Feature: The heartbreaking, yet inspirational story of Roxxxy Andrews

In 2013, Drag Race viewers were introduced to the "Big-Girl Queen" of Season 5, Roxxxy Andrews. Hailing from Florida, Roxxxy quickly emerged as a front-runner in the competition, winning the first challenge, in which the queens were instructed to make a couture ensemble out of trash materials and scraps. Within a few episodes, Roxxxy had become one of the members of "Rolaskatox," a group of the self-proclaimed elite queens consisting of Roxxxy, Alaska, and Detox. The clique received some fire for allegedly bullying future winner of season 5 and social outcast, Jinkx Monsoon. Roxxxy soon became the mean girl of sorts, making many enemies among the other queens, despite doing amazingly in group challenges. It was, however, when the comedy challenge arrived on the sixth episode, that we began to see the more personal side of her . . . 
      The queens were asked to perform an act as part of the "RuPaul Roast," in which they would crack jokes at Ru and the other judges. Because of her limited experience in the comedy scene, Roxxxy ended up in the bottom two against Alyssa Edwards. The pair were told to lip sync for their lives to Willow Smith's hit song, "Whip My Hair," and that the queen who lost would be sent home. After one of the most memorable lip-syncs to date, Roxxxy and Alyssa prepared for Ru's decision. Suddenly, Roxxxy burst into tears, and told Ru not to worry about it and to "go ahead" with her judgement. Being the mother-figure that she is, Ru urged Roxxxy to tell her about it. In a heartbreaking monologue, she informed Ru and the other queens that she was left at a bus stop by her mother when she was just three years old, and that she hadn't seen her in over 20 years. She stated that her experience in the bottom reminded her what it feels like to "not be good enough, and to not feel wanted." After an inspirational speech by RuPaul, in which she stated that they were all a family, she allowed them both to remain in the competition, making it the third "Shantay you both stay" in the show's history. After her near elimination, Roxxxy continued in the competition, making it into the top 3 and finishing in third place. Today she owns her own drag club in Florida, and says that she is forever grateful to Ru for giving her a second chance on Drag Race.

-Cade Tickle