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Rihanna and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Are Nina West Stans Now

Rihanna Nina

Plus 'Drag Race' fans (like Leslie Jones) are campaigning to get the comedic performer on 'Saturday Night Live.'

MikelleStreet

Her first and final lip sync on RuPaul's Drag Race may have been a little "meh" -- we still maintain that it was better than her competitor's -- but Nina West has been having the weekend of a lifetime.

Since her untimely demise on the 11th season on the landmark series, the Columbus-based Nina West has received a tidal wave of support from fans and celebrities alike. On Saturday, noted Drag Race fan and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, posted to her Instagram story.

"To the queen that went home this week, just know how important you are to the bigger picture," she said, in a video post that has been since preserved on West's feed. "I'm so proud of you, and your fundamental kindness and goodness, and I'm just really looking forward to watching you grow, and you're amazing, and I'm sad, but I'm excited for you." She would later quote tweet an Out story surrounding West's philanthropic efforts. There, we reported that the competitor has raised over $2.5 million for Ohio area queer and trans communities, particularly centering around youth.

"Thank you for being a relentless example of kindness, consciousness, compassion, and courage," she wrote after calling West a "Queen of Hearts." "Thank you for using your gifts to focus on voices + issues that deserve all the shine and elevation in the world."

But AOC wasn't the only high profile name to show support. According to screenshots, Rihanna followed the queen, news that even seemed to shake vanessa Vanjie Mateo who was in the comments of West's post about the follow. She would then go on to DM West, according to a tweet by the queen.

"Ending my night with a message from Rihanna," West tweeted about the interaction. "I am dead. Dead. Dead. Love you, RiRi." This would make her at least the second Ru girl to message with the singer, who responded to a Monique Heart post earlier this year.

Of course it wasn't only celebrities. Fans resurfaced earlier calls for the campy performer to appear on Saturday Night Live. Having shown her knack for comedic performance in almost every acting challenge -- the Britney Bitch Network should have been syndicated immediately and that magic show performance was amazing -- she would seem a natural fit. Weeks ago, SNL actress Leslie Jones even endorsed the idea.

"It would be the best of both [worlds] I think" Jones wrote in a response to West saying she would "fall over" if cast on the show. "Cause you can slay in drag and out boo!!!" Maybe this is something Bowen Yang and Julio Torres can help whip up following skits parodying fan sites and a gay porn. We would like to see it!

RELATED | Naomi Smalls' Music Stopped at the Biggest Drag Show in Herstory

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Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.