All Hail the First Filipino Drag Superstar: Precious Paula Nicole
After nine episodes filled with showstopping runway looks, spectacular performances, and a healthy dose of tea, shade, and drama, the first-ever Drag Race Philippines Superstar has finally been crowned. Seasoned Bicolana drag performer Precious Paula Nicole is our new queen. She’s the winner, baby.
The inaugural season of Drag Race Philippines premiered on August 17 on streaming platforms discovery+, HBO GO, and WOW Presents Plus, featuring 11 other fierce and fabulous drag stars, from Luzon all the way to Australia: Prince, Corazon, Gigi Era, Turing, Lady Morgana, Viñas Deluxe, Brigiding, Minty Fresh, Eva Le Queen, Xilhouete, and Marina Summers.
During the finale, the top four queens—Precious, Marina, Xilhouete, and Eva—sissyed down the runway clad in their pakak na pakak Bongga Camp Day and Indigenous Extravaganza looks. Precious and Eva then went up against each other in the first round of the Lip Sync for The Crown to RuPaul’s “Sissy That Walk,” with Precious emerging the winner. Meanwhile, Marina took the win from her drag mother, Xilhouete, after a lip-sync smackdown to RuPaul’s “Call Me Mother” (kinda poetic, right?).
Precious Paula Nicole wearing her Bongga Camp Day (left) and Indigenous Extravaganza (right) looks.
The final lip-sync between Precious and Marina used Gloc-9’s song “Sirena,” a queer progressive song that alludes to the struggles of LGBTQ+ folks growing up with the fear of being ridiculed or abused. You gotta commend the show’s production team for that. As the Philippines' first Drag Superstar, Precious is set to receive P1 million and a one-year supply of ONE/SIZE beauty cosmetics by Patrick Starr.
Precious is among the queens who quickly won the hearts of Drag Race fans with her fun personality, sickening talent, and overall passion for drag artistry. But most importantly, she became a crowd favorite because of her kindness and down-to-earth nature—as echoed by anyone who has ever had the pleasure of knowing her or working with her.
Case in point: she dedicates everything she does to her family. All throughout the show, Precious talksed about wanting to make her late mom proud. She even turned emotional while delivering her first words as the victorious queen: "Life is precious and so are we. Let’s continue to inspire and let’s continue to love.”
During her acceptance speech, she also decided to share the spotlight with Marina Summers, who won first runner-up in the reality competition, as well as her Season 1 sisters. “Gusto ko pong i-share itong korona na ‘to kay Marina. Mahal na mahal ko kayo, my precious loves. And of course, sa lahat ng queens na nakasama ko sa loob, my Divine Sisters, mahal na mahal ko kayo,” she says.
Precious also dedicated the crown to the country’s under-recognized drag queen community, saying “Para sa ating lahat ‘to. Hindi lang ‘to para sa’kin kundi sa lahat po ng queens na nasa Pilipinas na malapit niyo pa makilala if may bagong Season 2.”
Precious Paula Nicole delivers an acceptance speech at the Drag Race Philippines Finale Viewing Party.
And if that’s not proof enough of her generosity, Precious recently launched an initiative to collect funds for the victims of Typhoon Karding, which she donated to Angat Buhay Foundation, a non-government organization founded by former Vice President Leni Robredo.
If you enjoyed Season 1 of Drag Race Philippines as much as we enjoyed writing this article, then stay tuned for Season 2.
