The Crosby Hotel in New York was recently a hotbed of tucking tape and lace-front wigs. I joined some of my favorite drag queens there for a little kiki and an early screening of the RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2 premiere. Alaska Thunderfuck, Ginger Minj, Katya Zamolodchikova, and her little raccoon were all in attendance.
Wine and hors d'oeuvres circulated the room. If there was ever a notion about queens being shy around food, it was quickly shattered. Alaska even improvised a utensil with her comically sharp nails. Since Season 5, she's certainly come out of her drag shell.
"I learned, watching Season 5, that I was very concerned about being everybody's really good friend rather than being a great competitor," she told me. "So hopefully, I do less of that this time. Hopefully I'm more of a bitch this time."
We can only hope. With this reunion, it seems that all our favorite queens are back but none of the entertaining drama has returned. Coco Montrese and Alyssa Edwards were both in attendance, having mended any burned bridges that we loved watching go down in flames.
"Alyssa and I will always be sisters," Coco told me. "We love each other more than anything in this world. We will fight for each other. We love each other, we do. It's just a brother, sister relationship."
Alyssa is just as fond of her old pageant pal.
"I think you guys have only seen it on TV," she said. "With anything or anyone that you care about, it's natural to be like that. Now even on the show, we respect each other. As long as there's a line of respect, a form of respect, that's the greatest thing you can have, not just for a colleague, but for someone you really admire for their work and their work ethic."
Although this doesn't sound too promising for a gasp-worthy season of shady queens, Coco assured me that jaws will drop during this round of All Stars.
Ginger Minj was stunning in a floor-length gown that served old Hollywood realness. Representing the big girls yet again this season, she's not holding anything back.
"I don't care if people think I'm fat," she said. "I don't care if people think I'm hideously ugly. I am going to put on this little swimsuit and parade around like I'm a size two because that's how I feel."
Phi Phi O'Hara was almost unrecognizable, showing up in a suit and tie with a blue shade of his natural hair. Deep into his "365 Days of Drag" challenge, he understandably needed a break. Luckily he's nice to look at as a boy.
Recalling his first season of Drag Race, he's fully aware of his perceived attitude problem. But this season of All Stars seems to be about redemption for Phi Phi and her image. "The difference is, with All Stars, we know each other," he explained. "We work with each other so much, so we're friends. And I think coming into it, we knew what we had to do, and we knew it was just a show and to have fun. On my season, I just didn't know anybody and I was already defensive, and I was trying to kill everybody which didn't work in my favor."
Although it seems that Drag Race washes away all drag feuds, the premiere proved that drama is still present more than ever. In the next room, we watched as the queens gear up to snatch another crown. With new rules this season, it's up to the them to decide who goes home each week. While the judges enjoy a cocktail, the queens will deliberate.
Tune in on August 25 at 8/7c for the RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2 premiere on Logo.
