Winning comes easy when your name is Onya Nurve.
After dominating the 17th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where she took home four varying challenges wins and won over the fans with her endearing personality, Onya was named America’s Next Drag Superstar on Friday night. Her tenure on the biggest competitive drag show in the world was nearly flawless, only having to lip sync for her life (the show’s format at eliminating competitors via lip sync battles) one time.
During her time at Drag Race, Quinta Brunson commended her comedy skills and admitted that she’d like to see the newly crowned queen host Saturday Night Live one day, which she somewhat already did in the show’s RDR Live! spoof challenge based on the popular sketch comedy series.
“I feel amazing,” the Cleveland-based drag artist tells The Hollywood Reporter three days after being crowned the winner of Drag Race. “It feels great. I feel really accomplished.”
Season 17 highlighted Onya’s strengths while lifting her vulnerabilities, utilizing the show’s Emmy-winning formula that not only highlights the artist’s talents as drag queens, but the character of its cast behind the glitz and glam. She went through struggles with her fellow competitors, faced the brunt of bullying from some of those same competitors, and through it all, remained humble and forgiving, with the latter qualities arguably crowning her victor before RuPaul Charles called her name as the new reigning champion.
Fresh off her Drag Race win, Onya caught up with THR to reflect on her success in the competition, dish on which Broadway shows she’d like to star in and which of her fellow RPDR winners she’d like to go head-to-head against in a second all-winners season.
It’s only been a few days since you won, but how are you feeling about taking home the crown?
I feel amazing. I don’t think it’s clicked all the way in yet because there’s just so much happening, but it feels great. I feel really accomplished.
There’s this common theme of winners having a “defining moment” of their season that pushes them over the edge and secures them the crown. For example, Sasha Velour’s was the rose petal moment. A lot of people believe that for Jinkx, it was her Snatch Game on both seasons. Looking back on your time on the show, if you had to pick one, what do you think was that moment that pushed you over the edge and secured your crown?
I would say [there’s] two. Snatch Game, for sure. I really felt like I knocked it out of the park with the character that I did — Eddie Murphy, shout out to you. I also think the Rusical, even though I didn’t win, I feel like that was a moment that I really showed my ass.
You won four challenges, but are there any other challenges that you wish you had won?
The Rusical and then maybe the audition for Vegas, the RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE end challenge. I feel like I did a really good job on that one, I wouldn’t have minded winning that one.
I think you killed the SNL spoof challenge as well.
Oh, thank you. I forgot about that one. Yes, when I did the monologue. You know, I easily could have left the competition with six wins.
I’ve seen a lot of fellow winners saying that as well, and I’ve seen a lot of fans comparing you to the likes of winners such as Bianca Del Rio and Bob the Drag Queen. Have you seen these comparisons, and do you agree with those sentiments?
I definitely agree with those sentiments. I am such a huge fan of Bob the Drag Queen and Bianca. They’ve both reached out and said congratulations, and yeah, it feels great.
At the top of the competition, you were very open about saying that you didn’t have much drag family or friends before you walked into the Werk Room. Now that the experience is over, who do you think you formed real friendships with?
I feel that I have formed really great friendships with a lot of queens. I’ve always had great relationships with other entertainers in Cleveland, I just think that my time in Cleveland wasn’t based on my drag family, and that is OK. You know, I didn’t have a bunch of financial support going on the show, and that’s OK. But after the show, I have a new [drag] mother, which is [season 16 runner-up] Sapphira Cristál, along with my other mothers, Monica Lexin, Sassy Sascha and Jay the Doll, so my family is ever-growing and it makes me happy.
How did that relationship with Sapphira form? Did it form after the show?
It did form after the show. We met in London, and we just kind of clicked and bonded. She became a mentor to me, and I trusted her. I’m really happy with where our relationship has gone.
I’ve seen a lot of fans saying that you finished what Sapphira started after she placed second last season. How does that feel for you to be referenced to another drag legend from the show in Sapphira?
It feels really good. I think why people are saying that is because there have been moments where the fans think a certain queen should win, and another queen wins, and it’s just nice to see that me and Sapphira both got a win in a way through my win, or any other entertainer that didn’t get a win, but I got this win, [and] it feels like it’s a win for them too. That feels great, because it should feel that way.
Circling back to SNL, I know that you’ve said you would like to host the show one day. If/when the opportunity arises, who would you want the musical guest to be?
Oh my God, Doechii.
I knew you were gonna say that. During the LaLaPaRuzza, you paid tribute to Doechii — have you heard from her since wearing that look?
I haven’t, but I know she’s really busy, but I hope she’s seen it and felt the love. It was almost like a wink-nod to her just to say congratulations. I wanted to emulate that moment when she got her Grammy win.
The show just ended and everything’s crazy right now, but what can we expect from you during your reign?
I definitely want to do Broadway. I want to be on stage — on big stages — as much as possible. I want to host as many things as possible, and hopefully some music soon.
Is there a specific Broadway show that you would potentially want to be a part of?
Oh, yes, if Hairspray ever goes back on Broadway, I would love to play Motormouth Maybelle. And if Shrek ever were to go on Broadway, I would love to do a run as Donkey.
Paying tribute to Eddie Murphy again.
Again!
If the show were to assemble a second all-winners season, do you think that you would be open to coming back?
Absolutely. I always said if I was to come back and do anything for RuPaul’s Drag Race, it would have to be for an all-winners All Stars. But, Bob would have to be on it with me.
Are there any other queens that you would want to join you?
I would have to be on with Bob, Sasha, Symone and Bianca Del Rio. And Jinkx, of course.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
