SPOILER ALERT: This contains major spoilers for the finale of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Banana fever reigns supreme after “RuPaul’s Drag Race” crowned America’s next drag superstar.
Season 16 winner Nymphia Wind snatched the crown from fellow finalists Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál. With her win, Nymphia makes “Drag Race” history as the first-ever Taiwanese queen and the third API winner following in the footsteps of season 3’s winner Raja and season 15 queen Sasha Colby.
In a final lip sync battle, the 28-year-old had the edge with her dance moves and lipsynching against Sapphira as they performed to Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam.”
Crowned America’s next drag superstar, Nymphia told the audience: “To those who don’t feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and have courage to live your truth.” She added, “Taiwan, this is for you.”
Nymphia who has become synonymous with the color yellow, brought color and Asian fashion to the show this season with her creations. Her entrance quote at the beginning of the season was “Bananas” and she calls her fanbase “Banana Believers.” She joins the few queens in the history of the main show franchise never to land in the bottom three.
Earlier this week, she sat down with the show’s judge Michelle Visage for a conversation on “Whatcha Packin’” She spoke about her determination to win from the beginning. Nymphia said, “All I said to myself was, I’m here to break the Asian curse.”
The finale also announced Miss Congeniality. For the first time, there was a tie between two queens: Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse won the title and were awarded $10,000 each, courtesy of Olay.
RuPaul also honored Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) with the Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award and played a video tribute to celebrate the icon and frequent judge.
It was also announced that the ninth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked!” will premiere with two episodes on May 17, exclusively on Paramount+.
