s been bigger, bigger, bigger, and I’m thrilled about it Drag racing It continues to grow every year.
This was the second year of the bracket format. The Season 11 crew had seen a little bit of what the format arcs were in Season 10, so were you excited to take over the arcs, or were you like, “Maybe we should do a regular format season?”
I was excited to do this because my sister, Daya Betty, competed All stars 10, so I had a vague understanding of how it worked. But again, after the consolidation for our season All stars On January 11, the rules changed, so it’s still really exciting. When we were there, it was like we still didn’t actually know what to expect.
Do you think, go ahead with All stars-They should continue in an arc form?
I think it’s a good idea to guarantee the queens a certain number of episodes because it’s so heartbreaking to have all these beautiful gowns and things made and then not have the opportunity to show them off. So I think that’s definitely a really big advantage, and I think the social game aspect is also kind of a fun development, because, you know, I almost didn’t mix because of all the crazy twists and turns. It definitely adds excitement.
There’s always a conversation among viewers who think so All stars They should start taking years off so they can give the queens more time to grow. What do you think about that as someone who has waited longer to return?
Oh, I don’t think we should ever stop Drag racing. I think more clouds are good for everyone. But for me, I just wanted to take time off because I wanted to be able to show up. It’s hard to get a lot of growth after just one year, you know. So you have to travel, meet these connections, and make money so you can invest back in yourself.
Fans have pointed it out by now, with your track record All stars 11, you have one of the best records around the world Drag racing privilege. Did you know that? Are you paying attention to that chatter about track records?
I don’t really know. I feel like track records don’t matter to me. But, wow! Oh my God, honorable! I’m honored.
What does it mean to you to know that you are ranked so highly in terms of performance on the show?
I mean, I think that makes me feel good because I didn’t realize in my first season that Rue wanted to build a relationship with me. Like, you know, he used to call me ‘Dabbag’ and joke around with me. I think I was very impressed the whole time. When he was around, I would just kind of smile and move my hair; Like, I didn’t know what to say to. So I was excited to come back All stars And being willing to joke around with Ru, because she wants to have fun, she wants to joke around and play, and I felt like I got to the point where I was ready to play with Ru, and so I think that’s why I got those wins in the end. She seemed to be having fun, and that’s why she liked it.
One of those challenges that the queens face with Ru is the Snatch Game. There has been no steal game this season. What do you think about that?
You know, I had a terrible snatch game in my season, so I’m not sad about that. But I wanted to have a little redemption there. I would love to participate in another Snatch Game. So maybe we’ll just have to wait All winners 2.
Have you set someone up for a Snatch Game? Did you have someone ready to do it, and could you share who?
I’ve prepared ideas, just in case this happens in the past. I never committed to anything at all, but I was thinking that a historical figure like Martha Washington or something could work.
You are the first winner of the main US version of RuPaul’s Drag Race Of Mexican origin. What does winning the title mean to you in the time we are currently living politically?
I think this is the perfect timing. I’m so glad this is happening now. I feel proud to be able to represent all Mexicans there. I was in Mexico for Pride, and it was so magical. I felt so much love, and I can’t wait to come back and get them the crown, you know?
What do you hope will come of your year as a title winner RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars?
Oh, my God! Well, I’m just excited to continue doing the turbulent pulling that I do and increase my max even more. I just announced my solo show. So, spring of 2027, a stage show, all my own, the dancers, the puppets, all my ideas. It’s going to be crazy and magical, and I’m so excited to start working on it.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars Season 11 is streaming on Paramount+.
