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You're a winner, baby!
Editor's note: This article contains SPOILERS for the season 17 finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star fought their way to land a spot at the RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 finale — where they had a chance to be crowned America's Next Drag Superstar, cash in the grand prize of $200,000, and take over the reign over Mama Ru's Queendom from global superstar and 2024 Out100 honoree Nymphia Wind.
For the second year in a row, the Drag Race finale took place on the newly-updated mainstage and runway of the competition — not at a theater, with a big live audience, which had become a tradition for the flagship series. Still, every single queen in the season 17 cast got to walk the runway one last time, which was then followed by a sickening RuPaul performance to "Good Luck and Don't F%k it Up."
Jewels Sparkles's solo performance.
Jewels Sparkles kicked off the night with a hilarious performance putting the ding in din-a-ling. After making Drag Race fans laugh all season long with her confessionals, performances, and zingers, Jewels proved that she's a bona fide superstar.
Jewels Sparkles performing at the RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 finale.
MTV
When asked by Mama Ru what it would mean for Jewels to win the title of America's Next Drag Superstar, she talked about the struggles that the Latine community is currently facing in the U.S. and shared the beautiful message that she's a product of immigration.
Lexi Love's solo performance.
Another fabulous performance from Lexi Love skating through the competition? Duh! If anyone is "gon' come for a classic," that would be a big mistake. Huge.
Lexi Love performing at the RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 finale.
MTV
Mama Ru asked Lexi to talk to her younger self, and it was impossible not to get emotional during this segment. It was also lovely to see that Lexi's chosen family was in the audience to support her — driving home the message of the series that we, as queer people, get to choose our family.
Onya Nurve's solo performance.
Charisma, uniqueness, NURVE, and talent: This queen has it all!
Onya Nurve steamrolled the competition from start to finish, delivering another memorable performance to show… well, prove that it do take Nurve.
Onya Nurve performing at the RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 finale.
MTV
Mama Ru then spoke to Onya's incredibly supportive parents, who were emotional already, and got everyone else teary-eyed as well. Drag Race, like always, bringing families together.
Sam Star's solo performance.
This endearing finale number proved that stardom was always on sight for the fabulous Sam Star. She sparkled her way through the performance and made her way into our hearts with that talent and charisma.
Sam Star performing at the RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 finale.
MTV
Meeting Sam's loved ones was also a lovely moment. Seeing a queen come from a supportive family and being her most authentic self at such an early age… that never gets old!
Nymphia Wind returns to crown America's Next Drag Superstar…
The global phenomenon herself, Nymphia Wind, shuts it all down with her step-down look to crown the next queen who'll reign supreme in Mama Ru's queendom.
The top 2 queens of the season are announced, and it all comes down to this:
Jewels Sparkles versus Onya Nurve. And what's the lip sync song, you may ask? Well…
The top 2 lip syncs for the crown to 'Abracadabra' by Lady Gaga!
Jewels Sparkles and Onya Nurve lip syncing for the crown at the RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 finale.
MTV
You read that right: "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga is the official song for the Drag Race season 17 lip sync for the crown. And every gay person on the planet screamed as RuPaul declared that the top 2 finalists would lip sync to Gaga's latest hit.
The lip sync battle between Jewels and Onya was FIERCE. In the end, though, only one could be crowned America's Next Drag Superstar.
Onya Nurve has been crowned America's Next Drag Superstar!
It's official: Onya Nurve is the crowned queen of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17!
Throughout this competition, Onya won the singing challenge, the Snatch Game, an acting challenge, and the stand-up comedy challenge — a total of four maxi challenges, more than any of the other finalists.
Meanwhile, Onya only had to lip sync for her life once, ironically also against Jewels Sparkles, which led to a double shantay for the two queens. At the finale, though, only one of them could emerge victorious… and Onya snatched that crown after an entire season of hard work and perseverance.
Onya Nurve announced the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17.
MTV
Condragulations to this fierce cast of queens, to the dazzling top 4 finalists, and a grand finale that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. Cheers to another herstoric season of Drag Race, and to the newly-crowned America's Next Drag Superstar!
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 premieres Friday, May 9 on Paramount+.
