A lot of drag queens dream of winning RuPaul's Drag Race, though only a select few will ever wear the crown. However, there's another coveted prize on the show: that of Miss Congeniality. The title is given to the queen who is seen as the kindest and most supportive during their season.
Originally, Miss Congeniality was selected by viewers, but in more recent seasons, the task has been placed on the fellow queens to decide who gets the title. Throughout the seasons, many of drag's most famous faces have reigned as Miss Congeniality, and fans look forward to seeing who will win the title each season.
Lala Ri (Season 13)
Lala Ri competed on season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race and is tied with season 8's Cynthia Lee Fontaine as being the lowest-ranking Miss Congeniality in Drag Race herstory. Both contestants came in 10th place. But despite being eliminated so early, Lala Ri left a big impression on her fellow queens. In fact, Ri's upbeat and positive energy remained after she left, with her encouraging goodbye message on the Werk Room mirror that read, "Slay! Then save me a plate! Love Y'all. Lala Ri."
Nina Flowers (Season 1)
Nina Flowers was Drag Race's very first Miss Congeniality, winning the title during the inaugural season in 2009. Flowers would later return for the first seasons of All Stars and Drag U. Originally based out of Denver, Nina Flowers was one of the most prominent queens in the city. She is also a DJ who has released various singles and EPs since her time on the show, including her most famous, "Loca," which reached No. 15 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart in 2010.
Heidi N Closet (Season 12)
Heidi almost instantly became the fan favorite of season 12. Not only was she hilarious, but she had a way of connecting with audiences during her confessionals that made her seem real and genuine. She also became infamous during season 12 for RuPaul wanting her to adopt a different drag name, often trying out various options including Heidi Hydrates and Heidi Afrodite.
After becoming a standout contender in season 12, Heidi was brought back for All Stars 6 as one of the lip-sync assasin guests, and she even released a single, "GAP", which is a parody of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's hit, "WAP."
Valentina (Season 9)
Valentina is one of the most controversial Miss Congenialities in Drag Race herstory. After being awarded the title for season 9, her fellow contestants, Aja and Farrah Moan called her out for being anything but congenial. At one point during the confrontation, season winner Sasha Velour even stated, "If it's fan-favorite, then I guess she deserves it," proving that other queens from the season agreed with Aja's argument.
Valentina also infuriated RuPaul when she refused to take off her mask during a Lip Sync For Your Life. After Ru finally made her take the mask off, it became obvious she didn't know the words and was quikcly eliminated. However, Valentina always makes for great television and has amassed a large fanbase.
Pandora Boxx (Season 2)
Pandora Boxx is a Drag Race legend and is one of the queens who has competed on the show the most. After being crowned Miss Congeniality in season 2, Boxx returned for Drag U and seasons 1 and 6 of All Stars. However, despite her various appearances, Pandora Boxx has never placed higher than fifth in the competion. But it's Boxx's personality and humor that keep her relevant with fans, including her famous Carol Channing impersonation during the first-ever Snatch Game challenge during season 2.
Nina West (Season 11)
The Ohio-based queen Nina West has competed in only one season of Drag Race, but during her time on season 11, she cemented herself as a drag superstar. After her time on the show, West launched two EPs, a children's album titled Drag is Magic and a comedy album titled John Goodman. In 2021, West was even featured in a Nickelodeon segment that celebrated Pride. While conservatives were offended by the segment, it still marked a big turning point for the children's network for publically embracing LGBTQ+ rights on TV.
Latrice Royale (Season 4)
Latrice Royale is known for her humor and has been turned into countless memes and GIFs throughout the years thanks to her iconic Drag Race appearances. She's also tied with Eureka and Shangela for competing the most frequently in the series, with each appearing four times. Royale got her start on season 4, where she won Miss Congeniality. This was followed by All Stars 1 and 4, and the Holi-slay Spectacular. Aside from Drag Race, Royale has appeared in various documentaries about drag and even released a few singles, including "Weight."
Monet X Change (Season 10)
After debuting on season 10, it was instantly obvious that Monet X Change was a force to be reckoned with in the world of drag. Not only was she crowned Miss Congeniality in her season, but Monet X Change returned for All Stars 4, from which she took home the crown alongside co-winner Trinity the Tuck.
After her time on the show, Monet X Change went on to host her own BUILD series, The X Change Rate, and currently co-hosts the Sibling Rivalry podcast with Bob the Drag Queen. Her engaging personality continues to make her an instant hit with fans of drag, proving she has a long career ahead of her.
BenDeLaCreme (Season 6)
BenDeLaCreme was named Miss Congeniality in season 6, but she is more famous for eliminating herself from All Stars 3. By that point, however, DeLa was already a fan favorite and had amassed a reputation in the community as being a talented actor and comedian. She's since gone on to appear in numerous specials, including The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special, Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch, and even the Hulu holiday film, Happiest Season. Both Jinkx and BenDeLaCreme will take their holiday show on the road with a live tour set to take place from November through December of 2021, making stops around the U.K. and U.S.
Katya (Season 7)
Despite never winning a season, Katya has become one of the most prominent drag queens in the entire world. She was awarded Miss Congeniality in season 7 after winning over fans and her fellow queens with her absurd humor and hilarious commentary. She then returned for All Stars 2, in which she partook in the famous "Read U Wrote U" performance. Since then, she's made a name for herself by starring alongside Trixie Mattel in various web series like UNHhhh and I Like to Watch.
Katya is also about to star in her own reality show for OUTtv, titled From Katya With Love, which will chronicle her search for love using the gay dating app Taimi. The series is set to shoot in the fall of 2021 with a spring 2022 premiere.