‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars 5’ Finale Recap — Which Queens Will ‘Clap Back’ for the Crown?
Shea Couleé, Miz Cracker, and Jujubee are each fighting for their place in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame.” There are still a few gags and twists standing in their way. Who is the winner of this season of All-Stars? Here’s our summary of the latest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars 5.
[This article contains major spoilers from RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars 5. Read at your own risk, squirrel friends!]
The Top Three of ‘All-Stars 5’ enter the Werk Room
After Blair’s elimination, the finalists of this season are celebrating their rise to the top. Miz Cracker’s never been this close before! After that phone call from RuPaul, though, they’re all a little worried about the twist. (P.S. They open the box and, surprise surprise, there’s two lipsticks for Blair and one for Jujubee, which was presumably Blair’s pick.)
Still, this is such a second chase moment for all of them! Jujubee suggests they celebrate with a pillow fight and she fully smacks Miz Cracker in the face. She’s literally knocking the competition out. The following day, instead of the Top Three walking into the Werk Room, it’s all of the eliminated queens. They all hide behind the wall that, presumably, the puppets would’ve been behind.
Then, Shea Couleé, Jujubee, and Miz Cracker enter the room. They start talking about how fierce the competition was and Alexis straight up says how fake it all sounds. Shea Couleé dares Jujubee to reach her hand into the puppet hole. Just then, all the eliminated queens pop out and surprise them.
RuPaul later announced what the main challenge is for this week. The queens will be writing and recording their own original verses for the song “Clap Back.” They’ll also be the stars of RuPaul’s podcast, What’s the Tee? On the mainstage, the only lip sync assassins will be the Top Three. Everyone is excited.
The queens sit down and spill some tea
The eliminated queens are excited to come back, sit on the couches, and address some drama, mama. For Derrick and India, Derrick says she needs an apology to move forward, and India does apologize. Mayhem says she eliminated herself because India was her teammate! She couldn’t do that.
Finally, Alexis addresses the campaigning and Mayhem says she never would do that to Shea. In fact, she’s mad that India threw her under the bus. She confirms the only reason she picked Shea is because Mariah did so well and India and her had an… agreement. Not an alliance! An agreement. Derrick is loving this, by the way.
Anyway, enough drama. All the queens make their way to the mainstage, where Todrick Hall teaches the Top Three the choreography he came up with. Cracker warns him that she’s always a beat behind. Jujubee suggests that instead of “clapping back” she can just clap.
Blair, sitting on the sidelines, is ready to jump in at a moment’s notice. (She’s doing all of the choreography from her chair.) Still, Shea’s choreography is the hardest of the group. Good, Miz Cracker says. Shea’s the best dancer and she should be challenged.
The Top Three perform their original verses
After their rehearsal, each of the Top Three queens has their moment on RuPaul’s podcast. Jujubee talks about being sober, Miz Cracker talks about the differences from last time on Drag Race, and Shea Couleé talks about her inner saboteur, named “Shanaynay.”
When it’s time to get ready for the final challenge, the eliminated queens join the finalists in the Werk Room. Everyone is nervous – there’s a lot on the line! Still, Shea Couleé, Jujubee, and Miz Cracker slay “Clap Back,” each of them performing upbeat verses.
On the runway, the category is ‘All-Star Eleganza’
After watching the performance, all of the queens bring it to the runway one last time, including the eliminated queens. Jujubee has a jeweled gown and headdress, inspired by the Hindi god. Miz Cracker has a bubblegum pink dress inspired by her Russian heritage. Shea Couleé, also in light pink, is inspired by the runways of the 1960s.
Then, Jujubee talks about being a beacon of hope for other gay, Asian boys. Miz Cracker talks about how much being Jewish means to her, and how much her mother helped her grow. Shea Couleé shared that she’s inspired by black women, and for this look in particular, her mother’s prom dress. She also thanks RuPaul for being an example and giving each of them a platform.
After a quick change and a deliberation, the Top Three return to the stage to perform their final lip-sync. This was to Janelle Monáe’s “Make Me Feel.” Then RuPaul crowns her winner. The queen earning her place in the Drag Race Hall of Fame is… Shea Couleé.
