‘Drag Race’ EXCLUSIVE: Shangela Dishes on the ‘Stunt Queens’ of ‘All Stars 3’

Adam Salandra
TV
TV

Halleloo! Comeback queen Shangela Laquifa Wadley is once again popping out of a box and into the hearts of Drag Race fans. This time around, she’s competing against some of the biggest names in the franchise as a contestant on All Stars 3.

FANDOM sat down with Shangela to kiki about the other contestants and what twists and turns we can expect ahead of tonight’s season premiere.

FANDOM: The premiere is finally here! Are you excited for the fans to see the show?

Shangela: I am! They keep giving us these teasers — here are your entrances, here are the first 15 minutes. I’m like, baby, roll the tape. I wanna see how it turns out. And I was there, I should know how it turns out.

I never thought about that, but as excited as we are, you must be just as excited to see what actually makes the cut!

Yes, because you never know what the final edit’s gonna be and you never know what these other girls are saying about you in the confessionals. And it’s in HD on VH1 and so, ya know, my grandma has that channel so she’s excited [to watch] with her homegirls.

Which contestants did you think you’d see enter the workroom this season and were there any surprises? 

There were some faces that I expected to see that I didn’t. But for sure, Trixie. I know that she’s done a lot outside of the show and I definitely think her spot is well deserved. Kennedy Davenport, who I’ve known since I was 18 going to the drag shows. She was one of the first queens I ever tipped. So I love her dynamic on stage. But when I walked in I was like, “Hmmm.” People like Kim Chi, who I love. I was like, “Where is Kim?” Or Valentina. There was so much buzz around her last year, I expected she might be there. But, ya know, there’s always another chance around the corner, honey.

Drag race all stars shangela

It’s been awhile since you last appeared on the show. What has changed about your drag persona since Season 3, if anything?

Well, let’s go with pretty much everything, except for my energy and love for drag. I’ve always felt like I give a great performance, that’s my strongest point. But there were a lot of things that could catch up to that, like makeup, hair, and thinking about how I can do costumes the right way. And just evolving into my drag character, figuring out who Shangela was. Because when I went on Drag Race, I had only been doing drag for five months. And then, I went back on Season 3 and I had only been doing drag for one year. So it’s nice to be able to go back in the room now and feel like, as Beyonce says, “I’m a grown woman.”

Along those lines, everyone comes back with things that they want to redeem themselves for from their season. What would you say you personally had to prove heading into All Stars?

Well, watching my previous seasons, it would show that I have a lot to prove. Just to RuPaul and the judges and to my fans, who have been down for me even when it was rough. I was rough. I just wanna go back and show them that I have put work into just becoming who I am, but also that I’ve stayed true to who I am. And that’s what I really want to show them, that it doesn’t matter how many times you’re told to sashay away from anything in life, you can always come back, either in a box or not, and you can always be a winner.

Drag Race Shangela box

Speaking of that box, what was going on in your mind when you were waiting in the box at the start of Season 3?

I was like, “You know, RuPaul could have drilled some air holes in here.” There were no holes for breathing! And you know, RuPaul likes to do a couple takes so they had me in that box and told me not to jump out until he says the keyword, which was “redunkulous.” So, I was in there sweatin’ waiting on Ru. I said, “C’mon, Ru. C’mon, mama. Say the word, mama. I’m gonna be drippin’ when I jump out of this box.” But I love the box so much because it became synonymous with my brand. It’s about a surprise and that’s how I feel I am. I’m a gift that keeps on giving, honey. Just keep comin’ back and I’m special delivery fish, alright?

The past few seasons have been a little light on the drama, with girls perhaps angling to become Miss Congeniality. Can we expect any shade or any good fights this season?

Here’s the ticket… The more of a splash you make on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, the bigger career opportunities you can have. That’s where it gets cutthroat. People have seen the golden chalice, honey, and they want it. So will there be drama? Oh, baby! First of all, Shangela’s gonna keep it real. I’ve always kept it real my whole entire career. I’ve been the same girl you see in the workroom outside of the workroom. That’s why people feel they know me cause they pretty much do. So if something needs to be called out, I’ve never been shy about that. However, I have grown as a person and as a drag queen and I think that I know how to communicate my points better than just telling people off and throwing drinks. But there will be drama, baby, please believe. It’s a daytime soap over here. You’ve got ten queens fighting for a prize and to be in the hall of fame with RuPaul. Oh, honey, they’re not playing games.

Drag Race All Stars Shangela Confessional

Heading back into the workroom after so many years, what was the thing about filming the show that you were least looking forward to?

We’re sequestered the whole time we’re filming the show and I’m just so connected with my fans on social media or my friends and family. And a lot of times when I have creative ideas I bounce them off of people to say, “Hey, what do you think about this?” Well, I didn’t have that. The only people I could talk to are the people I’m competing against. So that was something I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to, being shut off from the outside world for the month that it takes to film Drag Race.

And what were you most excited to do again?

Oh, to turn the party. To be me and to be comfortable being me in this competition. I was most excited to be able to once again make moments. You never know how long you’re gonna be on Drag Race, so the most important thing to me going into this competition was, sister, every opportunity you have, make a moment. On that runway, you make a moment. You make it. So that was my goal. To go in there, show them who I am, and make them gag, honey.

drag race all stars morgan shangela aja

Since you all are sisters who tour together, was there any worry about messing up friendships now that you were competing against each other again?

Not for me. Here’s the deal. They know me. They know who I am. I don’t play a dirty game, but I play a strategic and strong game. I’m a strong competitor, I’ve never been shy about that. I’m not concerned about losing any friendships because I’m not changing up who I am. We all know this is a competition. But at the end of the day, I at least try to play a fair game. So I’m not worried about losing any friendships. And if I do, then they weren’t my friend anyway.

Once you first saw all the queens enter the room, who did you think in that moment would be your personal biggest competition?

RuPaul!!  No, from the girls, here’s the deal. I know these girls and they know me. A lot of times when people know each other they feel comfortable thinking “Okay, I know exactly what she’s thinking.” But you can’t fall into that because this is All Stars 3. The stakes are high. All these girls are what I like to call stunt queens, including myself. So I’m not trustin’ none of these stunt queens. So I looked around the room and thought, “Okay, I know who they are, but I don’t know what they brought and prepared so let’s see how this works.”

If we were blessed enough to have a Haus of Edwards All Stars Edition (including Alyssa Edwards and Laganja Estranja), who do you think would come out on top?

Honey, that’s gonna be a very crowded top. We are all divas and winners in our own lanes. When you put us together, that is the trifecta of extravagangza. Three-way tie! Or if not, we might kill each other. Three-way death or three-way tie, one or the other.

Drag Race Haus of Edwards

Find out how Shangela does when All Stars 3 premieres on Thursday, January 25 at 8 pm on VH1.

Adam Salandra
Adam Salandra is an Entertainment Editor for FANDOM. When he's not covering the latest in pop culture, you can find him playing with his French Bulldog pup or hovering over the table of food at any social gathering.
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