RPDR 17 Finale Rucap

We finally have a winner, baby! After a season full of glitter, gags, and genuine confusion, Season 17 has come to a close — and Onya Nurve is your newly crowned queen! While I’m happy we’ve reached the end, I gotta be honest: this season left me with mixed feelings. Some moments had me screaming "YASSS!" while others had me side-eyeing the screen like… wait, why is that the decision?

Let’s be real — the judging this season was all over the place. One week, track records meant everything, and the next week? Poof, they meant absolutely nothing. I mean… pick a lane! And don’t even get me started on Suzie Toot. I'm the biggest Suzie fan, and her elimination? It still feels unjust. She slayed the season with her versatility — switching up her mug, serving different looks — and the moment she leaned into her signature aesthetic again, she got clocked for not evolving enough? Make it make sense.

And lipsyncs? Supposedly judged solely on performance, right? Then how do we explain some of the final decisions? The inconsistency isn’t just confusing — it gives fans reason to throw wild takes just to make sense of the chaos. For the sake of the show and its legacy, I really hope Season 18 tightens things up.

The Grand Finale: Final Runway Moments

The queens hit the runway one last time, and baby — they came to slay. My top 3 looks from the finale (yes, even including the eliminated queens) were:

✨ Arrietty: That red dress paired with the cat-inspired makeup? Purr-fection. It's bold, it's on-brand, and she really knows how to serve a cohesive concept.

✨ Suzie Toot: Camp excellence! Her Little Shop of Horrors-inspired look, complete with an expressive Venus flytrap? This was a toot from me, forever and always.

✨ Jewels Sparkles: This gown was clearly a glow-up version of her entrance look, and I adored the callback. She looked like a literal princess — pure magic.

Final 4 Performances: Let the Music Play!

For their last challenge, the top 4 performed original songs — using their own voices, no less — and I genuinely enjoyed all of them. They gave us a peek into who they are as entertainers, beyond just the lip-syncing and runway moments. If we were basing the Top 2 purely on these performances, it would've been a tough call. But watching Ru’s interactions with each queen? Yeah, the decision started to make more sense.

🛎️ Jewels Sparkles – Her song "Ding" was comedy gold. She leaned fully into her quirky persona, complete with physical comedy. Jewels isn’t afraid to get ugly to be funny, and that’s the power of drag, honey!

⛸️ Lexi Love – A roller skate number to a track called "Classic." It was polished and poised, but there’s something about Lexi that always feels too careful. Still, it was a fun watch.

🎤 Onya Nurve – High energy and vocally the strongest. She gave us singer, not just drag queen. I loved it — but I also felt like she could’ve given just a little more performance-wise.

💃 Sam Star – Clean, sharp, and full-on pageant realness. Her gown transforming into a red carpet was a genius touch. Sam’s professionalism was on full display here.

Miss Congeniality & Final Lip Sync

Before the crown was handed out, we got a lovely surprise from Xunami Muse and Sapphira Cristal, who came out to announce this season's Miss Congeniality — the ever-sweet Crystal Envy. A well-deserved win! She's been nothing but supportive and kind to her fellow queens all season long. We love a sisterhood queen.

Now… the moment of truth. The Top 2 were revealed as Onya Nurve and Jewels Sparkles. Onya was a front-runner, sure, but Jewels? A dark horse who really earned her spot in the finale.

The final lipsync to Lady Gaga’s "Abracadabra" was everything — drama, stunts, energy. And honestly? Jewels devoured. But as we’ve learned time and time again… it’s RuPaul’s world, and we’re just dancing in it.

Still, big condragulations to our winner Onya Nurve! She’s talented, driven, and undeniably deserving of a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

The Step Down Look Heard Around the World

Okay but… can we TALK about Nymphia Wind’s step-down look? Absolutely iconic. She really said, “You thought I was done?” and served one of the best farewell looks in Drag Race HERstory. Sorry Violet, you’re now in second place. 👑

Looking Ahead: All Stars 10 is Coming!

Season 17 might be over, but Drag Race never sleeps. All Stars 10 is coming this May and the speculation is already heating up. Who are you hoping to see return to the werkroom?

Let me know your thoughts — were you happy with the winner? Who do you think was robbed? And who’s your dream All Stars cast?

Until next time, squirrel friends… stay fabulous 💋