Ohio just snatched a crown. Onya Nurve was officially named America’s Next Drag Superstar during the Season 17 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race, securing the title and a $200,000 cash prize.
Nurve (whose real name is Justin Woody) becomes the first Cleveland queen to take home the crown, and the first to appear on the show since Akashia competed in Season 1.
Friday’s finale featured performances from the final four: Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Sam Star, and Nurve. Each delivered original songs, full choreo, and interviews with RuPaul.
Ru narrowed the field to Jewels and Onya, who lip-synced for the crown to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra.” After a fierce face-off, Onya officially earned her place in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.
“Cleveland lost LeBron James, but they got Onya Nurve,” she told the crowd. “I think I would be a perfect representation for this crown, and I could show other entertainers that look just like me dreams do come true.”
Before drag, Nurve studied painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art and flipped burgers at Doinks Burger Joint in Collinwood. She was inspired to perform after watching Drag Race alone in her Canton apartment. Now, she’s on top of the drag world.
