The latest season of Dancing With the Stars premiered this week, and with it, Shangela made her debut as the first drag queen to appear on the American version of the show.
When the full cast list finally dropped earlier this month, drag fans were hyped to see both that a queen was among the contestants and that it was none other than RuPaul’s Drag Race fave Shangela.
And her opening number didn’t disappoint.
The performer danced her heart out alongside partner Gleb Savchenko to The Pussycat Dolls’ “When I Grow Up.” Both were dressed in loud, colorful outfits and exuded an energy that made their first impression a memorable one.
All the judges complimented the performance, and the crowd went absolutely wild.
“This audience has been booing us all night, but I think you changed their mood because they woke up,” Carrie Ann Inaba said.
At home, Shangela and Savchenko’s routine received similar praise.
\u201cSHANGELA HAVING THE BEST DANCE OF THE NIGHT IN MY OPINION #DWTS\u201d— j\u0153\ud83c\udf31 (@j\u0153\ud83c\udf31) 1663636598
\u201cMe trying to explain to my super conservative mother who watches #DWTS why Shangela needs to win because she has a history of being robbed #DragRace\u201d— La Chismosa Reina (@La Chismosa Reina) 1663645646
\u201cthe representation shangela is bringing to dwts is so important!!\u201d— lankin \u1d55\u0308 (@lankin \u1d55\u0308) 1663641441
\u201cShangela & Gleb's Salsa \n\n\u2022the way i was jumping up and down at the sheer excellence of it all i mean HELLO??\n\u2022the energy, the footwork, the side by sides... \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\n\u2022gleb's choreo was VERY good thank the lord\n\u2022i hope she continues to do better and better, i love them\n\n8/10\u201d— carlos (@carlos) 1663640451
“It was so incredibly special because I think about all the queens that ever wanted to be in this space that never got the opportunity,” Shangela said. “Maybe by seeing me and seeing how we just showed up as our true authentic self tonight and were accepted and cheered on, that they know that they can do it, too.”
The judges gave Shangela 7s across the board, leaving her tied for third place in week one alongside The Bachelorette’s Gabby Windey and everyone’s Cruel Intentions fave, Selma Blair, coming in just one point behind Wayne Brady and three behind TikToker Charli D’Amelio.
Everyone familiar with Shangela knew she was going to be a force to be reckoned with on Dancing With the Stars, but there should be no question now that she’s in this one for the long haul!
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