Latest news with #Onya
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘RuPaul's Drag Race': Onya Nurve and Jewels Sparkles dish their ‘ride of a lifetime,' stolen jokes, and turning drag ‘inside out'
"I'm super grateful for the love that I've been getting from the community and from everyone in the world," Onya Nurve tells Gold Derby's Reality Derby. Onya won Season 17 of MTV's RuPaul's Drag Race in April, while Jewels Sparkles placed as the runner-up. "I'm learning every day how much it's changing my life," says the latest champion. Jewels has been "so blessed and so lucky for all of the opportunities that have come from the show." She reveals, "The first episode came out and I feel like our lives changed overnight." Since then, their "ride of a lifetime" has included "getting to travel the world, meeting fans from everywhere, performing in different cities ... I'm pinching myself every day. This is genuinely the coolest thing ever." More from GoldDerby 'And then somebody throws a piece of sh-t at you': 'The Diplomat' star Ato Essandoh on Stuart getting honeytrapped Emmy experts analyze Limited Series race: Why 'Adolescence' is 'the one to beat' as voting begins Making of 'Mid-Century Modern': How comedy legends created Hulu's freshest sitcom starring Nathan Lane and the late Linda Lavin Heading into the grand finale, Onya "didn't know" that she'd be claiming the crown. "I was up there with entertainers that were just as talented as me," referring to Jewels, Lexi Love, and Sam Star. "The only thing that was going through my brain — because there was so much going on and so little time to do anything — was me telling myself, 'Onya, you just have to do your best and try to have some fun.'" Jewels' mindset was, "We did the work, we did the show, and now we're going to go in and do what we can and have fun. I went in there with no expectations. Whatever happens is going to happen, and whatever's meant for me is going to be meant for me." Onya asks, "What's the saying? Prepare for the worst?" "And expect the best," Jewels finishes. "Wait!" "The other way around!" Onya laughs. "But something like that." Jewels expected to be "the first one to go home," she confesses. "So, any day that you get to survive after that, that was my mentality on the show, to be honest." She adds, "We got time between filming and airing to watch ourselves before we went back for the finale. Not every season is like that, so we were really lucky to be able to learn from watching ourselves on TV," which she likens to an "out-of-body experience." As a relatively new drag queen, Onya felt "underestimated" heading into the Werk Room for the first time. "I felt like I had to prove myself, but I really didn't have to. I think that was all in my own head. We were always on the same playing field. There's the competition aspect of the game, and then the social aspect of the game, and I feel like the social aspect of the game is where I personally had the most work to do." The makeover challenge really struck an emotional chord with viewers, particularly as both of their fathers appeared on the show to support their children. "Me and my dad are really close," says Jewels, who cherished "getting to share that moment" with him. "For a straight Latino man to go and support his son in that way? It's the greatest gift ever."for MTV Onya agrees it was an "amazing" experience to makeover her father, proclaiming, "My dad has always been a huge supporter of my drag. But like Jewels said, I didn't know it was to the point where he would get on the show with me and do drag. I thought my mom, or at least some woman in my life, was going to come in. So, when my dad came in, there was an extra level of, 'Oh sh--!' Not only do I have to put my dad in drag, but he's wearing a beard, and he has to shave." Both contestants performed well in the "Snatch Game" challenge, with Onya portraying Eddie Murphy and Jewels taking on Miss Big Feet. "I've been watching movies that [Murphy] has been doing for a long time, like The Nutty Professor and Shrek," Onya explains. "So, I really had a good idea of his humor, style, and cadence. But I've also played Donkey in Shrek in community theaters ... so I just rolled with it and had a lot of fun." Jewels loved the idea of "redeeming" Miss Big Feet since there'd only been "this one picture where she's naked, walking in the woods." So, she decided to "put makeup and eyelashes on, and make her really pretty, because that's what you would want to do if the only thing people know about you is a naked picture of you in the woods. Like, that's so disgusting." Onya's hardest moment on the program was the "sewing challenges — we had three of them, which is a lot." And Jewels' biggest obstacle was when the competition narrowed down to the Top 5, and everyone around her was a "strong competitor," which caused her to "self-sabotage." Surprisingly, Jewels doesn't harbor any ill will toward Arrietty for stealing her jokes in the roast challenge, because, "Her roast was one of the worst roasts ever on that show, and I want to take no credit for that." She turns to the camera and smiles, "Gotcha, bitch!" SEE'We need to be gayer than ever before': 'RuPaul's Drag Race' queens and producers get political at FYC pool party They are both "so proud" of Lydia "Butthole" Kollins representing their season on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. "Lydia left on such a high note," Onya divulges. "The audience and the room were just getting a chance to see exactly who she was. And we all saw RuPaul give her that twinkle in her eye when she did the 'Boogie Wonderland' [lip sync]. So, I knew once Lydia was eliminated, that wasn't the last time we were going to see her. Did we think we would see her that soon? No! But it gagged me." With the Emmy Awards coming up, do they think Season 17 deserves to win the trophy for Best Competition Program? "We will win," Jewels predicts. "This season has everything. We have amazing drag. There's so much heart, so much friendship, so many real stories." Onya chimes in, "Our season in particular let the audience see the inside of who we are as people, on top of the glamorous drag that we wear. We turned our drag inside out for the audience to see that we are real, emotional, messy, and sometimes very troubled human beings under all this drag. I thought it was a kick-ass season." Also in our exclusive video interview, the contestants take us behind the scenes of the "Squirrel Games" challenge, they delve into the special "love" they share for all of their sisters, and they reveal the best piece of advice that RuPaul Charles gave them while filming. RuPaul's Drag Race is eligible at the 2025 Emmys. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby TV Hall of Fame: Top 50 best choices who should be inducted next Carrie Preston on fencing with Matthew Broderick and the heart, humor, and growth of 'Elsbeth': 'She's more than just quirky' Making of 'Mid-Century Modern': How comedy legends created Hulu's freshest sitcom starring Nathan Lane and the late Linda Lavin Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch how the 'Drag Race' top 4 queens reacted to the season 17 finale
Mama Ru has crowned America's Next Drag Superstar at the grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17, and we now have an official of the top 4 queens — Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star — sharing their live reactions watching the finale and the subsequent crowning of a new champion. Sign up for the to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment — delivered three times a week straight (well…) to your inbox! Between sharing what they learned about one another while competing on the show, cheering for all the eliminated queens walking on the mainstage of Drag Race with their finale extravaganza looks, and watching the solo numbers from Jewels ("Ding") and Onya ("It Do Take Nurve") during the episode, the queens got emotional as they heard the top 2 being announced and reflected on this being the end of Lexi and Sam's journeys in the competition. The top 4 queens are also seen watching the lip sync for the crown between Onya and Jewels to "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga — though it was likely cut short due to copyright reasons. After all, the song was licensed for the Drag Race finale, not for this subsequent live reaction video. Toward the end, the frame locked in on Jewels and Onya holding each other's hands and waiting for Ru's suspenseful delivery of which queen was crowned a winner. As the frontrunner of the entire season who won as many as four maxi challenges on Drag Race, Onya was indeed crowned America's Next Drag Superstar — an incredibly well-deserved outcome after such a wonderful run throughout the competition. Onya's immediate response was a loud scream that was filled with joy and pride. In the meantime, the other finalists congratulated her, and some of them even got a little bit emotional after hearing Ru's announcement. But the crowning of Onya Nurve is only the beginning for a year full of more (so much more) Drag Race. In just a few weeks, a gag-worthy cast made up of 18 queens are all returning to compete on All Stars 10 — hailed as the ultimate "Tournament of All Stars" for the franchise. premieres Friday, May 9 on .
Newsweek
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Onya Nurve Takes Home the Crown in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Finale
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In Friday's exciting, music-filled finale for Season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race, Cleveland drag queen and season frontrunner Onya Nurve was crowned America's Next Drag Superstar—reclaiming the coveted moniker from Season 16 winner Nymphia Wind. "I have nothing to prove to anybody," Onya told Newsweek during a pre-finale interview with the top four queens. "I've done it, I've proved it. I'm a good drag queen." The finale kicked off with a sickening runway walk showcasing all of Season 17's contestants, from first-eliminated Lucky Starzzz to last-eliminated Suzie Toot, as well as the top four queens: Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve and Sam Star. Onya Nurve competes on Season 17 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' Onya Nurve competes on Season 17 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' World of Wonder/MTV Some queens harkened back to their notable looks from the show, like Joella with her iconic mattress look, while others stunned in a completely new style, like Suzie Toot in her incredible Little Shop of Horrors-inspired carnivorous plant ensemble. Each of the top queens then performed an original song and choreographed dance number, followed by a short interview with RuPaul reflecting about their journey on the show. Jewels's physical comedy-centric routine had everyone laughing, Lexi brought back her classic roller skates and Sam even walked her own red carpet, but it was Onya who truly brought the house down. Her disco performance of "It's Onya Nurve" impressed the judges, with Michelle Visage complimenting her "beautiful" voice and Jamal Sims highlighting her "It Factor"—a sentiment also shared by former guest judge Quinta Brunson. "Cleveland lost LeBron James, but they got Onya Nurve," Onya told the crowd during the episode. "I think I would be a perfect representation for this crown, and I could show other entertainers that look just like me dreams do come true." Jewels Sparkles [L] and Onya Nurve [R] on 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' Jewels Sparkles [L] and Onya Nurve [R] on 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' World of Wonder/MTV Following the top queens' performances, former Miss Congeniality winners Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse relinquished their title to Crystal Envy, and the production honored Liza Minelli with a tribute performance for her "Giving Us Life-time Achievement Award." Ultimately, the top four queens took the stage for the last time, appearing before RuPaul for the final deliberations. After narrowing the top two to Jewels and Onya, the two queens battled in a lip synch for the crown to Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra". Following a truly epic performance from both contestants, RuPaul crowned Onya the winner of Season 17—naming her America's Next Drag Superstar. Along with $200,000 in prize money from TodayTix, Onya's title cements her place in the halls of Drag Race "herstory".
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Onya Nurve talks winning 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 17
After a season packed with fierce runway looks, bold performances and emotional moments, Onya Nurve was officially named America's Next Drag Superstar in the season 17 finale of "RuPaul's Drag Race." Onya clinched the win after a standout season that saw her rack up four challenge victories, ultimately beating out fellow finalists Lexi Love, Sam Star and runner-up Jewels Sparkles. RuPaul dishes on his mantra for following your wildest dreams Appearing on "Good Morning America" on Saturday to celebrate her win, Onya reflected on the surreal moment she heard her name called by the legendary RuPaul. "You hear RuPaul call girls' names for 16 seasons now, so to hear her say my name, and as a winner, it was amazing," she said. But the most meaningful moment of the season for Onya may have come off the runway. She opened up about sharing the experience with her father, who not only made a surprise appearance on the show but stepped into drag himself. "It has meant the world," she said. "My dad has always been a huge support, but he hasn't always been in my life for some big moments like graduation, for instance. So for him to come on Drag Race and not only come on Drag Race, but get into drag with me was amazing. He has always supported my drag, but I didn't think it was to the point where he would come on the show and dress up as a woman." In addition to celebrating her personal journey, Onya used her moment in the spotlight to share advice with parents of queer children. "I would say talk less and listen more," she explained. "I feel like parents sometimes feel like they have to tell their child something, but when you have a queer child, it is a good opportunity to just listen and hear what they have to say. Call them by their appropriate pronouns and learn from them." Onya Nurve talks winning 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 17 originally appeared on
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'You're a Winner, Baby': ‘RuPaul's Drag Race' Crowns Season 17 Champion
[The following story includes spoilers for the season 17 finale of .] RuPaul's Drag Race has crowned its 17th winner, baby. More from The Hollywood Reporter Liza Minnelli Set for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17 Finale Tribute Bob the Drag Queen on Writing His First Novel and Avoiding Karla Sofía Gascón at Madonna's Oscar Party 'Bachelor' Showrunners Leaving Franchise Amid "Toxic" Workplace Allegations Onya Nurve took home the title of America's Next Drag Superstar during the season 17 finale Friday night, after arguably dominating the competition with four challenge wins. Onya won the crown over fellow finalists Lexi Love, Sam Star and Jewels Sparkles. Before the newly appointed queen received the title, she put on a fierce lip-sync performance to Lady Gaga's latest hit 'Abracadabra' alongside the season's runner-up, Jewels. Earlier in the episode, the four finalists performed their own original songs, with Onya and Jewels' sets pushing them over the edge and earning them the top two spots in the competition. Crystal Envy was also named the newest Miss Congeniality, a title voted on by the contestants. The finale episode also saw RuPaul Charles present none other than Liza Minelli with the Giving Us Lifetime Achievement honor. The Cabaret star follows in the footsteps of Elvira, who was presented with the honor last year, and Bob Mackie, who received the first Lifetime Achievement award during season 15. Onya acceded the throne following Nymphia Wind's reign as the winner of Drag Race season 16. 'Wear it with pride, obviously, and just have the most fun for your reigning year,' Nymphia said as a piece of advice to the new winner in a Wednesday interview with TheWrap. 'Nothing's going to last forever, so just really be in the moment and just enjoy every second of it and don't take it for granted.' Less than a month after the end of season 17, the show's popular spin-off, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, will debut its landmark 10th season. Debuting May 9 via Paramount+, All Stars 10 will see 18 queens from the mainstay series return to compete in a 'Tournament of All Stars' to battle for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'Yellowstone' and the Sprawling Dutton Family Tree, Explained The Cast of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' Then and Now A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
