Contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Raja revealed the reason behind her obsession with cults that was featured on a recent episode of the legendary drag franchise. Sutan Amrull, who performs under the drag name Raja Gemini, is a drag queen, makeup artist, and model best known for being the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 3, as well as her work as a makeup artist on the show America's Next Top Model. She returned to the franchise this season alongside former RuPaul's Drag Race winners Jinkx Monsoon (season 5), Jaida Essence Hall (season 12), Yvie Oddly (season 11), Shea Couleé (All Stars 5), Trinity 'The Tuck' Taylor (All Stars 4), Monet X Change (All Stars 4) and international winner The Vivienne (Drag Race UK) to compete for the crown once again.
Each episode of All Stars follows queens as they compete in both a mini-challenge and the main stage challenge. On a recent episode of All Stars, the queens were tasked with writing and performing commencement speeches for judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and special guest judge Nikki Glaser. While most of the queens took a more overtly comedic approach to their routine, Raja leaned into her eccentric side by imitating a cult leader. Though some All Stars contestants questioned the artistic direction Raja decided to take, ultimately her risk paid off. Raja placed in the top two alongside Jinkx Monsoon, and won her first Legendary Legend Star of the competition.
When asked about her inspiration for her winning performance, Raja shared with E! News that it just came naturally. "I am obsessed with cults. I find it all very fascinating," Raja said. "I think about control. How could one leader share their spirituality enough for people to act like lemmings and jump off a cliff?" And when asked whether she saw herself as of a cult leader or cult follower, the RuPaul's Drag Race winner can see the appeal of calling the shots. "Because my brain works more like a cult leader than a cult follower," Raja said. "I see how you can manipulate and change people's minds as long as you soothe them into it."
This win brings Raja one step closer to claiming her spot in the finale. In previous All Stars seasons, the top two queens of the week would compete in a lip-sync showdown for a cash prize of $10,000 and the choice to eliminate a fellow competitor. However, it was revealed that there would be no eliminations this season of the RuPaul's Drag Race spin-off. Instead, queens will compete each week to earn a Legendary Legend Star, a $10,000 cash prize, and the chance to block a fellow competitor from receiving a Legendary Legend Star the following week. At the end of the season, the four queens who have the most Legendary Legend Stars will face off in an epic Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza for $200,000 and the title "Queen of Queens."
This new twist has already caused quite the stir in the competition, and with many factors to consider in her decision, it’ll be interesting to see which of her fellow queens Raja will choose to block from receiving a Legendary Legend Star following her win. Raja's fascination with cults helped lead her to a triumphant win. The rest of the queens in the RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 7 cast should follow suit and lean in to their unique interests.
Sources: E! News