We're talking authoritarianism, espionage, and obviously a dystopian society built on the crumbling past of a doomed civilization.
OK, not quite. But, for those that have been watching Drag Race All-Stars Season 3 and know the Drag Race world, there is one red herring: Bebe Zahara Benet.
RPDR Season 1 winner who got her drag career started in Minneapolis, Bebe is the only winner of the past seasons to return for an All-Star season and she's joined the cast of AS3. You’d be right to think, well, this is par for the course with the producers of World of Wonder and RuPaul trying to keep us interested. However, a conspiracy theory has risen in the depths of social media--first by Chris White--and there's something to it.
Bebe is a secret agent and Ru’s mole. Or, in the language Handmaid’s Tale, there’s an Eye in your house, Offred.
Since Bebe walked on set on episode one, I've been fuming thinking to myself so much for the Winners All-Star season. But now, not all hope is lost.
Here's the theory: Bebe will skate through as safe for all of the challenges and make it through each episode. And as we’ve seen from her performance--which may be deliberate on her part, or she may really be rusty--she’s barely getting by. She'll make it to the final episode, not having to lip-sync once and never being in the bottom two.
She’s the only one to have seen all of the queens’ behavior behind-the-scenes, off-camera and will provide the insight that only someone in the competition can know. This theory also justifies the bizarre appearances of Alaska and Chad Michaels in their absurd Handmaid’s Tale red.
But why Bebe? Here’s where I’ll add my own nuance to the theory…
I think it's precisely because there will be a Winner’s All-Star season--and Bebe’s not ready for it. Bebe is easily the least known Drag Race winner from any season. Since her win, she’s really flown under the radar. So, World of Wonder and RuPaul are smart, and are smart about things like ratings. Bebe needs this reappearance on All-Stars 3 to build up her clout and followership with a newer and younger audience that really doesn't know who she is. Then, when she makes her big return to the Winners All-Star season she’ll be much more relevant than she is today.
As I write this, I'm sure that RuPaul is changing her strategy. World of Wonder is crafty and is likely on to us being on to them. Who knows what twists and turns the season will bring? But, I'm excited for the ride. And, I'm hopeful for a Winners All-Stars season in 2020.
PS: A solution for family values, literacy, and digestive health. Become a drag queen.