“Shannel’s Journey: From Drag Race Icon to Lucille Ball Enthusiast on All Stars 9”
Shannel, a pioneering queen from the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2009, is well-known for being the first-ever queen to walk into RuPaul’s Werk Room. Fast forward to 2024, and she’s now back to compete on All Stars 9, carrying with her not just the weight of her drag legacy, but also an immense collection of Lucille Ball memorabilia.
A Love for Lucille Ball
Shannel’s passion for Lucille Ball goes far beyond casual fandom. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, she shared that her collection of Lucille Ball artifacts is one of the largest in the world, consisting of rare and personal items from the comedy legend’s life and career.
“As far as how much? Too much. There’s so much,” she laughed. The Las Vegas queen has acquired items ranging from a pair of rehearsal shoes Ball wore while working on I Love Lucy, to pieces of makeup used on set, to props from the legendary sitcom.
Shannel’s collection doesn’t stop with Lucille Ball herself; it also includes possessions from Ball’s husbands: Desi Arnaz, who starred alongside her on I Love Lucy, and Gary Morton, whom she married after divorcing Arnaz in 1960.
“I have several things that Lucy, Desi — and later on, Gary Morton, her other husband — gave out as gifts, that have their signatures on them,” she revealed. These treasured items, however, didn’t make it to the All Stars 9 runway, as Shannel explained that they are far too valuable and rare to risk damaging.
A Return to Drag Race: The Pressure of Legacy
Although her memorabilia may not have been present, Shannel’s iconic status in the drag world certainly was. Being the first queen to ever enter the Werk Room, Shannel has lived through the evolution of Drag Race, watching it grow into a global phenomenon. Her legacy comes with a unique pressure that made her question her return to the competition.
“Season after season, watching the show and sucking in all of that knowledge, it’s crazy because while I’ve been in this industry for 29 years now, I’m scared of all of these girls. They’re so good, they’re so amazing, they’re so talented,” Shannel admitted.
She questioned whether she still had what it took to compete in a space now filled with so much youthful energy and talent. Reflecting on her 2009 performance and her stint on All Stars season 1 in 2012, Shannel admitted to doubting her place among the new generation of drag queens. “I had moments where I said to myself, ‘I don’t know if I can do this, I’m so 16 years ago.'”
However, after wrestling with these thoughts, Shannel came to a decision. “Maybe that’s the reason why I should do it,” she said, ultimately realizing that she could bring a more traditional style of drag back into the competition — a style that emphasizes headpieces, elaborate costumes, and old-school pageantry, elements of drag that are sometimes overshadowed in today’s competition.
Overcoming Past Regrets
Despite her initial doubts, Shannel is determined to redeem herself. One significant hurdle she faced was coming to terms with her controversial decision to quit Drag Race in season 1. During a dramatic moment, she chose to opt out of the competition after feeling overly criticized by the judges. Reflecting on this, Shannel confessed, “Had I known what Drag Race was going to become, I don’t know if I could’ve opted out the way I did.”
Although Shannel does not regret her decision, as she believes that people make the best choices they can in the moment, she admitted that it has weighed heavily on her. She explained how difficult it was to process letting down RuPaul, who has since become the most recognized drag queen in the world. “It was a moment, and people remember it,” Shannel noted, but she is determined not to be defined by it.
Shannel has spent years reconciling with the weight of that decision, and her return to All Stars 9 is an opportunity to prove to herself and the world that she still belongs in the competition.
A New Chapter on All Stars 9
In her upcoming run on All Stars 9, Shannel is ready to face the competition head-on, bringing with her a blend of experience, legacy, and that unmistakable old-school drag energy that made her a standout queen from the very beginning. Judging by her striking All Stars 9 promotional look, it’s clear that she’s here to be remembered.
Shannel’s return marks an exciting moment for longtime fans of the show, as she brings both a deep connection to drag’s roots and the determination to evolve with the ever-changing art form. While her Lucille Ball memorabilia won’t be showcased on the All Stars runway, Shannel herself will be bringing plenty of star power and decades of experience to the competition.
In the world of drag, legacies are always being written and rewritten, and Shannel’s is no exception. With All Stars 9 just around the corner, this Las Vegas queen is ready to make her mark once again, blending her love fordrag and her passion for Lucille Ball into a new chapter of her storied career.
