Discover the Winner of Season 16: RuPaul's Drag Race Finale Crowns Its Champion!

Season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race culminated in the crowning of its champion! Find out which fabulous queen took the coveted title in the finale

By M Muzamil Shami

Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane, and Sapphira Cristál vied for the top three spots, marking the first time since season 8 that the main show saw such a lineup.

The victor emerges! RuPaul's Drag Race season 16 has named its latest champion in a dazzling finale.

In the electrifying grand showdown on Friday night, Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane, and Sapphira Cristál fiercely vied for the coveted crown and a hefty $200,000 prize. After a tumultuous journey spanning 16 episodes packed with juicy drama, intense showdowns, and unforgettable lip-sync battles, the stage was set for a spectacular climax.

       Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane, Sapphira Cristál on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 16 finale. PHOTO: MTV

Assisted by season 15 winner Sasha Colby, the night concluded with RuPaul crowning Nymphia as America's Next Drag Superstar, with runner-up Sapphira earning a $25,000 prize for her remarkable efforts throughout the competition.

As RuPaul declared her victory, Nymphia dropped to her knees in disbelief. Gathering her emotions, she delivered a powerful message: "For those who struggle to find their place, remember to embrace fearlessness and the bravery to live authentically. And to Taiwan, this victory is dedicated to you!"

                                                   Nymphia Wind. PHOTO: SANTIAGO FELIPE/GETTY

This marked a significant moment in Drag Race history as it was the first finale since season 8 in 2016 to feature an official top-three lineup of finalists. (Season 12's finale was reduced to three competitors following the disqualification of top-four finalist Sherry Pie.)

Earlier in the episode, Plane bid farewell in third place after presenting original performances alongside the other finalists. Known for stirring controversy with her unconventional approach to Werk Room camaraderie, the Boston native departed with a $25,000 prize before gracefully exiting the competition. This left Nymphia, hailing from Taiwan, and Sapphira, representing Philadelphia, to battle it out in a lip-sync showdown to Kylie Minogue's 2023 hit "Padam Padam."

This marked Nymphia's debut in competitive lip-syncing for the season, and she certainly made an impression. Her performance kicked off with a captivating series of bubble tea-inspired reveals, highlighted by the dramatic release of black "boba" balloons symbolizing tapioca pearls from under her coat. Nymphia then dazzled with a flurry of acrobatics, gracefully moving across the stage. In contrast, Sapphira started her performance with a subtle approach, standing still and conveying the song's emotions while sporting a pair of vampire teeth.

RuPaul crowned Nymphia the champion of her inaugural lip-sync of the season, awarding her $200,000 in prize money alongside the esteemed title of America's Next Drag Superstar.

In a historic moment, Sapphira and Xunami Muse—drag offspring of the iconic Kandy Muse—etched their names in her-story by jointly securing the Miss Congeniality title. The Miss C ceremony further showcased this milestone with both Sapphira and Xunami receiving $10,000 each, while the remaining eliminated queens were graciously given $2,000 as a token of appreciation for their journey on season 16.

Miami's Morphine Love Dion clinched yet another secondary season 16 victory just last week. She emerged triumphant in a fierce lip-sync LaLaPaRuza showdown against all previously eliminated queens, seizing the coveted Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses title and a $50,000 prize purse.

                                                 Sasha Colby. PHOTO: MTV

One year after Sasha triumphed over Anetra in the season 15 finale, her victory celebrations commenced. She had electrified audiences with a lip-sync performance to Amii Stewart's "Knock on Wood," incorporating a bold striptease that she described to Entertainment Weekly as a defiant statement aimed at transphobes worldwide.

Reflecting on her choice to bare it all during such contentious times, Sasha expressed, "It was a deliberate decision to strip down. I wanted them to confront what they seek to erase." Speaking at the season 15 crowning event in New York City, she elaborated, "Given the current legislative landscape and prevailing sentiments, my representation on Drag Race, endorsed by a powerhouse like MTV, embodies exactly what [conservatives] aim to erase. That's immensely impactful to me." She further articulated, "I comprehend the scrutiny directed at me, which is precisely why I opted for nudity. My intention was to normalize the presence of this transgender body!"