You remember the orange face. You remember the tongue pop. If you were watching RuPaul’s Drag Race back in 2013, the feud between Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese wasn't just a subplot—it was the entire show. Producers basically hit the jackpot when they cast these two together. It was legendary. It was messy. Honestly, it was a bit exhausting. But years later, people still argue about who was actually in the right.
Most fans know the basic "SparkNotes" version. Alyssa won a pageant, got dethroned, and Coco took the crown. Cue the dramatic music and the "look how orange you look" memes. But when you peel back the layers of what happened in the Texas and Florida pageant circuits, the story gets way more complicated than what we saw on Logo TV.
The Miss Gay America Scandal of 2010
Let’s get the facts straight because the show kind of glossed over the specifics. In 2010, Alyssa Edwards (Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson) was crowned Miss Gay America. This is a huge deal. It’s the "Miss America" of drag. It comes with a massive list of contractual obligations. We're talking bookings, appearances, and a very strict code of conduct.
About six months into her reign, the Miss Gay America organization dropped a bombshell: Alyssa was being stripped of her title. Why? The official line was that she failed to fulfill her duties. There were rumors she was doing other gigs that weren't approved or just missed scheduled appearances. Alyssa has since joked that she was "the first to ever get dethroned" without it being about drugs or alcohol.
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Why Coco Montrese Got the Blame
When a winner is dethroned, the first alternate steps in. That was Coco Montrese. Coco didn't "steal" the crown in a literal sense; the organization handed it to her because that’s how pageants work.
The real hurt for Alyssa wasn't that Coco took the job. It was the "backstabbing" she felt happened behind the curtain. Alyssa believed Coco was the one "tattling" to the pageant owners about her missed dates. Imagine thinking your close friend is whispering in the boss's ear just to get your promotion. That’s why Alyssa was so cold when they walked into the Werk Room together.
The Drag Race Season 5 Pressure Cooker
By the time they got to Drag Race, they hadn't spoken in two years. Two years of silence. Then, they’re forced to share a mirror.
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Producers knew exactly what they were doing. They put them in the same groups for challenges like "Can I Get An Amen?" just to watch the sparks fly. It worked. The tension was thick enough to cut with a lace-front wig. Coco was defensive because she felt the community viewed her as a "fake" winner. Alyssa was defensive because she felt her reputation had been trashed by someone she used to love.
That Iconic Lip Sync
Everything came to a head in Episode 9. If you haven't rewatched the lip sync to "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters lately, you need to. It is arguably one of the best in the show's history.
- Coco Montrese was performing for her life in that orange sleeve-tastic outfit.
- Alyssa Edwards was doing high kicks and spinning like a possessed ballerina.
RuPaul eventually chose Coco to stay. It felt like the end of an era. Alyssa went home, and for a minute, it seemed like the bridge was burned forever. But reality TV has a funny way of healing things once the cameras stop rolling and the checks start clearing.
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Where They Stand in 2026
If you’re worried they’re still screaming at each other in hallways, don't be. They’ve moved way past the 2010 drama. By the time All Stars 2 filmed in 2016, they had already reconciled.
Today, Alyssa and Coco are basically like siblings. They fight, they disagree, but the respect is deep. Alyssa has gone on to become a global powerhouse—recently competing on Global All Stars and touring the world. Coco remains the "Lip Sync Queen" of Las Vegas, a staple of the Drag Race Live show. They’ve even shared stages together for years, laughing about the "orange" comments and the pageant days.
What We Can Learn from the Feud
Honestly, the Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese rivalry is a masterclass in how professional jealousy can ruin a friendship if you let it. But it's also a story about forgiveness. They realized that a plastic crown wasn't worth losing a sister over.
If you're looking to follow their current journeys, here's what you should do:
- Watch Alyssa on Global All Stars: She’s still the same pageant queen at heart, but with a much bigger budget.
- Catch Coco in Vegas: If you’re ever in Nevada, her Janet Jackson numbers at the Flamingo are mandatory viewing.
- Check out "Alyssa’s Secret": Her YouTube series is where her personality really shines without the "villain" edit.
The drama made for great TV, but the friendship they have now is the real win. No crown required.