Sapphira Cristál | |
|---|---|
 Sapphira Cristál atRuPaul's DragCon LA, 2024 | |
| Born | O'Neill Nichol Haynes (1988-09-27)September 27, 1988 (age 37) Bryan, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | University of Rochester Bard College |
| Occupation | Drag queen |
| Television | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16) |
| Relatives | Saul Soliz (stepfather) |
| Website | sapphiracristal |
Sapphira Cristál (born September 27, 1988)[1] is the stage name ofO'Neill Nichol Haynes,[2] an Americandrag performer who was both runner-up and Miss Congeniality onseason 16 ofRuPaul's Drag Race. She is also a classically trainedopera singer and acomposer.[3][4]
Born in Bryan, Texas,[5] Haynes's stepfather was MMA trainerSaul Soliz. Haynes was raised inHouston.[6] His first exposure to opera was at the age of 4, when he attended a Houston Ebony Opera Guild performance ofLa bohème at theMiller Outdoor Theatre in Houston.[7] He practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai as a child.[8] Haynes attended Houston'sKinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.[9]He studied music composition and opera at theEastman School of Music at theUniversity of Rochester and theLongy School of Music atBard College, but did not complete his bachelor's degree.[10] His first experience singing opera was when he attended a voice lesson dressed asLeontyne Price while attending the Eastman School and his teacher,Karen Holvik, allowed him to sing as asopranist for the first time. After transferring to the Longy School of Music, Haynes' father discovered his sexuality and cut off his financial resources, eventually leaving Haynes homeless. He was subsequently expelled from the school after cursing out a pair of administrators who refused to help him with his housing situation.[7]
Sapphira Cristál started doing drag inRochester, New York and worked inNew York City,Boston, Massachusetts andProvincetown, Massachusetts.[8]
Sapphira Cristál competed on season 16 ofRuPaul's Drag Race in 2023, after auditioning for the show 11 times.[6][11] She won the first episode'stalent show challenge[12] by performing the opera piece "O mio babbino caro".[13] Following the premiere, Sapphira Cristál released a studio version of her performance.[14] In total, she won four challenges throughout the season to earn a spot in the finale. She was voted by her fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality, alongsideXunami Muse, and placed as the runner-up toNymphia Wind.[15]
Outside ofDrag Race, she has won fourteendrag pageants.[16]
Haynes identifies aspansexual,polyamorous andnon-binary,[17][18] and is based inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania.[12][19] Growing up, Haynes went to the same church asBeyoncé andKelly Rowland inHouston, Texas.[8]
All credits adapted fromApple Music andSpotify.[20][21]
| Year | Title | Album | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "Get Your Flowers" | Non-album single | James Blaszko, O'Neill Haynes, Tazman Mekell Gillespie | Ocean Kelly |
| "Enough" | Ash Gordon, James Blaszko, O'Neill Haynes, Ocean Kelly | |||
| "O mio babbino caro" (Sapphira Cristál withGiacomo Puccini,Giovacchino Forzano, Macedonia Radio Orchestra, Oleg Kondratenko) | Giacomo Puccini,Giovacchino Forzano | Jonathan Estabrooks |
| Year | Title | Genre | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Web series | Herself | 1 special episode; Meet the Queens |
| 2024 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16) | Television | Contestant | Runner-up, Miss Congeniality; 16 episodes |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Herself | Season 15, 13 episodes | ||
| Whatcha Packin' | Web series | Guest; 1 episode | ||
| Hey Qween! | Guest; 1 episode |
