RuPaul’s Drag Race has been around for 17 seasons now, spawning numerous spinoffs, live shows and global editions, but that doesn’t mean the show’s contestants aren’t still surprised by what happens in the Werk Room.
“I didn’t know it was going to be so hard,” season 17 finalist Onya Nurve exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the Friday, April 18, finale. “We all do drag part-time or full-time outside of the show. It’s like drag boot camp. It’s like drag two-a-days. It is longer, it is more intense and it’s not as easy as it looks. I think that was the biggest surprise for me.”
Onya’s fellow finalist Sam Star agreed, joking that the show’s title is more fitting than she ever knew.
“When it’s called RuPaul’s Drag Race, I didn’t realize that that is so accurate, that it’s so fast,” she explained. “You don’t have time to think, really. Your first idea is your only idea, ’cause there’s no time to think for the second idea. It seems so easy, and I was definitely the girl who sat at home and read everybody down and was like, ‘Girl, why would you do that?’ But now doing it, I get it. So everybody at home, I’m sorry for reading y’all. The former girls, I get it now. It was very hard.”
The remaining finalists, Lexi Love and Jewels Sparkles, echoed those sentiments, telling Us they were surprised by the breakneck pace of filming.
“It really is a race,” Lexi told Us. “It’s very regimented. It’s a surprise. And the girls really are — they say we’re like the Olympics of drag. Those girls are Olympians. It takes a mental fortitude to do this.”
Jewels, for her part, says she has a “new respect” for anyone who’s ever been in the Werk Room. “Everything happens so fast, you don’t have time to think,” she added. “It’s an instinct game. It’s whoever’s best at following their instincts, because that’s all you have in there.”
That’s not to say that no fun was had during season 17. All four finalists had the judges in stitches during Snatch Game, with Onya winning the challenge as Eddie Murphy. She told Us she hasn’t heard from the comedian about her impression, but she’s still holding out hope.
“I am dying to get an [Instagram] follow from Eddie Murphy, a message from Eddie Murphy,” she said. “I am Eddie Murphy’s biggest fan and I killed him on Snatch Game. I was a perfect representation. Hit me up, Eddie! I love you and I know you love me too.”
Sam also hasn’t heard from QVC personality Kim Gravel, but she’s ready to link up — and collaborate.
“If you do see this, Kim, I love you,” Sam told Us. “Please reach out to me because we have to collab. The kids would love it. And I was a huge fan of your show. Still a huge fan of the QVC line!”
The season 17 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race airs on MTV Friday, April 18, at 8 p.m. ET.
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