BenDeLaCreme became an instant fan favorite during Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, with viewers having a meltdown when she was eliminated. She was eventually crowned Ms. Congeniality, but the terminally delightful queen is now entering the workroom once again to compete against some of the biggest names in the franchise.
FANDOM sat down with BenDeLa (Ms. Creme, if you’re nasty) to talk about her fears heading back into the competition and what twists we can expect on All Stars 3.
FANDOM: Which former contestants did you expect to see when you entered the All Stars 3 workroom? And was there anyone you were surprised to see return?
BenDeLaCreme: I think everyone was expecting to see Trixie Mattel and there she was when I walked in. Other than that, it was really a grab bag. I was glad to see Shangela back. Part of me was suspicious that Valentina would saunter into the room but we didn’t get her. She’s notorious though, so I’m sure she’ll be there at some point. I was delighted to see Chi Chi back. I didn’t have any suspicions about that, but I was such a fan of her on her season so it was great to see her in the room again. And then, of course, the tenth queen is also a shocker, but can’t talk about that!
All Stars is obviously a second chance for the whole cast, so what did you feel you personally had to prove heading into the season?
I think I had a great run on my season. I was very proud of the work I did there. So, I think that, for me, it was just kind of stepping up. I wanted to make sure that I carried myself as well as I did on my season. I wanted to push beyond the expectation that people already had of me. Because in some ways, some of the girls come back and they maybe left early on and they really have something to prove in terms of they didn’t feel like they performed as well as they could have, but for me it was like I had to top myself.
Since you did have such a strong run in Season 6, was there a fear going back that you may tarnish that good reputation?
Absolutely! When I was asked about it, that was one of my major considerations when I was deciding whether I was going to say yes to the opportunity or not. I knew I had to bring it really hard if I was gonna live up to the expectations.
Speaking of that, your fans wanted you to appear on All Stars 2 so badly. I know you said at the time that you weren’t interested in returning, so what made you change your mind?
There’s something that I’ve come back around to about the significance and importance of this show in our cultural landscape. The thing I think about constantly in my daily life is what if I could go back and talk to 12-year-old me and say, “Hey, this is what your life is gonna be.” My teenage years as sort of an isolated queer kid were really rough. I did not think that there would ever be a place for me. I didn’t have access to a lot of media the way that people do today. So being a part of this television show that is aired everywhere that kids can see and can say, “Hey, there’s a place for you.” The opportunity to be a part of that feels really important.
Since you all become so close while touring after doing the show, is there a concern about messing up friendships by returning to a competition setting with the other girls?
You have to conduct yourself in a certain way and sort of go in knowing that this is not just a competition over the course of the weeks that you’re filming. This is something that the repercussions are going to last. So you have to be mindful that these are my relationships, these are my sisters. I will be working with them, they’ll be friends, they’ll be close. They’re some of the few people who understand the intensity of the experience and so you do have to be really intentional about thinking about that future. There was definitely that concern for me, but once I made the decision I just was like, “Alright, well I have to make sure to do this in a way that I’m going to feel good about.”
That’s great, but for fans who want to see a little shade thrown, is there any drama we can expect on this season?
Oh, absolutely! There certainly is some drama to be had on this season. These queens have some opinions and they’re not afraid to share them. I know that draws a lot of people in, but I hope that at the end of the day, even if that’s what people sort of hook into, that what they really come away with is that this art form, people work hard and the things we produce are really special. To me, the idea of the competition as a showcase for that is what brings me back. I don’t come back for the drama, I come back cause I love drag.
Well, you are Ms. Congeniality, after all. So heading back into the workroom after a few years, what was the thing about the competition that you were least looking forward to experiencing again?
I would say probably that drama and conflict. I’m there because I love the artistry of drag. I’m not there for the fighting. So I knew I had to steel myself and get ready for it, but to me, that’s the part I’m least interested in engaging in.
And on the other end of that, what were you most excited about when you returned?
Just to have the chance to show off all the skills I’ve been honing. I feel really equipped for these challenges and once you know more what you’re getting into and you’ve shaken that sort of initial “What’s happening? Where am I?” of your first season, you really get a chance to shine. So that was hugely exciting to me.
All these queens bring their own strengths to the game, but once you saw who the queens of All Stars 3 were, who did you feel was your biggest competition personally?
Oh man, it depends on the day. These girls have such a wide range of skill sets. If it’s a dance challenge, then Kennedy and Chi Chi are gonna be the girls to beat. If it’s a comedy challenge, Trixie Mattel is unparalleled. If it’s a being loud and saying Halleloo a lot challenge, then Shangela is your girl to beat.
Find out how BenDeLaCreme does when All Stars 3 premieres on Thursday, January 25 at 8 pm on VH1.
