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Alyssa Edwards

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Alyssa Leann Nicole Edwards,[1] or simply Alyssa Edwards, also professionally known as Justin Johnson, is an American drag performer and choreographer from Dallas, Texas. She is best known for being a contestant on Season 5 and All Stars 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race.

After almost 4 years, Alyssa returned as a Lip-Sync Assassin for All Stars 5. She lost her lip-sync to the eventual winner of the season, Shea Couleé.

On July 15, 2024, it was announced that Alyssa would return to compete on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars,[3] which she won.

On March 6, 2025, Alyssa was announced as one of the cast members of the second season of Slaycation.[4]

Quick Answers

What season of RuPaul's Drag Race did Alyssa Edwards first appear on? toggle section
Alyssa Edwards, the renowned drag queen, made her debut on RuPaul's Drag Race in Season 5 and later returned for All Stars Season 2.
Provided by: Fandom
Who did Alyssa Edwards lose her lip-sync to in All Stars 5? toggle section
In her return to RuPaul's Drag Race as a Lip-Sync Assassin for All Stars 5, Alyssa Edwards lost her lip-sync battle to Shea Coulee, the season's ultimate winner.
Provided by: Fandom
What is Alyssa Edwards' real name? toggle section
The real name of Alyssa Edwards, a renowned drag queen, is Alyssa Leann Nicole Edwards. She rose to fame through her appearances on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 and All Stars Season 2. Her drag name draws inspiration from Alyssa Milano, a character on the TV show 'Who's the Boss', and her drag mother, Laken Edwards.
Provided by: Fandom
What is Alyssa Edwards known for outside of drag? toggle section
Beyond her performances as a drag queen, Alyssa Edwards is recognized for running a successful dance company and having her own TV show. She has also contributed significantly to Drag Race culture, introducing terms like 'Rigga Morris' and 'Backrolls', and her signature tongue pop.
Provided by: Fandom
When did Alyssa Edwards return to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race? toggle section
The notable drag queen Alyssa Edwards made her return to the competition on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2.
Provided by: Fandom

About

Alyssa Edwards is a legendary drag queen from Texas with 24 years of experience. Alyssa is famous for her candid chat, tongue-pops, quirky personality and a bold, grand and over-the-top drag aesthetic embodying the Texas spirit. Owner of Beyond Belief Dance Company showcased in the series Dancing Queen, Alyssa’s aim is on the title of Queen of the Mothertucking World.[5]

Track Records

Statistics USA Season 5 USA All Stars
Season 2 		Global All Stars
Season 1
Ranking: 6th Place 5th Place
(Orig. 6th) 		1st Place
(Winner)
Maxi Challenges Won: 1 (Ep. 4) 2 (Eps. 3, 5) 2 (Eps. 1, 10)
Mini Challenges Won: 2 (Eps. 5, 9) 0 0
Times as Team Captain: 1 (Ep. 9) 0 0
Times in Bottom: 3 (Eps. 7, 8, 9) 2 (Eps. 4, 7) 0
Episode Eliminated: Episode 9 Episodes 4, 7 N/A

Drag Name Origin

She grew up in a large family where everyone all had to agree upon a TV show to watch, and Who's the Boss was the one. She thought if she ever was a girl, she would be Alyssa Milano. Her last name came from her drag mother, Laken Edwards. Alyssa's early mentors were Miss Manny, her drag grandmother, and Whitney Paige, a Texas pageant queen.

Memorable Quotes

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5

  • "Girl, I am gagging!" (entrance quote)
  • "Don't get bitter, just get better."
  • "Jealousy's a killer in this industry!"
  • "...Alright. Oh, I see where this is going."
  • "Why you being cute?"
  • "At least I did it gracefully."
  • "I don't get cute I get drop dead gorgeous."
  • "Get a grip, get a life, and get over it."
  • "BACKROLLS?!"
  • "Game on, bitch. The sequel."
  • "Every woman has a secret. Mine happens to be a little bigger... I'm a man."
  • "What the hell are you squirping like a chirping like a bird outside the window?"
  • "It's not personal, it's drag."
  • "Girl, look how orange you fuckin' look, girl!"
  • "And then walks in Coco Montrese."
  • "And the academy award goes to....."
  • "She was the one backstabbin' me, behind my back."
  • "Bitch, sit yo ass down and shut the hell up, bitch!" (To Serena ChaCha)
  • "The Ghetto's a place mama, so don't call someone a place."
  • "You called me your sister last night! You borrowed my earrings today!"
  • "Reading you is like reading a Walt Disney book, it's simply too easy."
  • "Why you laughing?" (In the Reading is Fundamental Mini-Challenge)
  • "Santino, will you please shut the fuck up with your no-drag-knowledge mouth?"
  • "I need to get up in this gig, girl."
  • "Wrong queen mama cuz I'm not the one."
  • “I am the definition of fishy glamour”
  • "Mama, this is garbage right here." (to Coco Montrese)
  • “Do the math.”
  • "No tea. No shade"
  • "The face crack of the century."
  • "Always and forever, Alyssa Edwards."
  • "[tongue pop]"
  • "Oh, but you wanna really fight." (To Jinkx Monsoon)
  • "Put your mouth were your fashion is."

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2

  • "Alright... My name is Alyssa Edwards and I need, I need, I need, I need, I need to get up in this all-star gig! [tongue pop]" (entrance quote)
  • "And that brings us to Coco Montrese. BEAST!"
  • "Gila Monster."
  • "Well, I was a lovely fifth alternate!"
  • "Now I was a lovely- *counts* - fourth runner-up!"
  • "If y'all send me home, it was rigged. Rigga morris, girl. It was Rigga Morris!"
  • "You're that girl I knew you were."
  • "Phi Phi, I tried to hug you though."
  • "You ain't never done a beauty mask before?"
  • "Log off, Phi. Log off. Don't log off, delete the account."
  • "Baby, nothin' was notarized. No contracts are signed. My attorney was not present. That was hog wash."
  • "Bitch, that was so 3 years ago!"
  • "Girl, we have buried the hatch!" (About her and Coco's relationship)
  • "You got your Dorito fantasy!" (to Coco Montrese)
  • "Bitch better have my money!"
  • "My name is Alyssa Edwards, and this definitely aint nobody's secret. That this gigerama, is completely full of buffoonery, riggory and straight up top foolery."
  • "The Hills Have Eyes Part 2: The Remix." (About Detox and Tatianna)
  • "BEAST!" (About Michelle Visage)
  • "Barbara please!?" (as Joan Crawford in Snatch Game)
  • "You think you're clever don't you? Think again." (as Joan Crawford in Snatch Game)
  • "No. Wire. Hangers. Ever!" (as Joan Crawford in Snatch Game)
  • "I'm giving y'all rich white woman. Dynasty. Dallas. Joan Collins. Rrrichh!"
  • "Rigga Morris girl, it was Rigga Morris!"
  • "Being a victim of what, girl? I just sat there and heard everything you had to say."
  • "Please, no teams. I fuck up alone all by myself."
  • "I wish you would snatch my wig, girl!"
  • "Trust the duchess, when she says this. Y'all thought y'all had packed me? It ain't over just yet, baby."
  • "And RuPaul declared, Alyssa Edwards... a STAR is born!" (From the All Star Variety Show)
  • "Do wa. Do wa."
  • " ♪ Alrighttt... I'm back back back back back again! Giving good dose of what's happening. All these crowns I'm snatching em', got more yes gawds than the Vatican, the-the name's Miss Edwards I'm the champion!" ♪ (Verse in the All Star Variety Show)

RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Season 1

  • "Alright, ladies! The world's pageant mother has just punched the clock!" (entrance quote)
  • "Oh? (stunned) What the fuck is a wedge?"

RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars Season 1

  • If you need an example of what a lip sync should be, do yourself a favor, and google Shut Up And Drive!" (Meet the Queens)
  • "This is a runway challenge, a design and art is subjective Dollface. You're worried about being Miss Congeniality." (to Tessa Testicle)
  • "Worry about them testicles!" (to Tessa Testicle)
  • "You better look again bitch! Because if you get it for free it look like that whore!" (Response to Pythia's read in the Reading challenge)
  • "Love. Hold up, wait, let me add my two. Do what you love and love what you do. Drag is fun, so don't drag your dream. Lead with love and slay the scene." (verse in Everybody Say Love)
  • "Hold up, wait, let me get me some. Counting me out, but I'm not done. Alyssa on set, now watch your back. Wanna turn the party? Put a diva on the track. Y'all wanna dance? Bring it to the stage. Hit 'em with the high kick pas de bourrée. Tongue pop queen, I raise the bar. Crown me Ru, the Global All Star." (verse on Dance Like The World Is Watching)
  • "Always and forever, Alyssa Edwards. [tongue pop]" (winning speech)

Trivia

  • Alyssa was originally shortlisted for Season 4, but did not make the final cast and was later cast on Season 5 instead.
  • Alyssa was the last queen to be ever be given immunity due to winning the previous maxi challenge, as she was saved on Season 5's Snatch Game despite giving one of the worst performances.
  • Alyssa is the second queen to be eliminated 3 times in total from both the regular series and in the All Stars series, the first being Tatianna.
    • Her third elimination was on the first anniversary of her mother's passing.
  • Alyssa has been impersonated for Snatch Game by Violet Chachki from Season 7 and Aja from Season 9.
    • Along with Sharon Needles, she is the first Drag Race alum to be portrayed on Snatch Game, and the only one to be portrayed twice.
  • Alyssa is the first queen to have been saved in a double shantay twice (in episode 7 of Season 5 against Roxxxy Andrews, and against Tatianna in episode 5 of All Stars 2), the second being Eureka.
  • Alyssa is the drag mother of Season 2 and 3 contestant Shangela Laquifa Wadley, Season 11 contestant Plastique Tiara, Season 6 contestants Laganja Estranja and Gia Gunn, UK Season 1 contestant Cheryl Hole & Drag Latina Season 1 contestant Leyla Edwards. Fellow Season 5 queen Vivienne Pinay is also considered an honorary member. Alyssa's drag mother is Laken Edwards, a drag sister of Alexis Davenport, and the Davenport drag family.
  • Alyssa owns her own dance studio, 'Beyond Belief', located in Mesquite, Texas. In 2021, Beyond Belief appeared on America's Got Talent.[6]
  • Along with Victoria Parker, she appeared in the 2008 documentary, "Pageant," a film documenting five men competing in the Miss Gay America pageant.
  • Alyssa won several prestigious pageants including Miss Gay USofA in 2006 (also won by Tamisha Iman in 2005, Asia O'Hara in 2007 and Kennedy Davenport in 2019), Miss Gay America in 2010 (also won by Coco Montrese in 2010 and Asia O'Hara in 2016), and All American Goddess in 2010 (also won by India Ferrah in 2008, Asia O'Hara in 2012 and Alexis Mateo in 2016). She was also Trinity Taylor's first runner up for National Entertainer of the Year 2014.
  • Alyssa is the third queen to stay past the episode she returned in defying the "Returning Queen Curse". The first queen to do so is Trixie Mattel of Season 7, and the second being Naysha Lopez of Season 8.
  • Alyssa is only one of five queens to be eliminated three times. The other queens that have been eliminated three times are Tatianna, Morgan McMichaels, and Shangela.
  • In June 2013, Alyssa started her own web series on the WOW Presents YouTube channel, called: Alyssa's Secret counting 114 episodes.
  • Alyssa made a guest appearance as the choreographer for the Pharmarusical Challenge in season 10 episode 2, and in the Farm To Runway Challenge in season 11 episode 7.
  • A Netflix documentary series about Alyssa's life, called Dancing Queen, was released on October 5, 2018.
  • She appeared on The Bachelorette.
  • She Worked at a Mall Photography Center in her hometown.
  • She has her own eyeshadow palette with Anastasia Beverly Hills.
  • Alexis Mateo filmed Alyssa's audition video.
  • Alyssa appears on a shirt worn by Damien Hubbard in Mean Girls the Musical.
  • Alyssa is the first queen to make two appearances on RuPaul's podcast, What's The Tee? She would be followed by Katya and Raven.
  • During an Instagram Live, Alyssa stated that, while Justin was born in Mesquite, Texas, she was born in Venezuela.
  • Alyssa is the first queen to win a lip sync against a queen and later get sent home by the same queen in the same season, as she won the lip sync against Detox in episode 3 and was sent home by her in episode 7.
  • Alyssa's dance group competed on the sixteenth season of America's Got Talent where they placed as a wildcard semi-finalist.
  • Alyssa and Tessa Testicle are the only contestants on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars to not reach the finale on their original season.
  • In all the seasons that Alyssa Edwards has competed, she has participated in a lip-sync that resulted in a tie.[7]
  • Alyssa gave the same name, Ava Edwards, to both of her makeover partners (her sister Tabatha on All Stars 2, and Eva Le Queen on Global All Stars Season 1).
  • Alyssa is the third queen from Season 5 to win a season.

Gallery

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 Looks

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RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Looks

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11 Looks

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2 Looks

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 5

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 5 Looks

RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Season 1

RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Season 1 Looks

RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars Season 1

RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars Season 1 Looks

Drag Race España Season 4

Drag Race España Season 4 Looks

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