SPECIAL THANKS TO MATT LAHBIBI AT PREMIER

The first-ever season of Drag Race Philippines came to an insane conclusion last week when the top four contestants, Eva La Queen, Marina Summers, Precious Paula Nicole and Xilhouette, competed in a lip-sync smackdown for the crown. While this particular format has been met with a marmite response in recent months, the quartet reinvigorated life into said format with three fierce battles: Eva vs Precious, Marina vs Xilouette and, after winning their respective showdowns, Precious vs Marina.

Following an intense performance to Gloc-9 and Ebe Dancel’s Sirena – a song of significance to the LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines – Precious emerged supreme, becoming the inaugural champion of Drag Race Philippines in the process and the recipient of a crown, sceptre and one million pesos. “[This win] means that my 12 years in the drag industry has paid off. It reminded me that I was doing the right thing, that I made the right choice,” says the star.

“It means so much to me because, upon entering this competition, my main goal was to use this platform to help more LGBTQ+ people – especially the Golden Gays here in the Philippines that are homeless, they need to be taken care of. This award, this crown, isn’t just for myself; it’s for everyone who is inspired by my story and my drag.”

In this exclusive interview with GAY TIMES, Precious Paula Nicole opens up about her Drag Race experience and the series’ impact on the drag and LGBTQ+ communities in her native country, as well as the mixed response on social media to her victory.

Precious Paula Nicole, it’s so lovely to meet you.

Mabuhay, Sam, from the Philippines!

Mabuhay! Condragulations on winning the first-ever season of Drag Race Philippines. How have these past few days been as the country’s first crowned (drag) queen?

Thank you, so much. It’s very busy! I have so many calls to answer. Everyone just wants to have a piece of me and a piece of my heart, but it’s a part of my job now. I’m so open and so ready for this.

You now join some legendary first-crowned queens such as Bebe Zahara Benet, Natalia Pliacam, The Vivienne, Priyanka and Envy Peru… That’s good company to have, right?

Very! Before the competition aired, I was looking at a picture of all the winners and I was like, ‘Maybe someday. Maybe one day, I can see myself there.’ It’s the power of manifestation, it works! Two years ago, I was asked what I want to achieve for the next five years and I was like, ‘I think I want a Drag Race title,’ and then it was all over YouTube, TikTok. It’s the manifestation, it’s living proof that it really works.

How did you react when Paolo [Ballesteros] called your name?

I was honestly expecting for a different name to be called. When it started I was telling myself to hope for the best, but you should always expect for the worst to happen. Last year I joined a drag contest here in the Philippines and I didn’t get the title. I was so devastated because I was expecting to win. It felt so bad. I was waiting for that for three months. So, when the crowning moment happened I told myself, ‘You should be prepared, bitch.’ It took me five seconds to realise that my name was called. When I heard everyone screaming my name I was like, ‘Oh my god, thank you lord! Thank you RuPaul! Thank you universe!’