Alyssa Edwards, AKA Justin Johnson, Reveals What Reality Shows May Be Coming After 'The GOAT'

Justin Johnson AKA Alyssa Edwards

Alyssa Edwards (AKA Justin Johnson) is no stranger to conflict. After all, this is a drag queen who coined such iconic catchphrases as, "Backrolls?" and "Girl, look how orange you [expletive] look" during his two seasons on RuPaul's Drag Race. So it only makes sense that, when confronted with a move he didn't approve of, Justin let his voice be heard. He confronted Da'Vonne Rogers about purposely blocking him in a talent show to ensure her win, which in turn caused her to target him to the extent of throwing a challenge to guarantee his ouster. Luckily for Justin, he had the men and CJ Franco on his side, as they came together to stunningly protect him.

The blindside led to chaos, as Justin told Kristen Doute, "The only thing you love is the bottle," which prompted her walking out of elimination and him nearly walking off the show. Luckily, Justin stayed and made up with Kristen. Unfortunately, he soon followed her out the door. In a surprise double elimination, the alliance that previously attempted to out Justin got their wish this time, and Alyssa was sent out the door with her wig held high.

Parade sat down with Justin to talk about his experience on The GOAT.

Related: Everything to Know About The GOAT

You've mentioned that The GOAT is a type of competition show that's very out of your wheelhouse. So what made you want to do it?
Listen, I grew up in Mesquite, Texas. I didn't have a good run as far as being successful at little league sports. So when this sat on my desk, I thought, "Wait a minute, are there challenges involved that's gonna challenge me outside of my wheelhouse?" Which is what you've all seen on RuPaul's Drag Race. And the next thing I know, I'm balancing on stumps, I'm diving in mud, swimming in pools, crossing my fingers for good luck, and praying that my social game could stay afloat. And all of that combined is why. And here's the thing. I'm a Capricorn. I am the goat! So I was like, "This just makes sense."

[Laughs.] You clearly built a quick bond with CJ over the fact that she is the daughter of two gay men. Talk to me about that relationship.
There were moments like I felt like people were [moving] really quickly. I mean, day one, they were making these alliances, and they were pulling people outside. "Come out here and talk to me." And CJ was my first one! I was like, "Oh, I'm getting called outside!" And it was just so genuine. It was so heartfelt. And it was so sincere. And you've all seen that we've worked together so well. We were so in sync with each other. And it was just like, "Okay, here's the thing. This is not just an alliance in this competition. But this is a friend that I will take away from the show for a lifetime." And I thought she was so open and so vulnerable with sharing about her fathers. It was just very special, and I hope that the audience sees that it is. Yes, these shows are competitive. But it doesn't have to be. Because CJ probably broke a lot of boys' hearts, and then me and her became besties, good Judy's. And we're manifesting going on The Amazing Race. Stay tuned!

Of course, I have to get into when you were saved by the men and CJ over Lauren, which put a stop to Da'Vonne's plans to get you out. Things took a turn for the even more dramatic when you told Lauren, "The only thing you love is the bottle," prompting her to walk out of elimination and you threatening to leave the show. Talk me through everything that was going on there.
I didn't realize living with different folks from different strokes and walks of life in such close proximity would be so challenging. That was the ultimate challenge for myself, sleeping on a twin bed in a room with four other people. And every day is like game talk, strategy. The gamers, the Da'Vonnes and the Survivors, they have notebooks and brackets and pyramids of how people should go home. And then if you perform really well in a challenge, oh my gosh, you could block them, so you've got to stab them in the back. I was like, "This is a lot. This is a lot to take in. I'm in full drag, and I'm in front of William Hung in the untalented show." I don't know if I've ever put "untalented" and "Alyssa Edwards" in the same sentence. So I was really just having fun with it.

And then it's like it turned. And me and CJ, we talked about this. The house started to get drained of that excitement. And so I'm just like, "Pump the brakes. We're all competing, yes. It is a game. But we're all people at the end of the day. I know you have experience with separating the person and the player. But seriously, let's just all come to a consensus that Daniel Tosh is having a ball. Let's get on that page. This show is unhinged and total camp." Yes, there is a $200,000 prize, after taxes. Wonderful. We'll take it, we'll all take it. But let's have some fun. Let's meet some people. Let's make some wonderful memories and share some laughs. And that ended up in us being like siblings for that time. We were there. So you have a bad night. The next morning, you make up. "Look, girl, that was too much last night." We had us a margarita. We're all good." And it was very much like that, a day-to-day thing.

I know you've mentioned Amazing Race before with CJ. Are there any specific reality shows you'd be looking to do now that you've done The GOAT?
I am obsessed with Traitors. I don't want to be the Traitor. But I would love to go on the show. I'm a huge fan of Alan. And I just love the idea of it. I don't really know how good I'd be at it, to be fair.

Next, check out our exit interviews with The GOAT stars Joey Sasso, Tayshia Adams, and Lauren Speed-Hamilton.