Despite the controversies of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 10, All Stars 11 continues with the bracket format. Again, 18 queens divide into three brackets of six, competing against each other for those coveted MVQ (Most Valuable Queen) points until the two highest point holders move forward to the semi-finals.
All Stars 11 has a good mix of queens from various seasons. However, Bracket 3 is the first not to have multiple queens from the same season. The full roster is as follows:
- Hershii LiqCour-Jeté (Season 16)
- Jasmine Kennedie (Season 14)
- Joey Jay (Season 13)
- Kennedy Davenport (Season 7)
- Sam Star (Season 17)
- Shuga Cain (Season 11)
This time around, Kennedy Davenport is the veteran here. In addition to competing in Season 7 of RPDR, Kennedy also competed in All Stars 3 and Season 2 of Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. The World.
With Bracket 3 coming to an end with All Stars 11, Episode 9, we rewind, revisit, and review the bracket. Are we happy with the semi-finalists? Read on to find out.
Out of all the Brackets, this one felt the least dramatic. Did you miss it?
Jeanette: Don’t get me wrong. I like a little drama along with the next person, but I generally like Drag Race best as a competition show, not a reality show, even though that’s technically what it is. So, no, I didn’t really miss the drama. I’m not quite sure if Jasmine Kennedie brought malicious drama, but she did bring us something. That girl is the diva, and that diva always has something to say.
Lyra: Honestly I like the vibe of this bracket. A little light drama with how to distribute points and the old queens versus the new… but I liked it. It was a competition first and a reality TV series second. And I think that reality TV has skewed so far into the reality TV of it all that they forget this is also a competition.
Do you have an all-time favorite runway look in Bracket 3?
Jeanette: Jasmine Kennedie is that diva (see above), she totally brought the looks. Truthfully, I’m torn between her Gilded Age look in Episode 8 and her David Bowie look in Episode 9—something about those massive bell bottoms really did it for me. There were a lot of looks I loved this season, but I’ll watch Jasmine walk down the runway in anything any day of the week and be happy.
MORE: Catch up with our ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11’ Bracket 2 Review (& Who Makes It to the Semi-Finals)
Lyra: OMG Jeanette stole my answer. Honestly, I really loved Jasmine’s Bowie look. Like it was recognizable but elevated. And that’s what you want from drag. But unfortunately a lot of queens take it literally and just make a copy. That’s not fun at all. Also, Hershii’s roast outfit. Look, she looked hot, while effortlessly cool, and dragged up. What can I say?! It works for me!
What was your favorite challenge in Bracket 3?
Jeanette: The rapping roast hands down! Everyone was super strong. The lyrics were actually funny, and everyone looked gorgeous. How the judges managed to narrow it down is beyond me. Episode 9’s RuPaul interview lip-sync was an interesting premise, but the rapping roast is an old faithful that completely blew it out of the water if you ask me. Queens throwing playful shade on Drag Race is what I live for. My only issue here is that I wish Joey Jay had made the Top 2.
Lyra: Once again agreeing with Jeanette. The rapping roast was immaculate. The queens all came with some really strong reads. And it was fun. A little catty. But actual fun. Again, that’s something that franchise has been missing because they’ve been leaning too much into the reality TV aspect of it all. Part of entertaining your audience is having actually quality content.
Keeping that all in mind… this last challenge for them where they were recreating interviews from Ru’s show. It just wasn’t it. And it had a lot of potential to be something great. Sure too, a lot of young queers are going to go and look up the show. But it kind of felt like it was only for Ru’s nostalgia more than anything. But it’s called RuPaul’s Drag Race so Ru has the right to do a little throw back for herself.
Who was your frontrunner going into All Stars 11 Bracket 3 and did that change by Episode 6?
Jeanette: I mean, is there anyone out there watching Bracket 3 who isn’t rooting for Kennedy? If so, check yourself. Love, love, love, and love Trixie Mattel, but we all know that Kennedy (or Shangela) deserved that win. This could be the long-awaited chance she gets at the crown.
That said, I found a new favorite in Joey Jay. We didn’t get to see much of Joey on her season, so this was an absolute treat. Somebody, please make a compilation video of every one-liner Joey made this season because I need it ASAP. The “gold buttons” thing was obviously making its rounds on social, but almost everything out of Joey’s mouth was pure gold. She’s got a tinge of demented, dark humor to her that I just really jive with. Joey, I was rooting for you so hard. I wish she had made it to the semi-finals, but I’m glad I got to know her better.
MORE: Revisit the franchise with our RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, Episode 10 Breakdown
Lyra: Honestly, I found myself having a soft spot and cheering for Ms. Kennedy Davenport. She’s a reminder of a different kind of queen. The kind who has aged like fine wine but also always stays true to themselves. She feels real. So I wanted her to make it far. Same thing with Joey Jay. I felt like I could see her as a person and as a queen really clearly. And it was fun and entertaining.
Keeping all of that in mind, I knew Jasmine Kennedy was going to make it. She’s the now of drag. A little see you next Tuesday with the looks, confidence, and glamour to back it. It’s the looks queens who don’t know what padding is but still serve up something immaculate.
Are you happy with the Bracket 3 queens moving forward to the semi-finals?
Jeanette: Yes… I think so? I mean, Kennedy is an absolute yes for me, but the Jasmine and Sam tie feels a bit like the easy way out. Lest we not forget (I will not let anybody forget) that Morgan McMichaels got LEFT BEHIND, but Sam and Jasmine get a double save??? Make it make sense.
Lyra: I do like when TV mixes things up. And by the time we get to Bracket 3, I don’t remember who was in Bracket 1 and 2 of All Stars. So basically the formula was already getting old and we haven’t even had it that long. So the three way was a little shakeup I welcome. Keeping that in mind, I don’t know if Sam did it for me. But that also might be due to how I didn’t like this challenge at all and I think her looks weren’t it. I could be wrong though. Bring on the semi-finals!
