Sapphira Cristál’s impressive run on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 saw her make it all the way to Friday night’s grand finale and a final lip-sync battle for the crown to Kylie Minogue’s Padam Padam” against Nymphia Wind. While Nymphia was ultimately named America’s Next Drag Superstar by eight-time Emmy-winning host RuPaul, Sapphira Cristál was voted Miss Congeniality (in a tie with Xunami Muse) by her fellow season 16 queens and the love for Sapphira in the room at MTV’s official RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 grand finale viewing party was palpable as the last episode of the season played out and she took to the stage to perform.
Ahead of the result on the red carpet at the event at the Edge in New York, Sapphira Cristál spoke exclusively with The Queer Review’s editor James Kleinmann about her Drag Race experience, making it to the finale, the support of her mother, and what she wants to put out into the world with her drag.
James Kleinmann, The Queer Review: let’s start with this beautiful look, tell me about putting this together.
“This look was designed by Wilbert Gonzalez. I am the blue rose of Drag Race and I thought this would be an appropriate outfit to show that the rose is in bloom!”
You auditioned for the show 11 times, so having made it to the finale do you feel like this was the year that you were meant to be on Drag Race?
“I asked God for one thing, I said, I want to get on Drag Race, but only when I’m ready to win and here I am the top three. So let’s go.”
During the episode there is a lovely tribute to mothers and you had your own mother there at grand finale, what did it mean to have her there supporting you?
“My mom has always been such a big supporter of mine and to have her there seemed not only right, but mandatory. She is my biggest supporter in life, no matter what I do. She’s always been there to support me, even if she didn’t agree with it, she said, ‘Well, we’re going to make sure you do it the best way possible’. So to have my mother there seemed like this is actually going to go the way that I want it to go. If she wasn’t there, I would not feel as confident.”
What message do you have for parents of LGBTQ kids who are looking to be good parents but maybe they’re not quite sure how to be?
“If you know how to be a good parent to a non-LGBTQIA child, then you know how to be a good parent to an LGBTQIA child. Look, love your kids, support them in anything that they decide to do, be there for them when they fall, and help them to make the correct decisions. We all get one life. You live yours and let your children live theirs, and support them in whatever they decide to do. That is the best way to be a parent.”
What has it been like over these last few months, watching your experience on Drag Race play out on MTV each week?
“It’s a little surreal. I’m performing at a bar that’s watching this show that I’m on and it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, did I say that?’ My favorite part is saying: ‘When did I say that?!’ ‘I said that?!’ ‘I made that face?!’ ‘I can do that?!’ I had no idea that I had the ability to cross my eyes and make one of them move or make them both go that way! I didn’t know I could do that, but I make a lot of faces and they catch a lot of faces on camera.”
What is your proudest moment from season 16?
“My proudest moment from season 16 is going through season 16. Every single moment I was very proud of myself. I feel like I truly did turn it out.”
During the finale RuPaul encourages viewers to contribute to the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund. What do you want to put out in the world with your drag at a time when there are people who would like to place restrictions on drag or see drag queens disappear?
“We as drag queens spread a lot of things; we spread love, we spread fun, respect, kindness, and we spread joy. The one thing that I want to make sure that everyone knows is that that’s all that we do. We are not here trying to convert your children or do any of that nonsense. But what we are here to do is to remind you that life is not that serious and just have a blast. Also, love yourself, and show everyone else the same love that you have for yourself.”
I love your solo number that we see in the finale. Tell me about putting that together and what you wanted to show the judges for one last time with it.
“That number is my love song to myself. I learned to let go when I learned to love me. It didn’t take that long, but sometimes there are steps of loving yourself and I feel like I’m at a pretty high step right now. I always like to tell people to wrap their arms around themselves and say, ‘I truly love and accept myself’, because I truly love and accept myself and because I do that I can truly love and accept you.”
You were voted Miss Congeniality by your fellow season 16 queens, what did that mean to you?
“It seems right, I was a very nice person and I helped everyone. I didn’t do it to get this, my goal was the crown, but also while you’re rising it helps to bring other people up with you. Help everyone else out, there’s no reason for anyone to be vindictive while in competition, you can always have a good time. That’s what I learned in the pageant system. Just enjoy each other and have a good time. You make good friends when you do that.”
How would you describe going up against Nymphia Wind in that final lip-sync and where did the idea for the fangs come from because that was genius?
“Well, the song is “Padam Padam” about your heart, and the idea was that I’m a vampire and I can hear your heart! Who else can hear hearts other than vampires, honey?! So in my mind it was pretty much a no-brainer. Of course if I’m lip-syncing to “Padam Padam” I’m going to be a vampire. I am a very conceptual queen. Going up against Nymphia is really great. She is a wonderful performer. I’ve seen her perform a lot and it’s just wonderful to finally see her do what she does. She’s lovely.”
By James Kleinmann
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