With a gargantuan 700k+ likes on her #TEAM post, Onya Nurve had already made herstory as the finalist with the most online support heading into a RuPaul’s Drag Race finale. It wasn’t a surprise, though — the theatre buff racked up four maxi-challenge wins over the season, including the coveted Snatch Game, all while consistently serving Black excellence with her unwavering celebration and homage to Black culture. Then, on 18 April, Onya dominated! the finale — showcasing her powerful vocals on the original track ‘It Do Take Nurve’, before abracadabra, amor-ooh-na-na’ing her way to glory in the final lip-sync smackdown against Jewels Sparkles.
While Onya has “barely had time to eat” or sleep since her win — thanks to a whirlwind of media and club appearances, including a guest stint on Good Morning America (major) — she’s already laser-focused on her next dream: conquering the EGOT. “I want to get my Emmy. I want to get my Grammy. I want to get my Tony. And I want to get my Oscar,” Onya tells GAY TIMES, adding that she also envisions buying her own home and, of course, continuing to be “the bad bitch that I am.”
Here, Onya Nurve reflects on her triumphant Drag Race season 17 journey — from the episode she’s most proud of, to her undeniable impact on future Black queens, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind. She also opens up about why she skipped a reveal during her ‘Abracadabra’ lip-sync, and spills which iconic show she’s destined to appear on. In the words of Onya herself: “It do take Nurve!”
Onya Nurve! America’s Next Drag Superstar! How are you feeling? Has it sunk in yet?
I don’t think so! I don’t think so. You can imagine how fast everything is moving. I’ve barely had time to eat, honey! So, it hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I am over the moon, girl.
You appeared on Good Morning America, too. I mean, how many hours of sleep have you had since being crowned?
I had zero hours of sleep before going on Good Morning America because I knew if I would’ve slept even a bit, I would’ve been a wreck. So I’m just like, ‘Girl, stay up and you’ll get your sleep after.’
Your lovely mum Nina was there to support you and, of course, your father appeared on Drag Race for the makeover. How do they feel knowing their child is America’s Next Drag Superstar?
I think they just stopped crying yesterday! They’re so excited, overwhelmed and overjoyed with emotion. I was so happy to make them proud.
You’ve made so many people proud and, Onya, you demolished that final lip-sync.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
What was it like stepping into that final moment on the stage to do the final lip-sync, with the pressure to secure the crown, but also the added challenge of doing justice to this iconic Lady Gaga banger?
My goal going into that lip-sync was just to be true to who I am as an entertainer. I know what I’ve always brought to the table, and it hasn’t failed me yet. So, I needed to trust that and really bet on myself just one more time.
You certainly gave Little Monster and did justice to the line, “Dance or Die”.
[Laughs] I understood the category!
Queens and Drag Race fans historically love a lip-sync reveal, but you opted not to. Not that you needed it. Was that intentional on your part, to show audiences that Onya Nurve can command a stage without a reveal moment?
It was intentional. Of course, I had other options, but at the end of the day… I mean, to be honest, I didn’t practice those options with nails, and I was definitely going on the stage with nails! But, I just told myself, ‘You are not a reveal queen. You’ve never done goops and gags. You are the goop and gag. So, you just go out there, give it your all and be yourself.’
You were “the Lady in Red”, anyway.
I absolutely was! That was the only thing that was pretty intentional as far as the presence of the song. I just knew I wanted to be in all red, and I felt like I would pull attention in that way. It obviously paid off!
It was queer joy at its finest. Ahead of the finale, you received more likes on a #Team post than any other finalist in Drag Race herstory…
Oh my god…
What was that like, to be met with so much love and support from fans?
Amazing. I’m not a social media girl, but getting on Drag Race helped me understand that social media is a very powerful source when it comes to being a queen and how the world sees you. So, it was very heartwarming to see that America – the world! – was riding for your girl!
Let’s talk about your standout moments this season. With four maxi-challenge wins and various top placements, there’s a lot; from your hilarious rendition of Laganja Estranja’s ‘Put Your Lighters Up’ to your Snatch Game-winning impersonation of Eddie Murphy and your interpretative dance with Lexi Love. And, of course, Ross Matthews vs The Ducks, comedy perfection and my personal favourite. Is there a moment you’re particularly proud of?
I think my proudest moment would probably be the RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! challenge. Hosting is the role that I really wanted to do, and I am a host outside of Drag Race a lot, so I felt really at home in that moment. I felt proud doing it. Also, doing Snatch Game as Eddie Murphy was amazing because I knew that doing an actor and comedian that was such an icon like he is wasn’t going to be easy. I’m glad I took the chance, and doing it while Quinta Brunson was there was incredible!
Throughout the season, you expressed how important it was for you to celebrate and uplift Black culture through your drag. Have you noticed this have an impact on viewers at home who share the same experiences as you?
Absolutely. There are so many entertainers in the world that look just like me and feel just like me, that they’re not good enough and have to work twice as hard as their white counterparts to get even half of what they have. I just want to be a reminder that, if you keep working hard and following your dreams, baby, you also be a RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar.
When fans look back at season 17, what do you hope they say about the legacy of Onya Nurve?
I just hope they understand that drag is so much more than the things that we put on our body, that it’s an extension of what you are. But, what really matters is what’s inside all of that glitter and glam, which is you as a person, and that should always stand at the forefront of your drag.
Over the years, we’ve seen queens becoming moguls with brands, starring in movies and writing books, etc. So what’s the empire you’re hoping to build?
I hope to continue travelling the world, being the bad bitch that I am. I obviously want to be on Broadway. It’s one of my dreams, along with getting on Drag Race. I always told my mom that I want to get my EGOT! I want to get my Emmy. I want to get my Grammy. I want to get my Tony. And, I want to get my Oscar. Some way, somehow, I also want to buy a house. Those are the things that I really want to see.
‘Onya Nurve makes history as the first Drag Race contestant to become an EGOT winner’ is a headline I expect to see and will see.
I see it now!
Besides Broadway and the EGOT, if you could star in a dream project, a movie, show or music related, what would it be?
I would love to be in a movie with some powerful actors that consist of Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Denzel Washington, Lupita Nyong’o. All in one movie, all in one space, is how I see it.
Also, there is absolutely a future where we see you show up in some capacity on Abbott Elementary. Manifest it with me now, Onya!
Oh, it’s going to happen! That’s already stamped in stone in my brain. It is. That’s not even a dream. That’s going to happen…
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 17 is streaming in the UK on WOW Presents Plus.
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