For the first time in Drag Race herstory, RuPaul has allowed five contestants to sashay their way to the grand finale.

It was another scandalous format change in a season full of twists and turns and goops and gags, the lot of it, including double saves, double shantays, non-eliminations, lip-sync tournaments, medical-related departures and finally – sorry, let us catch our breath – a flop Snatch Game (bar DeJa Skye, yay-uh!).

Ultimately, five queens weathered one of the franchise’s most barmy instalments: Angeria Paris VanMichaels, Bosco, Daya Betty, Lady Camden and Willow Pill.

While we await the season 14 reunion on 15 April, we dive into why each of the finalists would be a worthy successor to Symone and deserves a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

Angeria Paris VanMichaels

Challenge wins: 2

Up for elimination: 2

Angeria Paris VanMichaels has charmed Drag Race viewers around the world this season with her Southern charisma and old school pageantry. She had an unparalleled start to the series, becoming only the third queen in the entire franchise to win the mini and main challenge of her premiere episode, and has maintained an impeccable track record with several more stints in the top – including another win. Throughout the course of season 14, Angeria proved that she can conquer comedy, (She’s a Super Tease), performance (Talent Show) and fashion (every goddamn runway). Not only that, she can turn a mothertucking lip-sync too. If the lip-sync for the crown format makes a comeback, as is rumoured, she – along with Lady Camden – will be one to watch. The only thing working against her is that, compared to the other queens in the top five, she hasn’t had much of a so-called “winners’ edit”. Despite this, Angeria would be another fantastic representative for RuPaul’s ever-expanding empire and, as one of the most congenial queens this season (or on any season, really), hearing “America’s Next Drag Superstar is… Angeria Paris VanMichaels!” wouldn’t upset many.

Bosco

Challenge wins: 3

Up for elimination: 2

Bosco may be tied with Lady Camden for most maxi-challenge wins, but it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a shoo-in for the crown. In recent years, queens with the biggest tally from their respective seasons have gone on to lose to another, such as Shea Couleé, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Gigi Goode, Bimini Bon Boulash and Ella Vaday, proving that track record isn’t taken into account once the finale comes around. Also, it stings to say this, but Bosco’s shot at victory soon waned after the golden bar was revealed to be in her possession. With some questioning whether the Willa Wonka-inspired twist is real or in fact fabricated, a win for Bosco would – in the eyes of some fans – “reek of producer interference”. It’s difficult, because on the other hand, it would be perfect for her winners’ edit. The queen who almost went home ends up conquering the entire season? It would justify the existence of the golden bar, and its future with the franchise, that’s for sure. With or without RuPaul’s branded candy, Bosco deserves to be in that final. She’s decimated all comedy-related challenges with her dry wit, bar Snatch Game, and – although she has affinity for corsets – annihilated the runway each week. If Bosco can redeem her previous lip-syncs in the finale, then she could very well succeed Symone as America’s Next Drag Superstar.