Onya Nurve has captured the spotlight on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17, dominating the competition with her talent and charisma. As the season approaches its finale, the Ohio native is hopeful her impressive track record will earn her a coveted spot in the final lineup.
Despite her strong performance on the show, Nurve faced a difficult moment in week 10’s episode. After her elimination, fellow contestant Arrietty left a harsh mirror message telling Nurve to “brush your teeth,” which felt like a personal jab, given Nurve’s past insecurities about her breath.
Reflecting on the experience, Nurve tells PRIDE, “It’s been a wild ride, especially to have done it already and then to rewatch it with the world. It’s emotional, especially the last episode. They were putting me through it on the show.”
Reliving that painful moment on television was challenging for the queen, but the outpouring of support from her fans has made it easier to handle. “I literally cried about it. It’s so amazing. Anything bad that happens, all the good outweighs that times a hundred,” she says of the overwhelming positive feedback she’s received online.
In a surprising turn of events, Nurve and Arrietty have since reconciled, putting the drama behind them. “We have [made up]. That is my sister. That is my friend til the day I die, honey,” Nurve affirms, proving that the tensions from last season have been resolved.
As RuPaul’s Drag Race nears its finale, Nurve’s confidence is growing. If she makes it to the end, she would make history as the first queen from Ohio to potentially win the crown.
“It would mean the world to me,” she says. “I worked my entire life for something like this. It would just make everything that I’ve been through in my life worth it. I’m just so proud of myself regardless of what happens. I just feel like the world needs a winner like me.”
Fans are eagerly watching to see if Onya Nurve will make it to the final round of competition and potentially take home the title.
RuPaul’s Drag Race airs Friday nights on MTV.
