Onya Nurve emerged victorious in season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race, facing stiff competition from Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, and Sam Star. Leading into the finale with four main challenge wins, she ultimately outperformed Sparkles in a final lip-sync battle. Despite negative reactions from some fans who felt she lacked the expected reveal elements, Nurve defended her artistic choices, stating her approach was about conveying the song's essence rather than relying on gimmicks. The competition stirred divided opinions within the fanbase, with Nurve maintaining her stance on authenticity in performances.
Now Nurve has had her say, telling Variety that she was proud of her success and growth on the series, and picking up on the absence of the main-stage mainstay. "Lady Gaga said that the category was dance or die," she said. "I knew that at the end of the day, it was about serving the song, and I really hope I encapsulated what that song meant."
"I'm not a queen of doing reveals or a bunch of gags in real life, outside Drag Race. I felt I didn't need them and it worked." Nurve admitted to Entertainment Weekly that she "did have a couple of reveals I was working on," before repeating: "I've never been a queen of reveals."
As fans debated her victory, many defended Nurve, arguing that over-the-top reveals can detract from the performance. One fan wrote, "Almost every finalist wants their Sasha Velour moment but they always overdo it."
Despite the criticism and polarized opinions, Nurve celebrated her win and acknowledged that with performances, it often comes down to a personal interpretation of the song and the queen's style.
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