SPOILER ALERT so look over there!!! You’ve been warned… RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR) proclaimed Jaida Essence Hall as the winner and crowned the beautiful black woman as the Queen of Season 12.

Three fierce finalists including Gigi Goode of Los Angeles and Crystal Methyd of Springfield battled for the much-coveted crown while quarantined in their respective homes. All three told RuPaul what it would mean to them to be the crowned drag superstar:

Crystal said, “I want to turn drag on its head. I want to create looks that are so bizarre that people don’t even know if it’s drag. Drag has always been about pushing boundaries and I think that my drag is doing that and I think that that is why I am America’s next drag superstar.

“To me it’s not an option not to win. If the crown ends up going one of my other sisters, I’m happy for them but I have been able to deliver in every single category that a drag race superstar has to give. And I know that’s a bold statement, and I know it comes back to whether it’s humble or cocky but I’m bringing it back to confidence. This crown belongs to me.”, said Ms. Goode.  

Jaida said, “I know how it is to grind so hard and be told so many times no. It will give me validation that you know what your craft is, you know what you’re doing, you’re in the right place, at the right time for the right reason.” 

The would-be winner would have to go through three rounds of lip-sync challenges. After a close-up lip sync that conveys emotion just through the face, she has to do a self-produced, self-directed and self-starred performance to a song of her choice. In the last round, it’s the final chance to impress momma Ru and snatch the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” via Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor”.

Below is the live reaction of the three finalists as they watched the lip-sync battle and winner announcement:

Credit: RuPauls Drag Race Official YouTube Channel

After lip syncing for the crown, the queen from Wisconsin bested her sisters from California and Missouri and was announced the grand champion. She won with the title a year’s supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics, a crown and scepter from Fierce Drag Jewels, and 100,000-dollar cash price.

In her acceptance speech, Jaida said, “I would like to say that if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you’re gonna LOOK OVER THERE?!!”

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