In a twist that has been much discussed (and complained about), the eliminated queens came back as a panel of judges and were allowed to push out one of the finalists. Shangela, who had been playing a solid (if a bit cutthroat) game, was cut, leaving Trixie Mattel and Kennedy Davenport vying for the title. Trixie was ultimately crowned in a controversial win.

On a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live, RuPaul discussed the finale and revealed that things could have ended very differently. In fact, he said Shangela was on her way to the win.

“She’s amazing. We’ve actually put her on the show, like, three times?” said RuPaul. “Something like that. She’s a fabulous queen.”

Shangela has since taken to Instagram to respond to Mama Ru’s confession. She began by saying that Ru’s “acknowledgment feels just as validating as any [crown],” before expressing her gratitude for the opportunities that have been afforded to her as a result of Drag Race.

“And I’m even more grateful for the Drag Race sisterhood, and the fans around the world that have stood by me while I tried, failed, even broke a leg… but never gave up,” she wrote. “Here we are today, still standing … still entertaining… still creating!”

Shangela assured her fans that no matter what, she will always be “forever strutting forward as a winner. We’re all winners, baby. HALLELOO!”

While Shangela never took the crown on Drag Race, it certainly hasn’t stood in the way of her success. She currently stars alongside Drag Race alums Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara on HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series We’re Here.

She also starred with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born. And she was recently a finalist on the 31st season of Dancing with the Stars with partner Gleb Savchenko, where she might not have won, but she did make history as the first drag queen to compete in drag on the series.

It’s fair to say that, crown or no crown, Shangela is winning.