Honestly, it’s been a few years since the confetti settled on the first-ever all-winners season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but the conversation around Jinkx Monsoon All Stars hasn't really slowed down. If anything, it’s gotten louder. You see it every time a new season of All Stars is announced and fans start arguing about who "the best" is.
Jinkx didn't just win a crown; she basically redefined what a "Drag Race winner" looks like in the modern era.
The Judy Garland of it All
You can't talk about Jinkx’s run on All Stars 7 without mentioning that Snatch Game. It’s basically the gold standard now. Most queens go in with a few prepared jokes and a decent wig. Jinkx went in as Judy Garland and performed a full-blown spiritual séance.
She didn't just do an impression. She lived in that character. When she started talking to the "ghost" of a camera operator named Dave—a deep-cut callback to a makeover challenge from nearly a decade prior—the room just shifted. RuPaul was literally doubled over. It was one of those rare moments where the "reality TV" of it all vanished and you were just watching a master at work.
She won that challenge. Obviously. But she also won the season in that exact moment. RuPaul even admitted later on The Graham Norton Show that once Jinkx dropped the line about "becoming her mother," the competition was basically over.
The Track Record vs. The Finale
If we’re looking at the numbers, Jinkx was a bulldozer. She snagged five maxi-challenge wins. Five! In a room full of other winners like Shea Couleé, Raja, and Monét X Change, that is genuinely insane.
- Snatch Game (Episode 2): Double win as Judy Garland and Natasha Lyonne.
- The Speeches (Episode 5): A masterclass in comedic timing.
- The Roast (Episode 10): Brutal, calculated, and hilarious.
- Acting and Improv: She was consistently in the top or "High" for almost every performance-based challenge.
But it wasn't a total cakewalk. Her runway looks, while vastly improved from her Season 5 days, were still being picked apart by the "fashion" queens. She was also "blocked" from earning stars early on, which added some actual stakes to the game.
Then came the finale. This is where things get a bit... spicy. The "Lip Sync for the Crown" against Monét X Change is still a major point of contention in the fandom. Monét undeniably won that lip sync to Katy Perry’s "Swish Swish." Like, it wasn't even close. Monét was doing stunts and hitting every beat, while Jinkx was... well, she was Jinkx.
Yet, RuPaul crowned Jinkx.
The "Queen of All Queens" title was clearly a reflection of the entire season’s body of work, not just the final three minutes. Some fans felt Monét was robbed because of the lip sync format, while others argued that Jinkx’s dominance over the previous 11 episodes made any other outcome feel like a robbery. It’s one of those "spirit of the law vs. letter of the law" debates that keeps Reddit alive at 3:00 AM.
Life After the Crown: Broadway and Beyond
The impact of Jinkx Monsoon All Stars didn't stop at the finale. Usually, a winner goes on a tour and does some club dates. Jinkx went to Broadway.
She made her debut as Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago, and she didn't just show up—she broke box office records. It was a massive moment for the drag community because she wasn't playing a "drag" role; she was playing a legendary female character as a trans-femme non-binary actor.
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Since then, she’s been everywhere:
- Doctor Who: Playing the villainous Maestro, a role that Russell T. Davies specifically wanted her for.
- Oh, Mary!: Taking over for Cole Escola in one of the most talked-about off-Broadway (and then Broadway) shows of 2024-2025.
- Hulu/Disney+: Constant appearances and voice acting roles that have moved her way beyond the "Drag Race" bubble.
The "Rigging" Rumors
We have to be real here: there’s always talk about production favoritism. Yvie Oddly has been pretty vocal about her experience on the season, mentioning that the edit was heavily skewed to make everything look positive. According to Yvie, there were harsh critiques that never made it to air.
Jinkx herself hasn't shied away from the fact that the show is, well, a show. She’s acknowledged that the environment was weird because everyone there was a "main character" used to winning. When you put eight winners in a room, someone has to be the background character, and some of the queens weren't happy about it.
Still, you can't "edit" the talent Jinkx displayed. You can't edit a standing ovation on Broadway or a guest spot on Doctor Who. The "rigging" narrative falls apart when the person who won goes out and proves they are actually that good in the real world.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think Jinkx is just a "comedy queen." That’s a mistake. She’s a trained actor with a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts. She approaches drag as a theatrical discipline.
The reason she succeeded on All Stars where others struggled is that she knows how to build a character arc within a 42-minute episode. She knows when to be the underdog and when to be the powerhouse.
Why It Still Matters
The legacy of Jinkx Monsoon All Stars is that it proved drag isn't just about the "look" anymore. We went through a long period where the "look queens" dominated the conversation. Jinkx swung the pendulum back toward performance, theater, and old-school showmanship.
She showed that you can be "internationally tolerated" and still be the most powerful person in the room.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Artists
If you’re looking to follow in Jinkx’s footsteps or just want to appreciate the craft more, keep these points in mind:
- Study the Classics: Jinkx’s Judy Garland worked because she knew the source material inside and out. If you’re a creator, go deep on your references.
- Diversify Your Skills: Don’t just be good at one thing. Jinkx sings, acts, writes, and does comedy. In 2026, being a "one-trick pony" is the fastest way to get forgotten.
- Authenticity Over Polish: It’s okay if your "sewing skills" aren't perfect (Jinkx literally can’t sew). Lean into what makes you unique rather than trying to fit a mold.
- The Long Game: Jinkx waited nearly a decade to return. Sometimes, the best move is to go away, get better at your craft, and return when you’re undeniable.
The era of the "Queen of All Queens" isn't over. It’s just getting started. Whether she's on a stage in London or a soundstage in Cardiff, Jinkx Monsoon has proven that "Monsoon Season" is a year-round event.