‘Drag Race’ season 17 winner Onya Nurve didn’t need lip-sync reveals: ‘I am the gag!’ (exclusive)

It do take nerve (and a hell of a lot of talent) to earn a crown from Mama Ru. So, buckle up, because RuPaul’s Drag Race season 17 winner Onya Nurve‘s fabulous reign is about to get under your skin in the best way possible.

Her name might be a tongue-in-cheek nod, but the Drag Race fandom will learn to put some respect on it (and her four-win-strong run of excellence through season 17) after RuPaul crowned the Cleveland queen as the winner of one of the best seasons in recent her-story.

Now, in her first coronation interview, Onya exclusively tells Entertainment Weekly moments after her Friday night victory that she might’ve been in it to win it, but she’s also staying true to her roots as a queen of the people with an inspiring message for all: “Find the one thing you love to do, and do that!”

Before All Stars 10 debuts on May 9, read on for EW’s full exclusive interview with RuPaul’s Drag Race season 17 winner Onya, in which she reveals her thoughts on the season, the state of her relationship with Arrietty after their mid-season drama, and what she wants young Black kids to see in her victory after she built a career on giving back to her local community.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I’m so thrilled for you, Onya! Congratulations. What are you feeling in this moment, and what does this victory mean to you?

ONYA NURVE: It feels so unreal. I just wanted so hard to not only get on Drag Race, so I was already proud that I got on the show. I didn’t know I’d do things so well.

You told me in our first interview last year: “I want to encourage people of color and Black people to not give up and to keep on going…. because your time will come.” Since so much of your career before has been about inspiring others to succeed in and out of drag, what do you hope young Black queer people see in your victory?

I hope they know and understand that success isn’t a monetary value; it’s about finding something that makes you happy and brings you joy. As a result, money will chase after you. That’s what Drag Race did for me.

You said on the finale that you’d tell your younger self, “You are Black enough.” What inspired that?

There have been moments in my life where I didn’t feel that way. I felt I was somewhat shunned from my culture because of my queerness and gayness, and because of me not marching to everybody else’s drum. I said that to myself as a reminder; the only reminder I need to know that I’m Black enough is looking in the motherf—ing mirror.

You said on X the other day that drag truly saved your life at a time when you were lost and didn’t know what to do. What did you mean by that? How dark of a place did you get to, and how did drag pull you out?

Right out of high school, I went to college and got my degree in art. I thought if you went to college out of high school, you’d be successful. That wasn’t my story. I had bartending jobs, serving jobs, I was a substitute teacher. After all that work, I still wasn’t happy, I wasn’t making enough money, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I found Drag Race and there was something about the queerness, the family, and the artistic endeavor that I was attracted to and I put my whole heart into.

I was really depressed, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. Drag pulled me out of that place artistically and as a performer, and it gave me something to f—ing do. Once I realized there was a road to success through drag, everything was kosher.

Let’s talk about the lip-sync against Jewels Sparkles. I think this might be one of the only recent finale lip-syncs that didn’t include reveals. Why did you approach it that way?

I did have a couple of reveals I was working on, but I’ve never been a queen of reveals. I don’t do tricks, gags, and goops in my regular life. It came to be about what type of queen I am. I figured if I never did reveals before I got on Drag Race, why would I do them now? I’m a great performer, and I put all my bets on that.

She doesn’t need the reveals!

I don’t need ‘em. I am the gag and the goop!

There was drama this season with Lexi Love feeling that Suzie Toot was huge competition, though fans noted she should’ve been worried about you — which was true! Did you feel underestimated by the cast and fans?

I always felt underestimated, since day one. I was happy I was underestimated, because I was under the radar and queens weren’t eyeing me to win the crown. That made me work even harder to prove myself to the judges and the girls.

Have you heard from Eddie Murphy after Snatch Game?

No, sadly, but hopefully one day I’ll be in a movie with Eddie Murphy or he’ll reach out to me.

Did any other celebrity fans reach out?

Ariana Grande! She definitely reached out to me personally and told me how proud she was and how much of a star I was. It was literally amazing.

Speaking of stars, has your father done drag since his makeover?

Hell no. He done grew his beard back. That beard is full throttle!

The sisterhood this season has been interesting, especially the big moment between you and Arrietty. Was Arrietty’s apology last week the full interaction, or had you discussed privately?

We talked outside the show. I need people to understand that I don’t hold grudges. I forgave Arrietty the day after, I just didn’t get a chance to have a conversation right after. That’s my sister. She is forgiven and we’ve moved on. It takes more energy to hate someone than it does to love them.

In that first interview we did, you joked, “I’m coming for you, Viola.” Now that you’re a winner, the question remains: Where does Onya want to go, and should Viola Davis be scared?

She should only be scared if she casts me in a movie with her. Fences is one of my favorite plays, Viola as Rose is one of my favorite characters. I look up to her so much because of how she does her thing. So, yes, I am coming for Viola Davis. Now that I’ve won the crown, I am! [Laughs] I want to do some stage acting, some film, I would love to host SNL. The sky is the limit. I’m excited now as an artist to paint again and make some art, and just find my avenues, baby. Onya everything!

Is there anything else you want to say?

I just want to say that I f—ing did it. I’m so proud of myself. This was a wonderful group of entertainers, and I’m so grateful that the light is shining down on me.

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