(Photo credit: Bell Media)
*Warning: the following content contains spoilers*
The Virgo Queen has become the first Afro-Indigenous drag queen to win Canada’s Drag Race, taking home the $100,000 grand prize and the title of Canada’s next drag superstar.
Virgo competed against Helena Poison, Minhi Wang, and Makayla Couture in the season 5 finale last night. She and Makayla made it to top two, and Virgo took the win after a lip-sync battle to “From This Moment” by Shania Twain.
Virgo had the most wins out of everyone this season, winning a total of three challenges.
Throughout the season she excelled in singing and lip-sync challenges, and Canada’s Drag Race host, Brooke Lynn Hytes, even called Virgo one of the most talented lyricists that has ever been on the show.
“That is a huge compliment because there have been so many amazing songs written on the franchise and so many great lyrics,” said Virgo.
For the final challenge of the season, the queens were tasked with creating their own hit single. Virgo’s song “The Stars Have Aligned” was an inspirational anthem that blew the judges away, helping her secure the win.
(Video credit: Bell Media)
The Virgo Queen went through the competition with her drag daughter, Sanjina Dabish Queen, who came in ninth place. She said that the competition helped them build an even stronger relationship, but Virgo also developed long-lasting connections with other queens on the show.
“Obviously Sanjina and I had an established relationship, but I grew close with Jaylene from the first day. From when we first walked into the werk room, we immediately clicked, and since then we’ve built a relationship. I love Jaylene,” she explained.
Jaylene was the mother of season 5, and that title didn’t go unnoticed. During the finale the queens were tasked with giving one competitor the title of Miss Congeniality. After deliberation, Jaylene was named Miss Congeniality, which also came with a $10,000 cheque.
At the finale, Jaylene wore an Every Child Matters gown, and the artist Andy Everson gave her the blessing to wear the design on the main stage.
“I feel really honoured to be able to recognize that as an Indigenous trans person, this says to the world, ‘This is me; here I am, standing in my power,” Jaylene said during the finale.
(Video credit: Bell Media)
The Virgo Queen is the second straight Indigenous drag queen to win the show, and she hopes that trend will continue.
“Last night we were talking about it; we just get to continue that reign for our community, and it’s just like one more year for all of us who get to be represented and feel that power,” she said.
With season 5 concluded, The Virgo Queen shared with MBC Radio News what her future holds.
“Definitely focusing on music and hopefully getting some singles out, maybe an album; I’d love to tour and meet lots of different people. I mean, I feel like the possibilities are endless, so I’m super open to anything; maybe I’ll be on the big screen acting,” she said.
More in-depth interviews with the Indigenous queens of Canada’s Drag Race season 5 can be found at the link below.