“RuPaul's Drag Race” winner Symone stuns her 10-year high school reunion in full drag: 'I'm coming in hot'
Symone graduated from RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 with high honors, a crown, and the title to the local flag fec-treh — and now she's bringing all of that excellence full circle as she attends her 10-year high school reunion in full drag.
EW can exclusively reveal photos of the drag superstar and Bros actress serving it to her alma mater in a jaw-dropping drag look inspired by the colors of Conway High School in Symone's homeland of Arkansas, where she graduated in 2013 as a budding baby queen amid a class of over 500 students.
Courtesy of Symone, photo by Rylie Holden Symone in drag for her 10-year high school reunion
"It's a full-circle moment," Symone tells EW of the special occasion, which sees her sporting a bright blue ensemble, both as a reference to the school's "Wampus Cat" mascot colors and her status as a blue-ribbon champion from RuPaul's Drag Race. "I feel like a different person. I feel like I can appreciate my home a little bit better now that I've left and done so much. There's a light that I didn't have when I left, so, I'm happy."
The phrase "full-circle" is an especially apt descriptor for Symone's return home, after she revealed on an episode of Drag Race that she attended her senior prom in drag, too.
Back then, Symone's drag wasn't as polished as, say, her look on the 2021 Met Gala carpet, or her gilded finale gown from season 13's closing episode, so showing off her glow-up holds extra significance this weekend.
Years before her big break on TV, she remembers telling friends that she'd launch a stable career as a drag entertainer, and she feels like she's done Baby Symone proud by sticking it out.
"Most people saw me when I was just starting out [at prom], so I wanted to show where I ended up and how much everything has changed," she says, adding that she's excited to "show off" with a "braggadocious" attitude. "I just want to be stunning and c--t and p---y!"
Courtesy of Symone, photo by Rylie Holden Symone at her reunion
As celebratory as the occasion is for Symone, there's also an element of healing from — and rising above — the kind of childhood pain queer kids often endure.
"It was never the girlies. The girlies, for the most part were pretty cool. It was the boys," Symone says when asked about past difficulties with classmates. "At first, I was nervous, but, I hope they're uncomfortable. I'm coming in hot, so, I hope you're uncomfortable. If that's how you want to treat this moment, go off, sis."
She ultimately hopes that, even if they haven't followed her career since leaving Conway, the Ebony Enchantress can open a few more eyes through the art of drag.
"My hope is always that people have grown, and they have a little bit more understanding," says Symone. "I'm always hopeful that they stuck with that, and are more accepting, but, you never know. I hope they're more open, I hope that they're more accepting and want to have a good time. Me coming in drag gives a little levity to the situation. It's 10 years, we've all been through what we've been through, let's have fun. And what's more fun than a drag queen?"
See photos of Symone at her 10-year high school reunion in drag above.
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