Heading into the Season 17 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the top four queens had just been named: Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star. One by one on Friday night, the contestants strutted their stuff on the big stage to prove to RuPaul Charles and the judges that they deserved to be named “America’s Next Drag Superstar” and claim the cash prize of $200,000.
Read on for our recap/live blog of the RuPaul’s Drag Race finale, which aired April 18 on MTV. Did the right person win Season 17? Vote in our poll at the bottom of this post, and then sound off in Gold Derby’s reality TV forum.
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Challenge-wise, Onya was the undeniable frontrunner with a leading four wins: “Bitch, I’m a Drag Queen,” “Snatch Game,” “Ross Mathews vs. The Ducks,” and “Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, & Talent Monologues.” The latter was actually a tie with Lexi, who also won “Drag Queens Got Talent.” Sam won three challenges: “Monopulence,” “The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical,” and “Drag Baby Mamas.” And Jewels won a pair: “Heavens to Betsey” and “How’s Your Headliner?”
Also in tonight’s episode, Mama Ru presents Liza Minnelli with the “Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award.” The 79-year-old actress and entertainer has long been a gay icon and one of RuPaul’s personal heroes.
Photo by MTV – Credit: Photo by MTV
Photo by MTV
8:00 p.m. — “Previously, on ‘Drag Race.'” The top four queens took a rest as the 10 eliminated players all returned to compete for the title of “She Done Already Done Had Herses” in the “Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown.” Fifth-place contender Suzie Toot won that honor — and the $50,000 cash prize that came along with it — by beating out Lana Ja’Rae, Lydia B Kollins, Arrietty, Kori King, Acacia Forgot, Crystal Envy, Hormona Lisa, Joella, and Lucky Starzzz. But enough about last week. It’s time to find out who wins Season 17!
8:01 p.m. — In the entrance parade of the Season 17 queens, Lucky costumed herself as the starzzz and planets of the universe, Joella remixed her iconic mattress look into something more fashionable, Hormona added broad shoulders to her classic hourglass silhouette, Crystal served body in a black and white peekaboo number, Acacia was not to be forgotten in a beautiful yellow gown, Kori went for hot villain in a sharp hot pink dress, Arrietty upped the ante on her elf paint by going full cat in the face, Lydia looked better than ever in silver, Lana got into her fairy godmother gig, and Suzie walked in a mechanical Audrey II number inspired by her failed “Snatch Game” concept. From the top four, we got a class babydoll princess in pink dress from Jewels, another Victoria’s Secret-inspired angel look from Lexi, an expensive looking animal print rhinestone number from Onya, and a white and gold cowgirl diva dress from Sam.
8:07 p.m. — Following a performance to her song “Good Luck and Don’t F–k It Up,” Ru introduced Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and Jamal Sims seated at the dais tonight and then announced that for the first time in “Grand Finale” herstory, the top four would be performing their original numbers inclusive of their own vocals. Based on those showstopping numbers and their entire season of work, Ru herself would select a final two to go head-to-head in a final Lip Sync for the Crown.
8:10 p.m. — Up first was the self-described “chismosa bionic supermodel diva’d down princess” Jewels with a cutesy and comedic song about her catchtone “ding,” proving once again why she won the Vegas challenge at top five and is deserving of a spot on the “Drag Race Live” stage. Michelle gave Jewels high marks for going the physical comedy route, calling it “smart and fantastic.” As a final comment about what it would mean to win, Jewels said that it would “mean more to [her] people” as the “product of immigration” to prove that “the American dream can still exist” for them.
8:21 p.m. — Second to perform was the “roller derby doll and hormonal whore” Lexi with an encore of her challenge-winning talent show with another rollerskating showcase. Carson referred to her as a “superstar” because of the fun performance and Michelle echoed Lexi’s own perspective that she went on a journey of confidence through the season and came out on top of it. Wanting to share her “love” with the world, Lexi told Ru that winning would give her the chance to do something with the platform.
8:32 p.m. — The next performance came from the ever-confident and the winningest queen Onya with a choreo-heavy funky track about how it “do take Nurve” to accomplish what she has. Michelle complimented her for her “attitude” and “sass,” but highlighted how “gorgeous” her voice is. Jamal added that she “owns” that she has the unteachable “it factor.” Onya continued to eat up the stage in her interview with Ru when she was given the opportunity to defend why she took her “sweet ass time” when walking the runway. She called herself a “perfect representation” for the crown to show that all the work she’s put in has paid off.
8:44 p.m. — The final performance from the finalists was from the “country cutie with a rock & roll booty” Sam with a costume-transformative number maximized by pageant energy. Carson thought she “delivered the entire time,” specifically when she walked her own red carpet, and Michelle appreciated that she incorporated so many classic tricks into the show. Sam pleaded to Ru for the chance to give a voice to people from small towns like her and to encourage them to dream as big as she did.
8:55 p.m. — Following a recap of all the shade the girls threw at each other during “Untucked” this season, including Joella telling Lucky she’s sending her home, Suzie defending her clown look, Onya coming for Arrietty over the fight with Jewels, and Sam hoping for “the couple” to lip sync against each other, came the announcement of Miss Congeniality. Last year’s co-winners of the honor, Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse, presented the award and $10,000 prize to Crystal, as voted by her sisters of the season.
9:03 p.m. — The archival footage that aired to honor Liza’s career and life showed exactly why she is this year’s “Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award” all before she rolled in on a giant red throne (one leg up on the arm!) with mostly naked dancers prancing to her song as the crowd cheered her name. The “director’s daughter” shared some brief stories about her life in the spotlight and brought tears to Suzie’s eyes as she thanked the audience and fans for helping create the star she became, but Ru made sure to correct her that “she made us.”
9:14 p.m. — To (re)introduce last year’s crowned queen Nymphia Wind, a documentary package from her character Jane Notgoodatall screened to remind us why she is such a charming television personality. When she finally emerged on the stage, Nymphia presented what has to be one of the most gorgeous returning winner looks ever shown on a finale. It was a perfectly fit white mermaid gown adorned with gold and an immaculate art element in the back showing a white leopard dancing in sprays of wind.
9:21 p.m. — In preparation for the potential to perform for the crown, the final four returned to the stage in their last looks: Jewels in a black Three Musketeers’s looking piece, Lexi fully covered in a black and red veil, Onya in a glittering red pantsuit, and Sam in a rainbow-trimmed black gown, but only Onya and Jewels advanced to perform in the outfits as the official top two of the season. As a consolation, Anastasia Beverly Hills offered both Lexi and Sam a $10,000 cash tip for their work throughout the season.
9:24 p.m. — For their final chance to prove why they should be crowned, Jewels and Onya performed to Lady Gaga‘s latest hit “Abracadabra.” Having been given the song in advance to prepare, Onya was ready to go with the official choreo beats from the music video and echoed the “lady in red” elements of the song in her outfit. Jewels was also dressed for the part, but made the performance her own by using the peaks and valleys of the track to slowly reveal hidden elements of her look until she left with a baby pink bodysuit reminiscent of a dolled up Catwoman.
9:28 p.m. — Presented by Nymphia, the queen that received the crown and scepter along with the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” from Season 17 is Onya Nurve!
Throughout the episode we saw the guest judges from this season sound off about who they think should have been crowned this season. Katy Perry gave support to Jewels, June Diane Raphael revealed she’s #TeamLexiLove, Quinta Brunson‘s favorite was Onya, and Alyssa Edwards threw her wig in the ring for Sam. Now vote in the poll below on who YOU think should have won.
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