RuPaul’s Drag Race UK crowns seventh queen

The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series seven has said she will celebrate by spending some of the prize money on a trip for herself and the show’s runner-up.

Elle Vosk, Katrin Feelings, Bones and Syllexa Deutsch were put through their paces for the last time during the series finale.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the series seven finale of Drag Race UK.

The four finalists sat down with judges RuPaul and Michelle Visage to reflect on their time on the reality show, and they presented some stunning final looks before asking Syllexa and Katrin to walk away.

Bones and Elle later go head-to-head in a lip-sync battle for the crown while performing US disco singer Sylvester’s You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).

After live performances, Bones was declared the winner and received a cash prize of £25,000.

The drag superstar told BBC Newsbeat it could take him a whole year to write even one word to describe how he feels.

She said, “It’s a good kind of excitement. I think after the season, it feels like the cherry on top. Honestly, I feel very fortunate.”

Bones revealed that she and fellow finalist Elle, who is from west Belfast, had promised each other that if either of them won they would take the other on holiday.

He said he hasn’t booked anything yet but suggested a trip to Europe, the Caribbean or possibly a cruise.

Originally from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, Bones entered the world of drag seven years ago and is now a popular fixture in London’s Soho scene.

The prize money will also be spent on improving his drag, which is an extremely expensive art.

“This money, it’s what every drag queen dreams of. It’s almost like a scholarship to be creative and to produce. So of course, I’ll amplify everything that you see,” she said.

This is the second year since its launch in 2019 that the winner of the UK edition has received a cash prize.

Bones said that now the UK spin-off is on its seventh series, the art form has become more popular but also “more saturated”, meaning it is “now up to the queens to make (things) for themselves”.

The 25-year-old, known as Paul Greaves, earned three “Rupator” badges throughout the series, which are awarded to the winner of the maxi-challenge in each episode.

While sitting with RuPaul and Michelle at the finale, Bones was joined by her mother, Diane.

She said her parents were “very supportive” when she was growing up and she tried to pass that love on to others in her community who did not receive the same care.

Drag Race fan Benji Cousy told BBC Newsbeat that he thinks Bones is a “really worthy winner”.

He said, “I thought Bones always ate up the runway, she has such a great presence whenever she comes on stage.”

One of the highlights of the series saw the contestants give makeovers to several celebrities.

Bones transformed classical singer Charlotte Church into her drag sister, named Blood, and the pair wore coordinated cream silk and lace dresses as part of a vampire wedding fantasy.

Benji said the makeover was “one of the best makeovers from all seasons of Drag Race”.

Drag Race remains popular, but fans have complained that various spin-offs, including versions in Europe, Canada and Australia, have oversaturated the brand.

And, after seven years on our screens, there are those who think it might be in for a change.

Benji said he believed the UK version would attract “more engagement” if the show more reflected the “wonderful, beautiful diversity of the scene”.

Drag performer and fan Nick agreed that the show only represents a “small slice” of drag culture in the UK.

He added, “People want to see something new, people say: ‘Oh look it’s another group of early to mid-20s, predominantly white queens who are as thin as the same-old, same-old.’

“It’s very flat and we don’t learn as much.”

Reflecting on this, Bones told Newsbeat: “I don’t think I could ever say it’s tiring because baby, if it’s working, it’s working, and it’s been working for a long time.”

However, the drag star said that he enjoyed how other versions changed the format and suggested that the UK version could “mix it up a bit”, but added that he “liked” his own series.

Listen to Newsbeat live weekdays at 12:45 and 17:45 – or listen back here.