The RuPaul’s Drag Race universe keeps expanding, and Secret Celebrity Drag Race is yet another very successful spin-off that is destined to be renewed for many seasons. Each episode, RuPaul invited three celebrity guests to compete for the title of America’s Next Celebrity Drag Race Superstar a donation of $10,000 to a charity of their choice.
These celebrities were guided by iconic Drag Race contestants of past seasons, which, on Secret Celebrity, were referred to as Queen Supremes. While it was exciting to watch many of the ultimate Drag Race fan-favorites back on TV, it is only fair to point out that some of them did better than others in this new mentorship role.
BEST: Bob The Drag Queen
Bob the Drag Queen felt immediately comfortable as a Queen Supreme on RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race, which probably comes from the many years of experience coaching up-and-coming drag performers (such as Miz Cracker) and the lessons she learned while filming HBO’s We’re Here.
On both of her Secret Celebrity appearances, Bob had to coach contestants who were surprisingly introverted and somewhat apprehensive about their makeovers. In both instances, it was clear that these celebrity guests were able to come out of their shell due to Bob’s expert guidance.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Kim Chi
Kim Chi is one of the most talented and memorable contestants in the history of RuPaul’s Drag Race. However, it is also fair to say that Kim is a shy individual who excels at her craft when she is executing her own vision.
On Secret Celebrity Drag Race, Kim had the difficult task of mentoring a comedian for a roast challenge. Matt Iseman was very open to suggestions, proved himself to be a great straight ally, and developed deep bonds with the queens. However, this comedian was already very confident about and prepared for the roast (without any mentoring), and Kim’s expertise in throwing shade just didn’t align well with Matt’s style of comedy.
BEST: Alyssa Edwards
As the owner of a dance studio and the head of the House of Edwards, Alyssa Edwards has been putting people into drag for the first time and dealing with all kinds of students for over a decade. All of this experience made Alyssa a natural mentor on Secret Celebrity Drag Race – being tough when she needed to, but also kind and patient.
Like Bob the Drag Queen, Alyssa Edwards was featured twice as a Queen Supreme on Secret Celebrity Drag Race. In both instances, Alyssa coached women with strong personalities and got them to push the envelope on what they thought they could or couldn’t do.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Asia O’Hara
On season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Asia O’Hara proved that she is a kind, smart, and compassionate individual who has been a motherly figure to many other drag performers. But then Asia was assigned to mentor the multitalented and iconic Vanessa Williams on Secret Celebrity Drag Race.
As a result, fans saw a version of Asia O’Hara who was shier and quieter than usual, going with the flow of things and mostly just being supportive. In her defense, it is hard to imagine anyone ‘coaching’ Vanessa Williams, and the nerves probably got the best of Asia.
BEST: Monet X Change
On Drag Race season 10 and All Stars 4, Monet X Change served as a great mentor for the people she transformed on the makeover challenges. Unsurprisingly, Monet was just as funny, supportive, and blunt on Secret Celebrity Drag Race, which highly benefited her mentee Nico Tortorella.
In the episode that featured Monet X Change, her drag sister Bob The Drag Queen was also present, which made their appearances even more entertaining to watch. If you’ve ever seen the two of them interact, they are just like actual siblings who bicker and tease each other on a daily basis.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Vanessa Vanjie Mateo
No one can deny the star power that Vanessa Vanjie Mateo has, so much so that she was brought back to compete on Drag Race season 11, then back again on season 12 to mentor the contestants for the Snatch Game, and was also featured as a Queen Supreme on Secret Celebrity Drag Race.
With that said, the iconic and hilarious Miss Vanjie is still a young drag performer who likely didn’t feel entirely comfortable in the mentorship role. Like many other queens, Vanjie is used to doing her own thing and seemingly doesn’t have as much as experience on making over other individuals.
BEST: Trinity The Tuck
Trinity The Tuck has been a well-rounded drag performer since her first appearance on season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Then, Trinity won All Stars 4 alongside Monet X Change, which makes her very experienced in the franchise.
On Secret Celebrity Drag Race, Trinity The Tuck was the designated Queen Supreme for comedian and talk show host Loni Love. Throughout the episode, it was clear that Trinity spent a lot of time giving Loni helpful advice, boosts of confidence, and constructive criticism. Despite the fact that Loni Love competed in an episode with Vanessa Williams, Loni certainly stood her ground and did great.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Trixie Mattel
It’s no secret that Trixie Mattel doesn’t consider herself a great Drag Race competitor, despite having won All Stars 3. Like Kim Chi, Trixie has a particular sense of humor that can be misinterpreted by those who aren’t deeply familiar with her, and is clearly very uncomfortable being ‘tough’ with others.
These various qualities from Trixie Mattel make her a great entertainer, but someone who still has room to grow as a mentor. It is true that her mentee Jordan Connor won his Secret Celebrity Drag Race episode, but one must note that a significant part of the energy that he brought was already there prior to any guidance.
BEST: Nina West
Many of the Queen Supremes are great Drag Race competitors, have loud personalities, and/or have a long history of coaching others to get in drag. But what makes Nina West a great mentor is none of those things. Instead, Nina’s strengths as a mentor are that she is deeply compassionate, a great listener, and always able to make the best out of something.
As Dustin Milligan’s Queen Supreme on Secret Celebrity Drag Race, Nina West was helpful, charming, and precise. Much of Dustin’s transformation was focused on an internal makeover – rather than external changes –, and Nina was the absolute perfect mentor for someone like him.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Monique Heart
Monique Heart is one of the best personalities to have ever been on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but fans didn’t see all of that energy being translated into mentorship skills on Secret Celebrity Drag Race.
Madison Beer – Monique Heart’s mentee – came with a set plan for what she wanted to accomplish on the series. As such, just like Vanessa Williams and Matt Iseman in other episodes, there wasn’t much room left for Monique to actually mentor Madison beyond what was already in development.