On 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Finale, One Queen Takes the Crown and Liza Rings Them Bells

[Editor's note]: This story contains spoilers for the finale of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 17, including the winner.

It seemed apparent from the start of Season 17 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" that Cleveland-based Onya Nurve was the queen to beat. Of the 13 competitive weeks leading up to the finale, she won four; was safe for eight; and was in the bottom once. That was week 13, in which Onya competed against Jewels Sparkles, which turned out to be a preview of the final lip synch of the season. Ru chose not to send anyone home that night; but there could only be one winner this week and it was Onya who was crowned America's Next Drag Superstar.

"I just want to say that I f---ing did it," Onya told Entertainment Weekly shortly after being crowned. "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."

She says that one reason she won was how she was underestimated over the season. "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."

Asked if any celebrities had reached out to show their support, Onya cited one: "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."

And she also took a moment to reinstate her how she's coming after Viola Davis. (In an earlier EW interview this season she joked, "I'm coming for you, Viola.")

But her comment comes from admiration for the Oscar-winning actress. "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. So, yes, I am coming for Viola Davis. 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!"

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Onya won the crown over fellow finalists Lexi Love, Sam Star and Jewels Sparkles. Before the newly appointed queen received the title, she put on a fierce lip-sync performance to Lady Gaga's latest hit "Abracadabra" alongside the season's runner-up, Jewels.

While Jewels had numerous reveals during her performance, Onya had none, telling Entertainment Weekly later: "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."

And she added a line that will likely become iconic: "I don't need 'em. I am the gag and the goop!"

Onya took the crown and scepter from Season 16 winner Nymphia Wind, whose exit video included a droll impersonation of the esteemed primatologist Jane Goodell, who was in the joke when she appeared in the video.

In addition to crowning Onya, Crystal Envy was named. Miss Congeniality.

But the clear high point of the show came when Ru honored Liza Minnelli with this year's the Giving Us Lifetime Achievement honor. Previous recipients have been Elvira and Bob Mackie.

"I speak for a grateful nation when I say: Liza, we love you," RuPaul said at the end of her short interview with the EGOT-winning Hollywood icon and longtime LGBTQ community ally, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Liza sat curled up in a giant red chair as buff dancers performed around her and when answering questions by Ru in a fast Q&A.

"Thank you. I don't know what else to say, except, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be me. You made me!" replied the 'Cabaret' actress, to which RuPaul quipped, "Well, you made us, actually! One more time, let's ring them bells!"

A slew of backup dancers returned while "Ring Them Bells" (which Minnelli previously performed in her 1972 special "Liza With a Z") played overhead, with the musician clutching a set of jingle bells in her right hand and shaking them throughout the song.

Minnelli mouthed a few of the lyrics and struck several poses from her chair as the music continued.

It was a rare public appearance for Minnelli. Her most recent prior appearance was at the 2022 Oscars where she co-presented the Best Picture Oscar from a wheelchair.

Variety reports that it was RuPaul who said they needed to get Liza, but her World of Wonder team thought she was un-gettable. But as it turns out, Liza's management team are big fans of the show and understand its cultural importance. Additionally, Liza is having a public moment, having recently graced the cover of New York Magazine and being the subject of the terrific documentary "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story."

And she remains one of the key cultural figures in the queer community, as "Drag Race" producer Tom Campbell points out in Variety. "She has made her fans, her chosen family. That's how it feels. She has shared her hardships and triumphs. She has raised millions of dollars for AIDS research at a time when it was very scary time, and she's unflappable."

And he adds, "She gave us such a huge gift by being part of the show."