Thirty-five year old Bikolana drag performer Precious Paula Nicole was hailed as the next drag superstar as she was announced as the first winner of Drag Race Philippines, the Filipino version of the American reality drag contest and TV series Rupaul's Drag Race.
She bested 11 other contestants after 10 episodes, which ran for more than two months since 17 August and which were full of challenges and runway looks.
The finale episode of the television reality series was shown on 12 October on streaming platform WOW Present Plus as well as on Discovery Plus and HBO Go, which held a viewing party at the bar Cove Manila of Okada Manila in Parañaque City.
In the finale, the eliminated queens — Prince, Corazon, Gigi Era, Turing, Lady Morgana, Viñas Deluxe, Brigiding and Minty Fresh — sashayed in their spectacular looks and host Paolo Ballesteros or Mama Pao treated viewers with a performance.
The Miss Congeniality title was awarded to Lady Morgana, receiving a prize P40,000, before the showdown of the four finalists — Precious, Eva Le Queen, Marina Summers and Xilhouete. They showed off their takes on the runway categories Bongga Camp Day and Indigenous Extravaganza.
The first round of the lip sync battles was between Eva Le Queen and Precious Paula Nicole, who performed RuPaul's "Sissy That Walk." The second round pitted Marina Summers against Xilhouete and they performed RuPaul's "Call Me Mother."
Precious and Marina emerged as the top two contestants and they battled it out performing to the iconic song "Sirena" by Gloc-9.
"Life is precious and so are we. Let's continue to inspire and let's continue to love. I am Precious Paula Nicole, your Drag Race superstar," said Precious after being declared the winner.
She will receive a one-year supply of ONE/SIZE beauty cosmetics by Patrick Starrr and a hefty cash prize of P1 million.
At the viewing party, a surprised Precious was asked to go onstage for the crowning led by judge KaladKaren. She was emotional as fans cheered her. Present at the event is her younger brother, John John, who guested in the makeover challenge.
On her Twitter account (@PreciousPaulaN), the winner made two posts after the momentous event.
"Omg! I made it tsukulit!!!!" she wrote.
Precious Paula Nicole, whose name is Rodolfo H. Gabroel II out of frag, hails from Daet, Camarines Norte, and has been in the drag scene for more than 11 years.
She is a professional dancer and is also known for her comedy shticks and impersonation of divas such as Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Madonna and Regine Velasquez. Her drag name was borrowed from Paolo Ballesteros who used it in one of his television episodes. A star performer at O Bar, she is a mother to a host of other popular drag queens. She is a member of the drag group Divine Divas.
During the competition, she became one of the favorites. She performed as Regine Velasquez at the OPM Divas: The Rusical and she was praised for her Pearl of the Orient Seas look. She endeared herself more to fans during the Twinning! challenge when she transformed John John into a drag queen.
A second season of Drag Race Philippines has not yet been confirmed but viewers can still watch or rewatch the first season on Discovery Plus, HBO Go, and WOW Presents Plus.
Drag Race Philippines was produced in the Philippines by Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc with World of Wonder Productions, Inc. and with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, and RuPaul Charles serving as executive producers.
The other post said, "From the bottom of my precious heart, walang katapusang pasasalamat sa lahat ng sumuporta at nagtiwala. Mahal ko kayo (unending thanks to all those who supported and kept faith in me. I live you all)."