# Alaska Thunderf*** 5000 is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable queens in RuPaul's Drag Race history.

After winning All Stars 2, Alaska quickly became a household name, not just in the drag world, but also in mainstream media. Her post-Drag Race career includes memorable appearances on shows like Scared Famous, @midnight, and the cult classic The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time. Despite her widespread fame, there are still plenty of lesser-known details about Alaska that might surprise even her biggest fans.

From quirky coincidences to fascinating tidbits about her life and career, Alaska’s journey to stardom is filled with hidden gems. These lesser-known facts shed light on the unique person behind the queen, offering fans a deeper understanding of what makes Alaska so special both on and off the stage.

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## 1. ALASKA’S AUDITIONING HISTORY ON DRAG RACE

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Alaska's connection with RuPaul’s Drag Race is unparalleled, rivaled only by RuPaul himself. Before landing a spot on season 5, Alaska sent audition tapes every year but was always overlooked. However, she made a memorable appearance in the season 4 finale, as her boyfriend, Sharon Needles, competed for the crown. RuPaul later explained on his What’s The Tee podcast that Alaska’s delay in joining the show was due to her being "too smart, too high-brow, and too intellectual" for early seasons' audiences.

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## 2. SHARON NEEDLES AND ALASKA ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS

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Sharon Needles and Alaska’s romantic relationship was well-known during season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, with Sharon mentioning Alaska often and Justin (out-of-drag Alaska) appearing in the finale when Sharon won. However, after Alaska’s time on season 5, they broke up.

Despite this, Sharon and Alaska are not on bad terms. In fact, they’ve become close friends, often sharing pictures and inside jokes whenever they’re seen together in public. Their friendship has flourished, leaving any past tension behind.

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## 3. MICHELLE VISAGE AND ALASKA DEVELOPED A GREAT FRIENDSHIP

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Many Drag Race fans know Michelle Visage as a tough and critical judge, but Alaska’s experience with her has been quite different. After competing on season 5, Alaska and Michelle starred together in The Rocky Horror Show in San Antonio, where Michelle played Magenta and Alaska portrayed Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Offstage, their friendship grew even stronger. Alaska has credited Michelle with helping her find sobriety and also facilitating communication between Alaska and Sharon Needles during their breakup, showing just how supportive Michelle has been throughout her journey.

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## 4. ALASKA’S DRAG FAMILY TREE

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Alaska’s drag family is relatively simple compared to others in the Drag Race world. She is the drag daughter of Jer Ber Jones, who started the “tranimal” movement in Los Angeles in the 2000s.

Alaska later became the drag mother to two queens: Nebraska and Nevada. Nebraska was introduced during season 5’s makeover challenge, where Alaska transformed Mackenzie Claude into a drag queen. After the show, Nebraska continued doing drag and even entered a trouple with Derrick Barry and artist Nick San Pedro.

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## 5. SHE IS ONE OF THE FEW DRAG QUEENS TURNED INTO A FUNKO POP

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For fans of franchises like Harry Potter or the MCU, collecting Pop! Vinyl figures is a natural hobby. However, for RuPaul’s Drag Race fans, the trend didn’t start until 2018 when Funko released its first Drag Race-themed Pop! Vinyls featuring RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, and Alaska, based on high fan demand. Since then, other queens like Jinkx Monsoon, Sharon Needles, and Katya have been added to the collection.

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## 6. SHE HAS ONE OF THE BEST RANKINGS IN DRAG RACE HISTORY

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Alaska boasts one of the most impressive records in RuPaul's Drag Race history, with six Maxi Challenge wins between season 5 and All Stars 2, along with only one Bottom Two appearance. She shares this feat with Angele Anang, who also won six Maxi Challenges on Drag Race Thailand season 2. Meanwhile, BenDeLaCreme, Manila Luzon, and Trinity the Tuck lead the pack with seven Maxi Challenge wins across their original seasons and All Stars appearances.

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## 7. ALASKA SAYS SHE IS A MIXTURE OF BRITNEY SPEARS AND DIVINE

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Describing Alaska to someone unfamiliar with RuPaul’s Drag Race might be a challenge, but the queen herself has no trouble pinpointing her key inspirations.

In an interview with Philadelphia Magazine, Alaska shared that she views herself as a blend of two iconic figures: Britney Spears and the legendary Divine. Divine, the drag icon known for her outrageous performances and collaborations with director John Waters, most famously in the cult classic Pink Flamingos, played a pivotal role in shaping Alaska’s unique aesthetic.

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## 8. SHE HAS BEEN ATTACHED TO SEVERAL GROUPS

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Alaska has always enjoyed being part of groups. Before RuPaul’s Drag Race, she founded Haus of Haunt with Cherri Baum and Sharon Needles, a Pittsburgh-based collective of artists and drag performers. On Drag Race, she formed Ro-Laska-Tox with Roxxxy Andrews and Detox.

After winning All Stars 2, Alaska teamed up with Willam and Courtney Act to create the AAA Girls, headlining national tours and releasing singles. In 2018, she formed the duo Alaska & Jeremy, releasing the folk album Amethyst Journey.

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## 9. LIL’ POUNDCAKE WAS AVAILABLE FOR SALE

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In the third episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 5, Alaska and Lineysha Sparx created a life-sized doll called Lil’ Poundcake, which became an instant fan favorite. After the episode aired, the doll went viral, and Alaska, ever the savvy marketer, capitalized on the success.

In 2017, the Lil’ Poundcake doll was released for sale on Alaska’s official website, standing at 13.5 inches tall and priced at $50. The doll even made an appearance in All Stars 2 and inspired the title of Alaska’s second studio album, Poundcake.

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## 10. HER “HIEEEE” WAS COINED BY OTHER DRAG QUEENS

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Alaska’s signature greeting, “hieee,” has become a fan favorite on RuPaul’s Drag Race. However, the phrase was actually created by U.K. drag queens Coco Ferocha and Isis Mirage. While some believe Alaska coined it, she’s always credited these queens as the originators whenever given the chance.

So, while Alaska made it famous, the greeting belongs to Coco and Isis.

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**Alaska’s journey from RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant to iconic drag queen is filled with memorable moments, unforgettable phrases, and a legacy that continues to inspire fans and queens alike. Whether it’s her viral doll creation, her chart-topping collaborations, or her unforgettable catchphrases, Alaska’s influence on drag culture is undeniable. As she continues to evolve in the drag world, we can’t wait to see what this queen has in store next.**

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10 things you didn’t know about Alaska ⁉️

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