RuPaul's Drag Race Official FYC Event
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: Lana Ja’Rae, Jewels Sparkles, Suzie Toot, Leslie Jones, Onya Nurve, Sam Star and Lexi Love during the RuPaul's Drag Race Official FYC Event at Skybar in the Mondrian Los Angeles on June 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for MTV)

RuPaul’s Drag Race Official FYC Event

RuPaul’s Drag Race Official FYC Event at the Mondrian Hotel Skybar

Some of the iconic queens from Season 17 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” – season 17 winner Onya NurveJewels Sparkles, Sam Star, Suzie Toot, Lana Ja’Rae, and Lexi Lovealong with Executive Producer Randy Barbato, Co-Executive Producer and Resident Judge Michelle Visage, and Choreographer and Guest Judge Jamal Sims came together for the official “RuPaul’s Drag Race” FYC Emmy® Pool Party Extravaganza Event on Friday, June 6th at the Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel. The guests were treated to a special panel discussion moderated by actress, comedian, New York Times Best-Selling Author and superfan Leslie Jones.

Event Highlights Include:

  • The queens joined the panelists for a powerful conversation about the importance of drag, visibility, and vulnerability in these times where the art form and freedom of expression is under attack. 
  • The panel spoke to a packed rooftop about the making of the emotional and heartfelt  “Drag Baby Mamas” makeover episode, how the queens bring their life experiences to the competition and use them to succeed, why “Drag Race” is so necessary for the queer community and the next generation, and more
  • There was a special call out to the ACLU Drag Defense Fund, which has surpassed $2.1M in donations, and has been instrumental in drawing attention to and fighting the anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ attacks sweeping the nation
  • The panel closed out with a hilarious behind the scenes look at the hardworking producers and craftspeople who work on the series being dunked in the infamous Badonka Dunk Tank from season 17.
  • Members of the Pit Crew mingled during the reception, posing on the lifeguard stand by the pool, highlighting RuPaul’s inspirational quotes in the space, and showing off the Drag Race “Confessional” photo booth for attendees

“Getting on RuPaul’s Drag Race was a dream of mine. Getting on this show is a testament to betting on yourself. I hope winning this show is a beacon of hope for everyone who looks like me. “ – Onya Nurve

“The greatest gift I’ve ever been given is getting to do the show with my dad. When I got home my mother showed me clips of him practicing in his heels. It takes a secure man to support their child. If my father can cross dress on national television, the minimum people can do is accept their child.” – Jewels Sparkles

“Coming from the middle of nowhere, I always wanted to be somewhere. Tears of joy can be just as powerful as tears of sadness. “ – Sam Star

“Only fourteen queens get chosen out of thousands of applicants. It is the reality competition show of all reality competition shows.” – Suzie Toot

“There are a lot of theatre kids who watch the show and see themselves in me. I wear the women who have inspired me on my sleeve.” – Suzie Toot

“I pull my looks from things that make me happy. The best gift in the world is to make someone smile. My drag is everything people told me I couldn’t be.” – Lana Ja’Rae

“My vulnerability has allowed me to accept life. The show has unlocked everything.” – Lexi Love

“The thing is the show is a drag queen. All the producers are like drag queens. We go into our closet to create.” – Randy Barbato, Executive Producer

“I think this competition is different from any of the others on television because our queens are different from any other star on television. They live for the art of drag.” -Michelle Visage, Co-Executive Producer and Judge

“In this climate, we need to be louder. We need to be gayer than ever before.” – Michelle Visage, Co-Executive Producer and Judge

“I’m always nervous, but what I look for is confidence in a queen. Can I give them the information they need to succeed? I always ask: what do you need from me?” – Jamal Sims, Choreographer and Guest Judge

WHO

Moderator:

Leslie Jones (Actress, Comedian and NYT Best Selling Author)

Panelists:

Randy Barbato, Executive Producer
Michelle Visage, Co-Executive Producer and Judge
Jamal Sims, Choreographer and Guest Judge
Onya Nurve, Season 17 Winner
Jewels Sparkles, Season 17 Runner-Up
Sam Star, Season 17 Contestant
Suzie Toot, Season 17 Contestant
Lana Ja’Rae, Season 17 Contestant
Lexi Love, Season 17 Contestant

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