Drag Race season 17 runner-up Jewels Sparkles has announced a break from social media following the intense fan discourse surrounding the show’s grand finale, which ended with Onya Nurve crowned as America’s Next Drag Superstar.
The 23-year-old Latina queen from Tampa, Florida, made it to the final two after an electric performance of her original track “Ding,” securing her spot in the final lip sync for the crown. That ultimate showdown, set to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” saw Jewels face off against fan-favourite and top challenge winner Onya Nurve, who dazzled with her track “It Do Take Nurve.”
While Onya was a frontrunner throughout the season, the finale stirred confusion among fans, many of whom began to question the result, sparking heated comparisons between the top two finalists.
On Sunday, 20 April, Jewels addressed the situation in a post on X, showing grace and support for her fellow queen: “Just hopping on to say how proud I am of Onya Nurve. You are an absolute super star and deserve this and the world. I can’t wait to see what you do with this reign, sister. IT DO TAKE NURVE BAYBE.”
Shortly after, she announced she would be stepping away from the platform, citing the emotional toll of fan commentary.
“Taking a break from Twitter again now to preserve my mental [heart emoji],” Jewels wrote.
“It’s sad that instead of just celebrating Onya’s glorious win, people have to pit us against each other, and it breaks my heart actually. So I’ll be back when y’all stfu [heart emojis] LOVE U SO MUCH BYE.”
Onya Nurve responded with affection and solidarity: “Love you sis. So so so so much. So proud of you [sparkles emojis] [heart emojis].”
Despite the fan-driven drama online, the finale reflected camaraderie among the final four queens — Onya, Jewels, Lexi Love, and Sam Star — each of whom brought flair and fight to the competition, with no visible tension on screen.
As the curtain closes on a dazzling season, excitement is already building for All Stars 10 — dubbed the “Tournament of All Stars” — which will feature a record-breaking 18 queens. Buckle up, squirrel friends: the next chapter begins soon.
