Hosted by Emmy winner RuPaul Charles, MTV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” changed the landscape of drag performance and appreciation worldwide. But do you remember who won each season of this reality TV sensation? Tour our photo gallery below that highlights all of the past “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” winners, from BeBe Zahara Benet to the most recent. Originally published March 2018.
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Season 1: BeBe Zahara Benet
Image Credit: JM11/WENN/Newscom/The Mega Agency This queen by way of Minneapolis won the show’s inaugural season due in large part to her consistency in challenges and positive energy. BeBe beat runner-up Nina Flowers on March 23, 2009.
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Season 2: Tyra Sanchez
Image Credit: Logo Hailing from Orlando, Florida, Tyra was not only the winningest contestant on her season, but was also the only Season 2 queen to never lip sync for her life and the youngest champion to date. Ru refers to her as the other Tyra, for her slaying of the runway with a supermodel attitude. Tyra beat runner-up Raven on April 26, 2010.
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Season 3: Raja
Image Credit: VH1 Rajas strength in the competition was her unique approach to the runway, creating interesting and often genre-bending looks that still inspire queens and forever changed the creativity of the series. Raja beat runner-up Manila Luzon on April 25, 2011.
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Season 4: Sharon Needles
Image Credit: FS2/Mandatory Credit: WENN/FayesVision/Newscom/The Mega Agency In what is widely considered one of the best and most competitive seasons of the series, Sharon popularized the concept of “ugly drag,” favoring unconventional looks largely inspired by horror make-up and punk style. Sharon beat runner-up Chad Michaels on April 30, 2012.
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Season 5: Jinkx Monsoon
Image Credit: VH1 The first of three comedy queens to reign, Jinkx set a new tone for the series by showing that great drag is more versatile than just a slick runway walk and eye-catching costumes and make-up. Jinkx beat runner-up Alaska on May 6, 2013.
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Season 6: Bianca Del Rio
Image Credit: MAR/Capital Pictures / MEGA One of the most clear-cut wins of the series, Bianca was a powerhouse from the start to finish of her season, winning three main challenges and never lip synching for her life. Bianca continued the trend of comedy queens posing a huge threat for their versatility, engagement with the audience and confident stage presence. Bianca beat runners-up Adore Delano and Courtney Act on May 19, 2014.
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Season 7: Violet Chachki
Image Credit: MEGA After back-to-back seasons of comedic champions, Violet returned the crown to the head of a queen favoring style over shtick. Violets runway presence remain challenged throughout her season and since her win has catapulted her into a career of burlesque and fashion modeling. Violet beat runners-up Ginger Minj and Pearl on June 1, 2015.
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Season 8: Bob the Drag Queen
Image Credit: Courtesy of Johnnie Ingram/HBO Bob is one of the most well-rounded queens to earn the crown, excelling with her sharp wit, creative costuming and warm charm. She is a queen that grew up watching the show and entered drag because of it, an example of how the series has forever changed and inspired drag for new generations. Bob beat runners-up Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls on May 16, 2016.
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Season 9: Sasha Velour
Image Credit: VH1 Sasha Velour beat runners-up Peppermint, Shea Coulee and Trinity Taylor on June 23, 2017. She only won two challenges this season, so her victory is considered a bit of an upset, but still well-deserved.
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Season 10: Aquaria
Image Credit: VH1 Aquaria beat runners-up Eureka and Kameron Michaels on June 28, 2018. This 21-year-old New York native won the most challenges throughout the season, so her victory was not considered a surprise.
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Season 11: Yvie Oddly
Image Credit: VH1 Yvie Oddly beat runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes on May 30, 2019. This 25-year-old Denver native, who was known for speaking her mind, only won a single main challenge in this “elevengendary” season, but her uniqueness impressed RuPaul so much that she awarded her the crown.
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Season 12: Jaida Essence Hall
Image Credit: VH1 Jaida Essence Hall beat runners-up Gigi Goode and Crystal Methyd on May 29, 2020. This 32-year-old Milwaukee resident won three main challenges prior to the season finale, which had to be filmed remotely from home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Season 13: Symone
Image Credit: VH1 Symone beat runner-up Kandy Muse on April 23, 2021. This 25-year-old Los Angeles resident won four main challenges prior to the season finale, more than any of the other contenders. The 13th season was notable in that it filmed with added safety precautions during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Season 14: Willow Pill
Image Credit: VH1 Willow Pill, age 26, beat runner-up Lady Camden on April 22, 2022. This Colorado queen, who suffers from cystinosis, only won a single main challenge throughout the season. But Mama Ru fell in love with her for her unique sense of humor and “I hate people” attitude.
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Season 15: Sasha Colby
Image Credit: MTV Sasha Colby, age 37, beat runner-up Anetra on April 14, 2023. This Los Angeles queen won four main challenges during her tenure, more than anyone else in the competition, including the iconic “The Crystal Ball” in the show’s 200th episode. Sasha is a transgender icon and is the drag mother of Season 14’s Kerri Colby.
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Season 16: Nymphia Wind
Image Credit: MTV Nymphia Wind, age 27, beat runner-up Sapphira Cristál on April 19, 2024. In the process, she made history by becoming the first Taiwanese-American queen to prevail. Nymphia, who often wears clothing adorned with bananas, won three main challenges during the show: “The Mother of All Balls,” “Girl Groups” and “Booked and Blessed.”
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All Stars 1: Chad Michaels
Image Credit: VH1 Immediately following her original season where she placed second, Chad became the series first all-star champion and the oldest contestant yet to win. As an impersonator, most of Chads looks are inspired by Cher, but in many ways that is just a jumping off point for her extremely polished showgirl style of drag. Chad beat runner-up Raven on November 26, 2012.
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All Stars 2: Alaska
Image Credit: MEGA Maneuvering through the second season of all-stars that saw the queens lip synching for their legacy instead of for their life was difficult for Alaska, but in the end she prevailed on the back of four challenge wins and with the protection of an alliance with her former cast mates. Alaska beat runners-up Detox and Katya on October 13, 2016.
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All Stars 3: Trixie Mattel
Image Credit: VH1 Trixie Mattel returned for her second appearance on the series for All Stars 3 after a premature exit on Season 7. With charting singles and a hit web series already under her belt, Trixie topped nine other all stars in a season that featured a new jury twist. She beat runner-up Kennedy Davenport on March 15, 2018.
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All Stars 4: Monet X Change (tie)
Image Credit: VH1 Monet X Change returned to contend in the all-star edition right after placing sixth on Season 10. She and Trinity the Tuck were named co-winners on February 15, 2019.
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All Stars 4: Trinity The Tuck (tie)
Image Credit: VH1 Trinity the Tuck only made it to third place on Season 9 of the main show but won this fourth all-star edition, sharing the title with Monet X Change on the February 15, 2019 finale.
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All Stars 5: Shea Coulee
Image Credit: VH1 Shea Coulee previously made it to third/fourth place on Season 9 of the main show but won this fifth all-star edition during the July 24, 2020 finale. She beat out co-runners-up Miz Cracker and Jujubee. During this installment there was a “Lip Sync Assassin” twist in which former contestants returned to battle the week’s challenge winner.
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All Stars 6: Kylie Sonique Love
Image Credit: Paramount+ Kylie beat runners-up Eureka, Ginger Minj and Ra’Jah O’Hara on September 2, 2021. She originally appeared on the second season of the main series in 2010, where she was the fourth person voted out. Since then, the southern belle has found her place in the world by transitioning into a woman, something that has allowed her to truly feel like herself. Kylie is now the first transgender winner on any of the “Drag Race” cycles.
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All Stars 7: Jinkx Monsoon
Image Credit: Paramount+ During this highly anticipated “all winners” installment, Jinkx returned to the runway for the first time since her Season 5 victory in 2013. She won the most challenges this year (five) and earned four Legendary Legend Stars in the process. In the Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown finale on July 29, 2022, she beat out runner-up Monet X Change to win the $200,000 cash prize and the title of Queen of All Queens.
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All Stars 8: Jimbo
Image Credit: Paramount Plus Jimbo made history as the first competitor from a non-American installment to join the “Drag Race” Hall of Fame. After previously competing on “Canada 1” and “UK vs. the World,” Jimbo ended up winning a leading four challenges in “All Stars 8” on her way to claiming the $200,000 grand prize. The runner-up that season was Kandy Muse.
