RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 Episode 16 Recap: "Grand Finale"

Following the most supersized season of RuPaul's Drag Race ever - the most queens, the most prize money for a regular season, but unfortunately not the most runtime (thanks, MTV) - it's time for the Grand Finale in Las Vegas that everyone has been waiting for. Who will take home the crown and title of America's Next Drag Superstar?

Luck Be A Lady

All the season's queens have returned in their Vegas finery to walk the runway for the audience. They enter in order of elimination. Irene Dubois shows everybody why she's earned the title "Alien Queen of Seattle" in an otherworldly galactic green number. Princess Poppy has crafted an homage to Mean Girls' Regina George at the prom, back brace and all. Sugar emerges like the doll she is in a Swan Princess-themed gown. Amethyst starts with a full skirt which she then tears away to reveal a pink and black catsuit that gets the audience cheering. Robin Fierce has never looked more ladylike in a classic black and white hourglass silhouette. Aura Mayari brings the boudoir into the grand stage, with a lacy old-fashioned corset look, then gets political when she opens her fan to show everyone the words "Drag Is Not A Crime."

Jax proves she can still kick and spin in a black cutout ensemble that highlights her curves. Spice comes out in full devil regalia, leaning into her punk, darker aesthetic. Malaysia Babydoll Foxx is head-to-toe red velvet glam. Marcia Marcia Marcia goes for a more subtle red dancing dress with a broad-brimmed hat that gives echoes of The Sound of Music. Salina EsTitties, staying true to her heritage, dons an exaggerated quinceanera look, featuring a giant bow and ruffled bustle. Loosey LaDuca has gone horror-glam rather than Hollywood glam, in yet another vampiric style with black and gold lace; when she bends over, you can see that her wig "reveals" an exposed brain.

The Top Four are next: Anetra chooses a flowy red and black kimono-like design with spike-like shoulder wings. Luxx Noir London goes for a showgirl look, feathers and sparkles streamlining her frame. Mistress Isabelle Brooks could be a ringer for Mae West in her satiny red mermaid-cut gown with matching opera-length gloves. Sasha Colby brings down the house with her take on My Fair Lady, a red derby outfit with a completely sheer lace skirt, parasol, and matching red fascinator hat.

A Salute To Drag Excellence

RuPaul enters to start the proceedings in earnest. She begins by saluting drag bars around the country that are watching the finale live, from cities such as Johnson City, Tennessee; Dallas, Texas; and Lexington, Kentucky, all places where the art of drag is in danger from harmful anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. Emphasizing that it takes a village to support drag, Mama Ru reminds everyone to keep an eye out for the QR code to support the ACLU's Drag Defense Fund.

Start Your Engines

It's now time for the Top Four queens to go head-to-head with original songs and performances.

Anetra's song "Lotus" is all about survival; it's incredibly physical and involves complex choreography. The tea is that her number had to be refilmed because a dancer actually injured himself trying to do all the intricate choreography moves.

Luxx turns it out with her song "It's Giving Fashion." She strips, flips, and duckwalks in an ode to the fashion capitals of the world. It may not be an emotional performance, but it is a bop.

Mistress lip-sync/raps in "Delusion," where she portrays a nurse who needs to cure severe cases of drag delusion. Her number has excellent visuals, a catchy beat, and expressive acting. The audience loves it; she garners a standing ovation.

Sasha's song is called "Goddess," and she emerges onstage like a snake. The audience's response to Sasha is at an all-time high. This is hair-grabbing, neck-cracking fun at its most elevated and artistic.

Special Guest Stars

The evening also features some special guest appearances. Legendary designer Bob Mackie receives Drag Race's first Giving Us Life-time Achievement Award. "To all the queens around the world," he says, "don't let anyone or anything dim your sparkle."

Jinkx Monsoon, the winner of Drag Race Season 5 and All Stars 7, currently holds the title of Queen of All Queens. Having recently completed a run of Chicago on Broadway, where she was the first drag performer ever to play the role of Mama Morton, Jinks performs the iconic tune "When You're Good to Mama."

The show's resident composer Leland performs the ballad "Built On Drag" from Wigloose, with help from guest judge, country music singer Orville Peck and the cast of Season 15.

Miss Congeniality

Season 14's winner Willow Pill and Miss Congeniality Kornbread "The Snack" Jete are welcomed onstage to announce which Season 15 queen really is in her congenial era. Kornbread delivers a charming rap before Malaysia Babydoll Foxx is confirmed as this season's Miss Congeniality.

As the title winner, Malaysia receives $10,000 and a contract with Olay. All other contestants will receive $2000 each for making this "a sickening season."

And The Winner Is...

After the Top Four have mini interviews onstage with Ru, they are called back where Sasha and Anetra are deemed the Top Two. (Mistress was reportedly very upset and even delayed coming out for the winner's ultimate announcement.) They performa a phenomenal lip sync to "Knock On Wood" by Amii Stewart.

Though both are strong contenders, there is only one Mother. Sasha Colby is announced as the winner of Season 15. She says, "This goes to every trans person, past, present, and future, because we are not going anywhere!"

And so another season of Drag Race ends. But the art created, the lessons learned for how to be true to ourselves and allow others to do the same, will remain forever. Con-drag-ulations, Queen Sasha - long may you reign.

Learn about the anti-LGBTQIA+ laws up for consideration in every state by clicking here. Stand with the ACLU, RuPaul's Drag Race, MTV, and World Of Wonder by clicking here to support the Drag Defense Fund and fight back against bigotry.

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