| RuPaul's Drag Race | |
|---|---|
| Season 17 | |
Promotional poster for season seventeen | |
| Hosted by | RuPaul |
| Judges | |
| No. of contestants | 14 |
| Winner | Onya Nurve |
| Runner-up | Jewels Sparkles |
| Miss Congeniality | Crystal Envy |
| Companion show | Untucked! |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Release | |
| Original network | MTV |
| Original release | January 3 (2025-01-03) – April 18, 2025 (2025-04-18) |
| Season chronology | |
← Previous Season 16 | |
| List of episodes | |
The seventeenth season of the Americanreality competition seriesRuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 3, 2025. This marks the third season to air through cable networkMTV. The seventeenth installment of the series documents drag queenRuPaul in search of the "Next Drag Superstar" for the United States.
RuPaul remained as host and head judge of the series. Television personalitiesMichelle Visage,Carson Kressley,Ts Madison, andRoss Mathews continued as regular judges. Fashion stylistLaw Roach, whopreviously appeared as a guest judge, joined the judicial panel.
After few contenders remained in the competition,Onya Nurve won the season alongside its title, a cash prize of $200,000, and a years-worth ofAnastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics.Jewels Sparkles was the runner-up andCrystal Envy was voted Miss Congeniality.
Throughout social media, the host and head judgeRuPaul announced a casting call for drag performers to apply for the seventeenth season on October 30, 2023. The final deadline coincided withthe premiere episode of season sixteen on January 5, 2024.[1]
Two months later, RuPaul published his memoir titledThe House of Hidden Meanings and embarked on a book tour where he was given a flash drive containing an audition tape from drag queenHormona Lisa.[2] Just months after its sixteenth season concluding, American cable networkMTV announced the series renewal, including thecompanion series, on August 16.[3]
As season sixteen received several nominations at the76th Primetime Emmy Awards, many journalists had the opportunity to visit the main stage and the workroom set.[4] Fans quickly realized the newly constructed set for the upcoming season with journalists forPeople witnessing previous contestantsMhi'ya Iman Le'Paige andMorphine Love Dion using the main stage for a lip-sync contest.[5]Architectural Digest released a video on August 22, where previous winnerNymphia Wind tours around the set with production designer Jen Chu explaining the scenery and inspiration for the series.[6]
TheBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported British drag performerThe Vivienne, inaugurated winner ofRuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019) and contestant ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2022), had died on January 5, 2025.[7] Subsequently, the second episode of the season featured anin memoriam segment dedicated to The Vivienne, following the regular credits on January 10.[8]
A ten-second teaser was released on November 22, 2024, throughout social media, with RuPaul announcing the season premiering in January 2025.[9] Nymphia Wind presented the contestants through the series officialYouTube channel on December 4, showcasing their water-themed outfits and background.[10]
Variety first reported on December 11 thatspin-off winnerMonét X Change will hostThe Pit Stop, a weekly webseries serving as anaftershow. The first episode premiered through YouTube with alumni contestantRaven as the first guest on January 4, 2025.[11]
The season's double premiere retained the same format as theprevious season, where contestants rank each other based on their performances for the main challenge; this format parodies television seriesThe Circle.[12]
Similar to the Chocolate Bar twist fromseason 14, this season featured a twist where the lip-sync loser is given an opportunity to stay in the contest call the "Badonka Dunk" - the contestant is presented withMichelle Visage sitting on adunk tank and must chose one of ten randomlevers, which if successfully struck, would drop Visage into the water and save the contestant from elimination. If they selected the incorrect lever, the contestant will be eliminated.[13]
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onya Nurve | 31 | Cleveland, Ohio | Winner |
| Jewels Sparkles | 23 | Tampa, Florida | Runner-up |
| Lexi Love | 33 | Louisville, Kentucky | 3rd place |
| Sam Star | 24 | Leeds, Alabama | |
| Suzie Toot | 24 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 5th place |
| Lana Ja'Rae | 22 | New York City, New York | 6th place |
| Lydia B Kollins[b] | 23 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 7th place |
| Arrietty | 28 | Seattle, Washington | 8th place |
| Kori King | 24 | Boston, Massachusetts | 9th place |
| Acacia Forgot | 28 | Los Angeles, California | 10th place |
| Crystal Envy | 27 | Asbury Park, New Jersey | 11th place[c] |
| Hormona Lisa | 30 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | 12th place |
| Joella | 25 | Los Angeles, California | 13th place |
| Lucky Starzzz | 26 | Miami, Florida | 14th place |
Legend:
| Contestant | Episode | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[17] | 2[18] | 3[19] | 4[20] | 5[21] | 6[22] | 7[23] | 8[24] | 9[25] | 10[26] | 11[27] | 12[28] | 13[29] | 14[30] | 15[31] | 16[32] | ||
| Onya Nurve | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | WIN | BTM | SAFE | Guest | Winner | |
| Jewels Sparkles | TOP2 | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | WIN | Guest | Runner-up | |
| Lexi Love | Guest | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | Guest | Eliminated | |
| Sam Star | Guest | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | WIN | BTM | Guest | Eliminated | |
| Suzie Toot | WIN | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | SDADHH | Guest | |
| Lana Ja'Rae | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | ELIM | LOSS | Guest | |||
| Lydia B Kollins | SAFE | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | WIN | ELIM | LOSS | Guest | ||||
| Arrietty | SAFE | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | BDT | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | LOSS | Guest | |||||
| Kori King | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | ELIM | TOP2 | Guest | ||||||
| Acacia Forgot | BTM | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | LOSS | Guest | |||||||
| Crystal Envy | Guest | TOP2 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | LOSS | Miss C | ||||||||
| Hormona Lisa | Guest | BDT | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | LOSS | Guest | |||||||||
| Joella | SAFE | Guest | BTM | ELIM | LOSS | Guest | |||||||||||
| Lucky Starzzz | SAFE | Guest | ELIM | LOSS | Guest | ||||||||||||
Legend:
| Episode | Top contestants | Song | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[17] | Jewels Sparkles | vs. | Suzie Toot | "Woman's World" (Katy Perry) | Suzie Toot |
| 2[18] | Crystal Envy | vs. | Lexi Love | "Alter Ego" (Doechii,JT) | Lexi Love |
| Bottom contestants | Song | Eliminated | |||
| Acacia Forgot | vs. | Hormona Lisa | "Yes, And?" (Ariana Grande) | None[d] | |
| 3[19] | Joella | vs. | Lucky Starzzz | "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (Paula Abdul) | Lucky Starzzz |
| 4[20] | Joella | vs. | Kori King | "Buttons" (The Pussycat Dolls ft.Snoop Dogg) | Joella |
| 5[21] | Arrietty | vs. | Lydia B Kollins | "Boogie Wonderland" (Earth, Wind & Fire,The Emotions) | None[e] |
| 6[22] | Hormona Lisa | vs. | Lana Ja'Rae | "Get Him Back!" (Olivia Rodrigo) | Hormona Lisa |
| 7[23] | Crystal Envy | vs. | Lana Ja'Rae | "Hands to Myself" (Selena Gomez) | Crystal Envy |
| 8[24] | Acacia Forgot | vs. | Kori King | "Wet Dream" (Adam Lambert) | Acacia Forgot |
| 9[25] | Kori King | vs. | Lydia B Kollins | "Kiss Me Deadly" (Lita Ford) | Kori King |
| 10[26] | Arrietty | vs. | Jewels Sparkles | "Ya Ya" (Beyoncé) | Arrietty |
| 11[27] | Lana Ja'Rae | vs. | Lydia B Kollins | "Unholy" (Sam Smith,Kim Petras) | Lydia B Kollins |
| 12[28] | Lana Ja'Rae | vs. | Sam Star | "Illusion" (Dua Lipa) | Lana Ja'Rae |
| 13[29] | Jewels Sparkles | vs. | Onya Nurve | "1 Thing" (Amerie) | None |
| 14[30] | Sam Star | vs. | Suzie Toot | "Love Child" (Diana Ross & The Supremes) | Suzie Toot |
| Episode | Eliminated contestants | Song | Winner | ||
| 15[31] | Hormona Lisa | vs. | Lydia B Kollins | "Say Liza (Liza with a Z)" (Liza Minnelli) | Lydia B Kollins |
| Joella | vs. | Suzie Toot | "Training Season" (Dua Lipa) | Suzie Toot | |
| Acacia Forgot | vs. | Lucky Starzzz | "Step By Step (Junior Vasquez Tribal X Beats)" (Whitney Houston) | Lucky Starzzz | |
| Arrietty | vs. | Kori King | "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" (P!nk) | Kori King | |
| Crystal Envy | vs. | Lana Ja'Rae | "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (Sylvester) | Lana Ja'Rae | |
| Lucky Starzzz | vs. | Suzie Toot | "We Found Love" (Rihanna ft.Calvin Harris) | Suzie Toot | |
| Kori King vs. Lana Ja'Rae vs. Lydia B Kollins | "360" (Charli XCX) | Kori King | |||
| Kori King | vs. | Suzie Toot | "Apt." (Rosé,Bruno Mars) | Suzie Toot | |
| Episode | Final contestants | Song | Winner | ||
| 16[32] | Jewels Sparkles | vs. | Onya Nurve | "Abracadabra" (Lady Gaga) | Onya Nurve |
RuPaul and Michelle Visage remained as the regular judges, withCarson Kressley,Ts Madison, andRoss Mathews reappearing as alternating judges. Various celebrity guest judges set to appear were revealed on December 12 2024.Law Roach was initially advertised as a celebrity guest judge but was later confirmed to be an alternating judge.[35] Starring celebrity guest judges are listed below in order of episode appearance.[36]
Special guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 224 | 1 | "Squirrel Games" | January 3, 2025 (2025-01-03) | |
All 14 new queens along with other queens from previous seasons perform in aSquid Game inspired challenge called "Ru Light, Green Light", where they serve and move forward, but when the music stops andLil' Poundcake turns around, they have to strike a pose. All queens from previous seasons are eliminated, leaving only the new queens. They all then enter the werkroom, and find out that "Ru Light, Green Light" was a photoshoot mini challenge. Lana Ja'Rae wins the mini challenge. For the main challenge, the queens split into two groups, with seven of them performing a talent in Drag Queens Got Talent.
On the runway, category is Masc For Masked Singer. The queens who didn't perform in this episode rank the queens performances using Rate-A-Queen, where it is announced that Jewels Sparkles and Suzie Toot are the top two queens of the week, and will lip-sync for the win. It is also announced that Acacia Forgot was rated lowest and will be lip-syncing for her life in the next episode. Jewels Sparkles and Suzie Toot lip-sync to "Woman's World" byKaty Perry. After the lip-sync, Suzie Toot is announced as the winner of the challenge.
| ||||
| 225 | 2 | "Drag Queens Got Talent – Part 2" | January 10, 2025 (2025-01-10) | |
For the main challenge, the remaining seven queens perform a talent performing a talent in Drag Queens Got Talent.
On the runway, category is Is It Cake?. The queens who didn't perform in this episode rank the queens performances using Rate-A-Queen, where it is announced that Crystal Envy and Lexi Love are the top two queens of the week, and will lip-sync for the win. They then lip-sync to "Alter Ego" byDoechii andJT. After the lip-sync, Lexi Love is announced as the winner of the challenge. It was later announced that Hormona Lisa was rated lowest and will be lip-syncing for her life against Acacia Forgot, who was ranked the lowest in the previous episode. They then lip-sync to "Yes, And" byAriana Grande. Acacia Forgot wins the lip-sync, but RuPaul reveals a new twist called "Badonka Dunk", where the eliminated queen gets to pull a lever, with two of them dunkingMichelle Visage into a tank of water; if Michelle is dunked, the queen is saved from elimination. Hormona Lisa pulls the 7th lever, which dunks Michelle into the water and therefore saves Hormona from elimination.
| ||||
| 226 | 3 | "Monopulence!" | January 17, 2025 (2025-01-17) | |
For this week’s main challenge, the queens create amonochromatic outfit inspired by properties fromboard gameMonopoly, in honor of its 90th anniversary. On the runway, category is Monopulence!. Arrietty, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star receive positive critiques, with Sam Star winning the challenge. Joella, Kori King, and Lucky Starzzz receive negative critiques, with Kori King being safe. Joella and Lucky Starzzz lip-sync to "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" byPaula Abdul. Joella wins the lip-sync. Lucky Starzzz pulls the 3rd lever of the "Badonka Dunk", failing to dunk Michelle into the water and sashays away.
| ||||
| 227 | 4 | "Bitch, I'm a Drag Queen!" | January 24, 2025 (2025-01-24) | |
For this week’s main challenge, the queens record and perform songs for commercials of the Bitch, I’m A Drag Queen! musical tracks featuring past Drag Race contestants.
On the runway, category is Quilted For Your Pleasure. Crystal Envy, Onya Nurve, and Suzie Toot receive positive critiques, with Onya Nurve winning the challenge. Arrietty, Joella, and Kori King receive negative critiques, with Arrietty being safe. Joella and Kori King lip-sync to "Buttons" bythe Pussycat Dolls featuringSnoop Dogg. Kori King wins the lip-sync. Joella pulls the 6th lever of the "Badonka Dunk", failing to dunk Michelle into the water and sashays away.
| ||||
| 228 | 5 | "RDR Live!" | January 31, 2025 (2025-01-31) | |
For this week's main challenge, the queens perform in a sketch comedy of RDR Live.
On the runway, category is TickledPink. Hormona Lisa, Onya Nurve, and Suzie Toot receive positive critiques, with Suzie Toot winning the challenge. Arrietty, Lydia B Kollins, and Sam Star receive negative critiques, with Sam Star being safe. Arrietty and Lydia B Kollins lip-sync to "Boogie Wonderland" byEarth, Wind & Fire andThe Emotions. Lydia B Kollins wins the lip-sync. Arrietty pulls the 1st lever of the "Badonka Dunk", which dunks Michelle into the water and therefore saves Arrietty from elimination.
| ||||
| 229 | 6 | "Let's Get Sea Sickening Ball" | February 7, 2025 (2025-02-07) | |
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens team upto transportAnastasia Beverly Hills lipsticks to a display case using only their mouths. Acacia Forgot, Lexi Love, Lydia B Kollins, Onya Nurve, Sam Star, and Suzie Toot win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create three looks for the Let’s Get Sea Sickening Ball: Bathing Beauties, Sea Creature Couture, and Sea Sickening Eleganza.
On the runway, Arrietty, Crystal Envy, and Sam Star receive positive critiques, with Arrietty winning the challenge. Acacia Forgot, Hormona Lisa, and Lana Ja’Rae receive negative critiques, with Acacia Forgot being safe. Hormona Lisa and Lana Ja’Rae lip sync to "Get Him Back!" byOlivia Rodrigo. Lana Ja’Rae wins the lip sync and Hormona Lisa sashays away.
| ||||
| 229 | 7 | "Snatch Game" | February 14, 2025 (2025-02-14) | |
For this week's main challenge, the queens play theSnatch Game.Alyssa Edwards andGAY-I star as the celebrity contestants. The cast consisted of:
On the runway, category is Nailed It!. Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, and Sam Star receive positive critiques, with Onya Nurve winning the challenge. Arrietty, Crystal Envy, and Lana Ja’Rae receive negative critiques, with Arrietty being safe. Crystal Envy and Lana Ja’Rae lip sync to "Hands to Myself" bySelena Gomez. Lana Ja’Rae wins the lip sync and Crystal Envy sashays away.
| ||||
| 230 | 8 | "The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical!" | February 21, 2025 (2025-02-21) | |
For this week's main challenge, the queens perform inThe Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical!.
On the runway, category is Parasols, Shady Ladies. Jewels Sparkles, Onya Nurve, Sam Star, and Suzie Toot receive positive critiques, with Sam Star winning the challenge. Acacia Forgot and Kori King receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Wet Dream" byAdam Lambert. Kori King wins the lip sync and Acacia Forgot sashays away.
| ||||
| 231 | 9 | "Heavens to Betsey!" | February 28, 2025 (2025-02-28) | |
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Suzie Toot wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens design and create outfits inspired by aBetsey Johnson collection.
On the runway, category is Betsey Johnson Fashion Collection. Arrietty, Jewels Sparkles, and Lexi Love receive positive critiques, with Jewels Sparkles winning the challenge. Kori King, Lydia B Kollins, and Onya Nurve receive negative critiques, with Onya Nurve being safe. Kori King and Lydia B Kollins lip sync to "Kiss Me Deadly" byLita Ford. Lydia B Kollins wins the lip sync and Kori King sashays away.
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| 232 | 10 | "The Villains Roast" | March 7, 2025 (2025-03-07) | |
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens return to the Badonka Dunk tank where Michelle Visage andEntertainment Weekly writer Joey Nolfi ask questions before dunking each of the contestants. For the main challenge, the queens will perform The Villains Roast ofKandy Muse,Mistress Isabelle Brooks, andPlane Jane. On the runway, category is Who Wears Short Shorts?. Lana Ja'Rae, Lydia B Kollins, and Sam Star receive positive critiques, with Lydia B Kollins winning the challenge. Arrietty, Jewels Sparkles, and Lexi Love receive negative critiques, with Lexi Love being safe. Arrietty and Jewels Sparkles lip sync to "Ya Ya" byBeyoncé. Jewels Sparkles wins the lip sync and Arrietty sashays away.
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| 233 | 11 | "Ross Mathews vs. The Ducks" | March 14, 2025 (2025-03-14) | |
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| 234 | 12 | "Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent Monologues" | March 21, 2025 (2025-03-21) | |
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| 235 | 13 | "Drag Baby Mamas" | March 28, 2025 (2025-03-28) | |
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| 236 | 14 | "How's Your Headliner?" | April 4, 2025 (2025-04-04) | |
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| 237 | 15 | "Lip Sync Lalaparuza Smackdown" | April 11, 2025 (2025-04-11) | |
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| 238 | 16 | "Grand Finale" | April 18, 2025 (2025-04-18) | |
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The seventeenth season, and its companion series, premiered through MTV with its first episode on January 3, 2025.[49] The season will consist of sixteen episodes and airs weekly at 8:00 p.m. (EST).[50] Episodes were later released throughout various streaming services such asCrave for Canada,Stan for Australia, and onWOW Presents Plus internationally with next-day availability starting on January 4.[51]
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Squirrel Games" | January 3, 2025 | 0.24 | 0.671 | [52] |
| 2 | "Drag Queens Got Talent – Part 2" | January 10, 2025 | 0.17 | 0.494 | [53] |
| 3 | "Monopulence!" | January 17, 2025 | 0.24 | 0.564 | [54] |
| 4 | "Bitch, I'm a Drag Queen!" | January 24, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.556 | [55] |
| 5 | "RDR Live!" | January 31, 2025 | 0.22 | 0.456 | [56] |
| 6 | "Let's Get Sea Sickening Ball" | February 7, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.530 | [57] |
| 7 | "Snatch Game" | February 14, 2025 | 0.12 | 0.429 | [58] |
| 8 | "The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical" | February 21, 2025 | 0.18 | 0.984 | [59] |
| 9 | "Heavens to Betsey!" | February 28, 2025 | 0.17 | 0.513 | [60] |
| 10 | "The Villains Roast" | March 7, 2025 | 0.22 | 0.870 | [61] |
| 11 | "Ross Mathews vs. The Ducks" | March 14, 2025 | 0.24 | 0.591 | [62] |
| 12 | "Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent Monologues" | March 21, 2025 | 0.22 | 0.564 | [63] |
| 13 | "Drag Baby Mamas" | March 28, 2025 | 0.17 | 0.526 | [64] |
| 14 | "How's Your Headliner?" | April 4, 2025 | 0.14 | 0.424 | [65] |
| 15 | "Lip Sync Lalaparuza Smackdown" | April 11, 2025 | 0.17 | 0.794 | [66] |
| 16 | "Grand Finale" | April 18, 2025 | 0.22 | 0.867 | [67] |