are shangela and alyssa edwards still friends are shangela and alyssa edwards still friends

I was so nervous, Im not gonna lie to you, she admits. Alyssa is in the top tier of Ru girls, along with superstars like Trixie Mattel, 's most famous Alyssa moments center around the Mesquite, Texas native just not quite understanding the assignment, but coming up with a result so wholly original and endearing that it just didn't matter. Even though Shangelas doctor informed her she probably wouldnt be able to wear heels, let alone perform, until August, Shangela says she doubled up on the rehab and by March was on tour with the Haus of Edwardswearing a sequined boot, to boot. I am actually a very hard worker, and lazy is not a word thats in my vocabulary. I honestly thought this was gonna be the start of a Shangela sugar daddy rant with some words changed . [Photo: Johnnie Ingram/HBO]He said to me, privately, We love you here at the company, but if you ever wanted to pursue being an entertainer, and thats something youre serious about, you should go to Hollywood now,' Shangela says. The Haus of Edwards, aka drag trio Alyssa Edwards, Shangela Laquifa Wadley and Laganja Estranja, have packed up their wigs and oufits and are ready to meet their Irish fans at a very special Dragged Up performance in Dublin. So with their support, I decided to audition. Im currently working on a few television shows right now. XBox One Thanks for all the thoughts & prayers. Many fans believe that Shangela was robbed and should've won instead of Trixie Mattel, butShangela has been doing just fine sinceAll Stars 3. From there, maternity gets a little messy because Gia Gunn from season 6 and All-Stars 4 was adopted by the Haus of Edwards, but no longer considers Alyssa her . "The Marcella Situation" comes to a head -- and there's only one solution. Fame. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Since her multiple appearances on Drag Race (competing in both season three and All-Stars season 3) Shangela has been a fixture in TV and film, most notably starring in A Star is Born, the Riverdale spin-off Katy Keene, and HBOs newest show Were Here. Down on his luck, Panca has to juggle the responsibilities of married life and his recently acquired comedy club. 03:40 House Of Edwards Part 2 With Shangela House Of Edwards Part 2 With Shangela. Since her iconicAll Stars run,she has made a name for herself outside of theDrag Racefranchise. However, she delivers these lines with such Alyssa-style hilarity and aplomb that it doesn't even matter. Dancing Queen. Given the fact that drag was nowhere near the mainstream at the time (not to. Turning it up. When theres a common purpose, that draws people together. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing RuPaul's Drag Race fan favorite and self-described "lovely fifth alternate" Alyssa Edwards, and it's no secret that, over the course of her two act, sold out engagement at Town Hall, she sashayed and tongue-popped her way into the hearts of her audience, one can of Red Bull and confidently declared malapropism at a time. Snatching trophies. A jackpot of jewels worth 44 million. She got more acting credits with appearances in television shows such as Broad City , Station 19 . You are a . Take, for example, her famous All Stars malaprop moment, when she thinks a challenge has been rigged: "It was rigor morris!" Im proving myself everyday in the real world that I am an All Star. We caught up with the dancer real name Jay Jackson to discuss her acting career, returning to reality TV, and why we wont see her on All Stars 4. Alyssa Edwards and Shangela talk about what it takes to be in the House of Edwards! My confession? I found my sobriety, my yoga, and a group of real friends to support me behind the stage. We dont come in and try to be anyones fairy godmother. Ive been trying to be a star for years, and its been difficult not having the financial backing like some of the top Drag Race queens have. I would never put myself in a shark tank like that where girls can have opinions on me, and potentially vote me off. But I do feel like this will be my big break, and So You Think You Can Dance will be the tip of the iceberg. I text my friend and I was like, Oh my god, I feel like Trixie Mattel. She packed up her Ford Explorer, headed West, and dove head first into drag. Were going down there, mama. But Shangela is standing right in the spotlightand she knows her angles. I will never return as a competitor to RuPauls Drag Race, and I made that very clear to World of Wonder. http://bit.ly/1fkX0CVNew episodes of Alyssa's Secret every Monday on WOWPresents!Follow Alyssa Edwards on Twitter: @AlyssaEdwards_1Follow Shangela on Twitter: @itsSHANGELAFollow Vivienne Pinay on Twitter: @ViviennePinayProducers:Adam AseaBlake JacobsThairin SmothersRead More at: http://worldofwonder.net/ Follow World of Wonder on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1dM5ZvSFollow World of Wonder on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1kFOupmFollow World of Wonder on Instagram: http://bit.ly/1orXheOWho is World of Wonder? Humans are by nature social and something like summer camp can fulfill our need to truly connect with others.. Shangela (aka Darius Jeremy "DJ" Pierce) was the first queen to be eliminated on season two of RuPaul's Drag Race. Shangela threw a surprise Birthday for Alyssa. The first act of the show covers Alyssa's childhood, with comic tales about growing up queer, artistic, and out of place. Shangela still goes heavy on the eyes. That Id like to stop striving for unrealistic standards of perfection. Did they tell you to drop Laganja? So if its something in your heart, you should go now.'. So I started calling clubs and sometimes Id even change my voice on the phone, like, Hi, this is Shangelas manager. Or Id email from manager@Shangela.com.. 4 celebrity first-time mums in their 50s She was also featured on Ariana Grande's "NASA," from her acclaimed album,Thank You, Next. If I went back on All Stars, sure, I wouldve reached some new people, but predominantly, it wouldve been the same fanbase. Her life is a spectacle; from Season 5 of the Emmy-Award winning television show "RuPaul's Drag Race" (2013) to her web series "Alyssa's Secret", her own Netflix series "Dancing Queen" (2018) and "America's Got Talent" (2021). Roku Its a devastating injury for anyone, most of all a performer whos known for dancing. I hope that my appearance on So You Think You Can Dance will prove that. Another character who persistently pops up along Alyssa's journey is her boldly assertive yet charmingly clueless inner diva, who not only resists the initial Season 5 casting offer from World of Wonder (due to an already busy schedule in Texas, where she owns and operates the dance studio Beyond Belief), but is also shocked when she is not the sole contestant to be brought back for All Stars' legendary Rudemption episode. Why was it so touching? For a moment I thought, I need to reevaluate my life. And while Alyssa is a seasoned queen, having competed in--and won--a number of pageants, she makes it clear just how unprepared she was for the show, having watched a mere single episode of the show in support of drag daughter Shangela. Tune in to our Instagram story today, as Matt De Rogatis takes you behind the scenes of Ruth Stage's production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof! It's a new season at Beyond Belief Dance Company, and Justin's got big plans for the future. Quite honestly, thats what got me to where I am today. (This despite the fact that the show was already two hours long, making it the only drag show I've attended that included an intermission.). Yesterday, So You Think You Can Dance tweeted out an emoji to represent which contestant you felt the most connected to, and it was all high heels! To provide the best experience, we use cookies on the GAY TIMES website. Stephanie, another camper, and I are going to participate together, Trish later told me. I never even mentioned Laganja to them at all. It was at this party that the former CEO of TGI Fridays, Richard Snead, took notice of Shangela who, at that point, had been with the company for two years. When you look at the top three, Bianca Del Rio is touring internationally and is worth two million dollars, Adore Delano has had incredible success with her music, and Courtney Act has gone on to win Big Brother. Going from a 23-year-old to a 29-year-old, a lot has changed, and the world is going to get to see that. Season six is doing it. There were several things that inspired my audition. Fire TV Android TV To use Alyssa's famous Drag Race catchphrase, she is indeed a "BEAST!," and the monster was out in full, spectacular form last night during the New York engagement of her Life, Love and Lashes . Thats what Im most excited about releasing. Once upon a time, boys wore blue and girls wore pink. Ultimately, its the exuberant confidence that Edwardswho is also host of Dancing Queen on Netflixdelivers on camera and in person that led me to this realization: when the going gets tough as an adult, sometimes the solution is to just live a littleto view the world through the same carefree lens children do. Texan drag performer and choreographer Laganja first sashayed into our lives back in 2014, when she appeared as a contestant on the legendary sixth season of RuPauls Drag Race. But, as Alyssa reveals onstage, it didn't always come easy. I proudly edit Coming Out, a series where LGBTQ+ change-makers reflect on self-acceptance. Now, Im able to to reach a fanbase that Ive so desperately wanted to be a part of, and thats the dance community. I think that Nigel, much like any human being living on this Earth, is a growing creature. During the course of three days, I, too became one of Edwardss wide-eyed campers, participating in a kaleidoscopic list of alcohol-free activities that included hiking, campfire karaoke (Edwards is partial to Partons 9 to 5), glam crafting, Richards Simmons hip-hop aerobics, a hidden talent show (embarrassingly enough, I performed Alanis Morissettes Ironic with my squad), communing with nature (camp jargon, not mine), axe-throwing, canoeing (a group of three flipped over and splashed into the water), plus all of the kumbaya humdrum that at times felt like a scene from Troop Beverly Hillsor better yet: RuPauls Drag Race. Alyssa Edwards and Shangela . I pay almost $2000 a month on rent. Heres to celebrating every color of the rainbow. You must be happy a new audience is seeing you in such a positivelight. Shangela is a real actor/actress, and there's so much more in store for her. Power. In an out-of-this-world episode of Untucked, Mimi Imfurst and a liquored-up Shangela (clock the almost half-empty bottle of Absolut on the table at the 1:13 mark) got into a heated argument about their space-aged runway looks. Shangela, who is Alyssa Edwards' drag daughter, has been busy since All Stars 3 concluded in 2018. Marijuana helps me get my job done, stay active, and stay present in every situation. Some more of our favorite Alyssa outtakes. For two acts, four lip syncs, and several many stories, the audience sat rapt, hanging onto Alyssa's each and every Texas-twanged word while revelling in her signature facial expressions that, frankly, give even. She's toured around the world with her drag act. VIDEO: FUNNY GIRL Announces Broadway Closing; New Performance Montage, McClure, Kritzer, Brightman, & Iglehart to Lead SPAMALOT. Now that was an entrance! I just watched Pose, and it was all about that. Prior to O, I began my career in the fashion department at Marie Claire, and eventually moved on to InStyle, where I dabbled in social media and covered events such as the Grammys, Toronto International Film Festival, and New York Fashion Week. We lose sight of allowing ourselves the ability to play. Its been a shame that for so many years, people have looked at me like a drug addict and a stoner, and as someone whos lazy and sits on the couch, when in fact, I am none of those things. But we can help maybe empower you with the tools to know how to do it yourself., Fast Company & Inc 2023 Mansueto Ventures, LLC, Inside the hustle and grit of drag superstar Shangelas rise to Hollywood. Alyssa Edwards absolutely does not want the wind to snatch her wig. Like these ladies, Alyssa has found success by sticking to her unique point of view and always being the first to laugh at herself. Yes, we're sad she didn't win the crown, but be thankful so many other people were exposed to her, and made such a. World of Wonder, the producers of RuPaul's Drag Race, Million Dollar Listing, and I Am Britney Jean, brings you, Alyssa's Secret, RuPaul Drives, James St James' Transformations, Ring My Bell, and so much more. So, Im being exposed to a whole new group of people. I would love to come back as a cameo, much like Alyssa was as a dance coach. I always thought that he would come down on me for being effeminate, but that being said, I was so happy to see that he has grown and changed. I said, Alyssa, Im in a cast. And she goes, I dont know what you got to do mama, but you better hurry up.'. But, after doing So You Think You Can Dance, where I was treated with such kindness and such respect, I dont think I could ever return to the intense competition that it is required by Drag Race. Edwards told me she adored seeing new connections form, though she particularly fell in love with Trish, a sweet and huggable grandmother and former Navy member in her late '50s whos now using her camp experience for good in Florida. For more information, please see our She is incredibly dedicated to her craft, so, she deserves all the success she gained from that show. It was everything. At a campfire hosted an hour before Edwardss zip-lining grand entrance, campersall of whom were members or allies of the LGBTQ communitywere asked to ceremoniously let go of what held them back. One time, Rosario Dawson complimented my hair and asked to touch it. When you look back on your Drag Race experience, how do you feel about it? And I just feel like Im really slept on. We may earn commission from the links on this page. The great thing about So You Think You Can Dance is that its on Fox, its a national television show, so the broadcast reach is much larger than RuPauls Drag Race. And he's the reason blockbuster films such as A Star Is Born feature Drag Race graduates like Shangela, Willam, and Netflix's new favorite, Alyssa Edwards. This technology helps us gather statistical and analytical information for marketing purposes, but the choice to accept cookies is always yours. The items being let go of were truly heart-warming, from a mother discussing her excruciating battle with cancer to new friends revealing the challenges of loving your body, pushing past toxic masculinity, and what its like to be Black and have no seat at the table. She has written and performed original sketch comedy throughout the Northeast. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. And I would say, Well, were not really allowed to say, but Im going to tell you this, babyyou know me. Take, for example, her famous All Stars malaprop moment, when she thinks a challenge has been rigged: "It was rigor morris!" you know for a fact miss edwards took a look at that phone and redid the shot fifty more times to get her angle . He died of cancer in 2016. A drag family provides support, love, and you should be thankful to have that, but new Hauses are made every day. RuPaul's Drag Race superstars Shangela, Alyssa Edwards and Jessica Wild had the pleasure of impressing the one-and-only Jennifer Lopez Monday night, dressing as iconic moments from the singer's career on an episode of Watch What Happens Live. WOW Presents Plus is the only streaming service featuring multiple RuPaul's Drag Race franchises*, Painted with Raven, Werq The World, UNHhhh, and hundreds of other World of Wonder originals, documentaries, specials, and LGBTQ+ programming, all ad free. Drag is art and art is subjective, which makes it even more beautiful, Edwards says. However, she delivers these lines with such Alyssa-style hilarity and aplomb that it doesn't even matter. Getting gorgeous. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF's Matt De Rogatis Takes Over Our Instagram Today! Samsung Smart TV. You have to be incredibly strong in your mind. Shehas since skyrocketed to international drag superstardom. But Edwards and her fabulous group of camp leaderswhich included an on-site therapist, plus Nicoletta and Brady, two energetic cheerleader-like masters of ceremonies that led us from one exercise to the nextmanaged to do just that. He has come to learn that his perception of an ideal dancer isnt necessarily true. Shangela has also stepped into another kind of mentor role in HBOs Were Here. Her mom was a single parent and a military veteran working two to three jobs at a time, and her grandfather was a farmer. If so, would you support me? Of course, Twitter responded so well to that. We use cookies to enhance the functionality of our website, improve site navigation and assist in our marketing efforts. Its arguably the most iconic season in HERstory. As the Senior Editor of OprahMag.com, I'm a jack-of-all-trades, overseeing our entertainment coverage (we cover TV shows like The Politician and Big Brother, movies such as J.Lo's Hustlers and Lena Waithe's Queen and Slim), features, news items, and as her number one fanall of Lady Gaga's whereabouts. My talent is undeniable, and when people hear me rap for real, theyre gonna freak. Fire TV Hes very flamboyant online, makes a lot of videos that are funny and about LGBTQ rights. Alyssa Edwards and Shangela talk about what it takes to be in the House of Edwards! By having a drag family, I am so lucky, because so many girls have to do everything on their own. Subscribe here! I just hate articles that come out about needing a drag family. "Just arrived in Amman, Jordan for a very . It includes strippers, pizz. We didnt grow up with a lot of money, but I knew one day I wanted to have some money and I wanted to travel, Shangela says. Edit: no, of course I love more Alyssa and shangela, but from peppermint and miz cracker, I love more miz cracker and miss cookie . .css-ssumvd{display:block;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.25;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-ssumvd:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-ssumvd{letter-spacing:0rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}Gayle King Interviews Angela Bassett, Dwyane Wades Daughter Granted Legal Name Change, Gayle Says March Is a Good Month for TV Lovers, The "Friends" Women Reunite to Celebrate Courteney, The Reason Hoda Kotb Hasn't Been on the Today Show, Keke Palmer Is a New Mom! RuPauls Drag Race: Everything Shangela Has Been Up To Since All-Stars, RuPaul's Drag Race: Why It's Still Gaining Momentum After 14 Seasons, Why RuPaul's Drag Race Fans Will Never Forget Willow Pill, 90 Day Fianc's Biniyam Receives Cosmetic Procedure For Hair Loss, What Happened To The Cast After Perfect Match Season 1, Perfect Match: Francesca Calls Love Is Blind's Shayne & Bartise 'Savage'. I definitely have what it takes to win him over, but it wont be easy. Since her elimination, fans have campaigned for the self-described cannabis activist to return on a future season of All Stars for her well deserved ru-demption edit. Here are five you can book right now: For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter! Related: RuPaul's Drag Race: Why It's Still Gaining Momentum After 14 Seasons. Shangela was the fan favourite in All Stars 3 until the queens in her season did her dirty right before the final lip sync. While performingironically enoughat a Halloween-themed drag night at a New York City club, Shangela went for a death drop, a signature move in the drag and ballroom scenes where you fall to the ground with one leg bent and the other stretched out. Situation Project, in partnership with the producers of Some Like It Hot, welcomed more than 380 NYC public school students and their teachers to attend a matinee performance of Some Like It Hot on Broadway. What is really going on? (There is similar moment during the live show when, reclining on the onstage chaise lounge, she invites the audience to join her in her "bougeoir. The show doesnt provide you with a manager or a team when you come out, so we had to really make it for ourselves, Shangela says. In October, Edwardsotherwise known as Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson, to his hometown Mesquite, Texas friends and familywas tapped not only as the face of Tazo Tea, but as the camp director for a spring 2019 weekend getaway designed to help people across the country break out of their shells. I didnt want to give them any reason to not show my talent. Apple TV The movie starred Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. You really can. And hopefully more people will know that about my journey.. Best drag daughter ever! Rene Rapp says she was freaked out by her sexuality before coming out: I was in a panic, Real Housewives star Heather Dubrow introduces fans to her trans son: We love you Ace, Rebel Wilson says she collapsed after proposing to her partner Ramona Agruma. I did a whole production.. How important is your drag family? This year is looking amazing for me. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Watch this video and more on WOW Presents Plus. As much as I support the cannabis industry and I will always stand behind it I would like to be seen in a different light. Drag Race is not a magic wand. In 2009, Shangela had a bit of a problem. It is this quirky confidence and delightfully delusional mindset that links Alyssa with other showbiz personalities like Liza Minnelli, Celine Dion, and Carol Channing, and makes her such an engaging star. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. These cookies help us to learn what youre interested in so we can show you relevant adverts when using the GAY TIMES website. Getting gorgeous. Sergio hasn't spoken since the day he murdered his parents. I just feel, mentally, Im not ready for that, and Ill never be ready for that because its not how I operate. Shangela became a RuPaul'sDrag Race legend when she was the first ever queen to be asked back to return for another season. Will you ever return for All Stars? Darius Jeremy Pierce, better known as Shangela Laquifa Wadley or mononymously as Shangela (born November 22, 1980), [3] is an American drag queen, reality television personality and actor best known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race. You are a soft aesthetic with a strong wit. Alyssa goes global with her first original song. Meanwhile, Justin makes plans to move and throws a blowout Halloween bash. Im one of those queens that some people like, but they dont all acknowledge what I have done, and so, I feel like this is going to be that moment. It's the first Thanksgiving in Justin's new home. It's this I'd-watch-her-read-the-phonebook star quality that makes Alyssa such a rarity these days, in an age when our newer drag stars have grown up watching, and have committed to a brand before even auditioning for the show. Ive had many friends go on the show some of them have even won so Ive always wanted to do it, I just dont think Ive ever had the confidence. He said, Youre going to look up in 5, 10 years and youre going to regret not trying,' Shangela says. My best friend, Gia Gunn, she doesnt have one. As Alyssa preps for her one-woman show, tense rehearsals for a high-stakes performance trigger nerves -- and an explosive confrontation. I definitely think season six was the most iconic season. Alyssa Edwards spoke with 'Cosmopolitan' about her Werq the World Tour, Shangela, her Beyond Belief Dance Company, and 'Dancing Queen' season 2 on Netflix. She servedsickening looks walking the red carpetand was proud that she was representing drag in the mainstream. Im so proud to be a season six girl, and I will go on record to say that it is the best season. And Vivienne Pinay stops by for a quick cameo! However, she was the first queen on her season to get the boot. She makes RuPaul laugh--a lot--and turns a trip up into triumph once again. If anyone knows how to spin straw into golden opportunities, its Shangela Laquifa Wadley. Enjoy the video? Unlike the queens before them, this . I just know I will never be a competitor, and I hope that people will finally let that go. If you saw the other night, he was interacting with me on Twitter, which I never thought in a million years would happen. XBox One Wearing a neon yellow-orange-pink dress with a matching cape, she apprehensively wiggles her lithe body up a 10-foot pole, where shes then secured into a harness before taking the dive. But Laganja tells Gay Timesthat its never going to happen. Then, you look at the other contestants like Milk, who is an international model and BenDeLaCreme who had incredible success on All Stars 3. And like I said, I survived it once, why would I throw myself back in that again? Everyone called her mom all weekend. A post shared by Alyssa Edwards (@alyssaedwards_1) She has also starred in her own Netflix docuseries Dancing Queen and snagged some snazzy sponsorship deals. It helps me deal with crazy, drunken fans, and it makes me wanna hug everybody and be peoples friends! Enjoy. Shangela, who is Alyssa Edwards' drag daughter,has been busy sinceAll Stars 3concluded in 2018. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 4:24 PM. But at the end of the day, if my album is a blip or a flop, its gonna be okay because I love my album and one day, Im going to play it for my kids. 5,000 applications were submitted, and a lucky group of 30 were selected to attend Edwards's Camp Tazo. Theres so much more than trying to be a star. Its an overcast Friday afternoon in Marble Falls, Texasa smallish town about 100 miles north of San Antonioand the 39-year-old, two-time RuPauls Drag Race contestant is saddling up to do what no drag queen has ever done before: zip-line across the Lone Star states Lake Ted. It took some people time to come around and realise my jush. By the last day, people exchanged tight hugs and phone numbers, confessing that three days spent with Edwards and each of the campers was life changing. Hes not perfect, he has said many things that have hurt effeminate men in the past. . If you can be kind, be confident, and believe in yourself, you can do anything. And the struggle is real. He choreographed to Call Me Mother by RuPaul last year on the show. http://bit.ly/1fkX0CVAlyssa Edwards and Shangela tell you a story about Alyssa's Birthday party. Im not paid $4000-$6000 a gig. And when the show came out and I was the first one to go home, they couldnt cancel my contract. I wouldnt change anything for the world. However, its super important to remember that plenty of girls dont have a drag family, and theyre incredible. I medicate legally, here in California. Or as Edwards says, Let go and let God! And its drag, she says, thats allowed her to do so. One girl breaking off from a family and starting her own Haus. I wanted to reach out to him and say, Richard, look where I am! Subscribe here! Video: Go Inside Rehearsal for CAMELOT on Broadway. RuPaul's Drag Race's Shangela is one of the most popular contestants. Were pitching to Netflix, and Amazon. Growing up in a conservative state where boys wear blue and play baseball, little Justin found solace in people like his Granny, who not only protected him from bullies, but instilled in him a sense of self-acceptance with the oft-repeated mantra, "You are beautiful, you are kind, you are unique," and laid the foundation for his ability to adapt with the reminder that "when life gives you lemons, you make some very sweet lemonade. Last month, you appeared in the short sci-fi film, Channel. She had cut her teeth working as a drag queen in Los Angeles and made it to the pinnacle of her profession: RuPauls Drag Race. Justin's ready to buy his first home, but the purchase stirs up painful memories. This landmark moment is long overdue, and who better to achieve this milestone than beloved RuPaul's Drag Race star Shangela? I think I have this great opportunity to continue my activism alongside that, but I ultimately chose Miss Estranja going in because I didnt wanna rock the boat. 2023 GAY TIMES Group. On this episode of Alyssa's Secret, Alyssa Edwards and Shangela tell the story of how the two divas met! All rights reserved. She chose her name in homage to Alyssa Milano and to her drag mother Laken Edwards, a former drag queen. Alyssa is in the top tier of Ru girls, along with superstars like Trixie Mattel, Bianca Del Rio, Latrice Royale, and Shangela. The iconic organizationbest known for supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people, parents, families and allieswas founded in March 1973. RuPaul's Drag Race stars Alyssa Edwards and Shangela have performed together all over the world, but this week, they slayed in their most surprising venue yet: a U.S. military base in Amman, Jordan. Add to that brand deals with Orbitz, Facebook, and McDonalds; a feature on Ariana Grandes track NASA; performing in front of Beyonc (and getting a standing ovation); and a business managing and booking other drag queens.