A person with dramatic makeup and silver-gray hair styled upward wears a sparkling black and white outfit with large lapels, standing confidently on a city street with tall buildings in the background.

Aura Mayari, our favorite Filipina ‘cringe queen,’ is back for redemption

All eyes are on the Filipina moon goddess, the only queen of Asian descent competing on "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars" season 11

Aura Mayari first appeared on season 15 of "RuPaul's Drag Race," and she's back for "All Stars" season 11.

Courtesy of Davide Laffe

Words by Anjana Pawa

Aura Mayari first introduced herself to a global audience in 2023 on RuPaul's Drag Race, and now she is back for All Stars 11, which premiered May 8 on Paramount+. Born in the Philippines and raised in the United States, the season 15 alum named herself after an ancient Kapampangan mythological character, Mayari, a deity of the moon. Now fully embracing the identity of the Filipina moon goddess, Mayari has built a career defined by otherworldly aesthetics and a cultural identity that’s worn proudly in her performance.

This All Stars season returns with the tournament-style format that was introduced last season, pitting 18 former queens against each other in three bracketed groups. The top performers have the chance to win $200,000 and a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame, and Mayari is making it clear she came prepared to collect. She is also the only queen of Asian descent competing this season, which is a distinction that carries real weight in a franchise with an incredibly devoted Asian fanbase—one that spans across the United States, and globally in the Philippines, and East and Southeast Asia. For Mayari, coming back isn't just a personal redemption arc, but also a moment for an entire community.

JoySauce caught up with the moon goddess herself ahead of the season’s premiere to find out what she's bringing back to All Stars, what we can expect this season, and what it means for her to represent her community.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Anjana Pawa: Congratulations on the premiere of All Stars 11. What are you most excited for viewers to see this season?
Aura Mayari: I’m especially excited for everyone to see the other girls from the older seasons come back. Salina EsTitties from my season is in my bracket, so I don’t know if there’s going to be an alliance or not.

A drag queen dressed in elaborate, pink and gold armor with a crown and scepter poses confidently. Two shirtless dancers stand behind. Text reads Aura Mayari, RuPauls Drag Race All Stars, and Streaming May 8 on Paramount+. — Aura Mayari first stole our hearts in 2023 and has accepted the "cringe queen" label from the fans.

Close-up of a drag queen with dramatic pink eye makeup, long lashes, nude glossy lips, and platinum-blonde hair adorned with ornate pink and gold accessories. RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and Paramount+ logos appear in the corner. — Paramount+

AP: Coming into All Stars, the season is kind of a redemption arc. Was there anything you felt you weren’t quite up to par with in your original season that you’re ready to come back and show everyone?
AM: For me, it’s all about evolution. But not just in drag, or fashion, or just the craft, but even on a personal level. It’s taking accountability. We (the cast) have talked a lot about anxiety, mental health, and just general therapy work. I feel like beyond the drag, I’ve really spent time building coping skills and learning emotional regulation.

AP: In the spirit of AANHPI Heritage Month, what are some of your favorite Asian things?
AM: The food, absolutely. Oh my God—Filipino food, Chinese food, Korean barbecue. I love all of it. And beyond that, just the culture. Everything about Asian culture is so beautiful.

AP: You’re the only Asian American queen on this season. What does that mean to you?
AM: Someone posted that on X and I was just like, “holy crap.” I can’t believe it. It feels like every year, it’s either there’s no Asian queen or there’s only one. We haven’t been represented in the media in the last few years or so, and I do think we’re getting there, but we still have a long way to go. Representation truly matters and I’m really excited to represent Filipinos and to show what that kind of visibility can mean, especially on such a big stage.

A person with dramatic makeup and spiked silver hair walks confidently on a city sidewalk at night, wearing a shimmering black and white structured coat and white heels. Tall buildings and parked cars are in the background.

Aura Mayari competes against five other queens in the second bracket of "All Stars 11."

Courtesy of Davide Laffe

AP: Drag Race has such a large Asian audience in the United States and globally. What have you heard from viewers, and what does it mean to know people are seeing themselves in you?
AM: It means everything. I was born in the Philippines, I grew up there, and moved to the U.S. when I was 12. Growing up, as a kid I felt really lost. I didn’t find my group of people. I didn’t always feel like there was a space that welcomed my uniqueness, and a lot of the time, I felt like I just didn’t belong. Sometimes I’d look to the media and the entertainment industry and I wouldn’t even find it there. So coming back—and not just coming back, but representing the Asian community on Drag Race—is a really big deal for me, because I wish I’d had that kind of representation when I was younger.

There are so many queer artists, queer people, and even non-queer viewers watching who are excited to see themselves reflected in me. To me, that’s really exciting and I’m really proud of that. I know there’s only one of us this season but I’ll hold the flag high.

Published on May 21, 2026