Drag Race France All Stars

YOU BETTER FRWI WIN RHAT CROWN MAMA WA.

Review: Mami Watta Shines Bright in a Stellar Season of Drag Race France All Stars

From the moment the queens entered the werkroom in Drag Race France All Stars, it was clear this season would be a showcase of polished talent, second chances, and drag evolution at its finest. With returning favorites, fresh rivalries, and high-stakes lip-syncs, the season has offered a thrilling mix of spectacle and substance. But no queen has captured the heart of this reviewer more than Mami Watta, who has emerged as the radiant, complex, and deserving frontrunner of the competition.

Mami Watta, a fan-favorite from Season 2, returned to the All Stars stage with something to prove-and from the first episode, it was clear she wasn't here to play. While her initial run left many wanting more from her in terms of consistency, what she's brought this time around is a powerful blend of confidence, artistry, and a deeply rooted cultural identity that's felt in every step she takes.

The premiere's Talent Show set the tone for her All Stars campaign. While other queens delivered flashy numbers, Mami opted for a comedic lip-sync with a sharp edge, followed by a triumphant win in the lip-sync to "I'm Good (Blue)," where her command of the stage was undeniable. It wasn't just about tricks or flips-it was about presence. Her poise, wit, and unapologetic delivery stood out as much as her outfit choices, which remain a stunning homage to both Afro-futurism and French fashion flair.

What makes Mami Watta's journey especially compelling is how she combines fierce drag aesthetics with vulnerability and intention. She's not afraid to be political, funny, or tender-and often within the same performance. Her confessional moments are refreshingly honest, filled with charm and sincerity that recall the best of reality TV without feeling performative. It's no wonder fans have rallied behind her with fervor, flooding social media with calls to "Crown Mami Watta or we riot."

While competition from other queens like Elips, Piche, and Misty Phoenix is stiff, none seem to consistently balance fashion, emotion, and performance the way Mami does. Her runways have evolved from the more subdued choices of her original season into bold, sculptural statements. From afro-centric haute couture to dramatic silhouettes that evoke myth and modernity, her visual storytelling feels both intentional and fresh.

There's also a strategic intelligence to her game this season. She knows when to hold back and when to strike. Her lip-syncs feel calculated-not in a cold way, but in a way that respects the stage as sacred. Every movement is earned. Every reveal makes sense. She doesn't throw everything out at once-she builds a narrative, and the audience is along for the ride.

Technically, the show continues to shine with strong production design, inventive challenges, and just the right balance of camp and sincerity. But the emotional core this season is undeniably shaped by Mami Watta's arc. Her presence elevates the show beyond just competition-it becomes a story of growth, visibility, and self-love.

In a season packed with talent, Mami Watta stands out not because she's the loudest or flashiest-but because she's the most complete. She's a queen with something to say, a look to serve, and a legacy to build. If this season is about redemption and excellence, then Mami Watta isn't just a contender-she's the story.

Final Verdict: 9.5/10 A compelling, emotional, and electric season of Drag Race France All Stars, made unforgettable by the brilliance of Mami Watta. If there's any justice in the dragverse, the crown belongs to her.

We'll see if things hold up throughout the season, but so far this is looking like one of the best All Stars-type seasons we've had across the Drag Race franchise - if the rest of the season maintains the standard set by these first three episodes, it may well end up even being THE best.

So many other comeback seasons (All Stars, VS. The World, etc.) have been sunk by various pitfalls. Most of the US All Stars seasons are undone by a painfully obvious winner, and often worsened by drama that feels contrived. Global All-Stars and the VS. The World seasons are unfairly hard on the queens who speak English as a second language. All of the above are also dragged down by RuPaul, who was perhaps easier to enjoy as a host when there weren't other, better examples around, but who comes off as rather shallow and unapproachable when compared to many of the international hosts and judges.

"Drag Race France: All Stars" has, so far, scrupulously avoided virtually every mistake that other similar seasons have made. Nicky has already shown herself to be a much warmer and more humble host than RuPaul, but it's lovely to see that in action again as she's so reassuring and sincere in her interactions with the queens. The cast is an intriguing and well-balanced mix of past contestants that doesn't reveal any instant frontrunners or fillers, probably helped by the fact that nearly all of the queens were mid-season eliminations, placing somewhere between 5th and 7th on their original seasons. The judging also feels a lot fairer, with no lingering sense that the producers of the show have already decided on an outcome and have to skew the proceedings to achieve it. At least one of the eliminations so far was pretty heartbreaking for me, but it still felt like a fair (albeit difficult) choice.

The rest of the judging panel aside from Nicky has been improved as well - former judge Kiddy Smile often came across as a bit aloof, so it's nice to see him replaced by two former guest judges in Shy'm and Loïc Prigent, both of whom are much more engaging while still offering thoughtful critiques.

The challenges and runways have been excellent so far, too - we've seen three Drag Race staples thus far in the talent show, the ball, and Snatch Game, with plenty of memorable and funny performances and some wonderful runway looks showcasing an impressive variety of drag styles, some of which would probably have been dismissed by the US judging panel.

Perhaps most importantly, this season has already shown that the Drag Race franchise doesn't need manufactured drama in order to be watchable. The queens are all clearly quite close to each other, and there's very little conflict. The season does adopt the "top queen chooses one of the bottom queens to eliminate" format used by the majority of the US All Stars seasons, but in this case the queens seem to genuinely struggle with the idea of eliminating someone they clearly admire, and nobody is resorting to anything so tedious as discussions on "strategy" that ultimately play out a similar way every time anyway.

I'm trying not to gush too much, but it really is off to a strong start. If you're looking for a good season of Drag Race to sink your teeth into, this is looking like an excellent example of how "All Stars" should be done, as well as a great introduction to French drag.