RuPaul’s Drag Race will crown a Season 9 winner tonight.
For the first time in the show’s herstory, four queens are vying for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar. The finalists are Sasha Velour, Peppermint, Trinity Taylor, and Shea Coulee.
Three FANDOM editorial staffers (two self-proclaimed Drag Race superfans and one casual fan) offer up their predictions ahead of Friday’s finale. Who should win, who will win, and why?
Check out our predictions below, and be sure to get caught up on all the queens here.
Lawrence Yee, FANDOM Editor-in-Chief
Who will win: Sasha Velour
Who should win: Trinity Taylor
Why: This competition has been tighter than Trinity’s tuck and all four finalists are deserving winners. Sasha has performed consistently, delivered the most creative runway looks, and represents a different type of drag (a quality that separated separated former champs Violet Chachki and Sharon Needles from the pack). Sasha describes herself as “a thinking queen,” and that has at times put her at odds with her competitors … and herself.
Previous winners Alaska, Bob the Drag Queen, and Bianca Del Rio were all smart but knew how to connect via humor. Sasha’s humor is a bit more highbrow.
While perhaps not as avant garde, Trinity’s runway has been solid. Her performances throughout the season are among the most memorable; who can forget her scene-stealing mom in the 9021-Ho challenge, Sister Mary Koont, or the sassy starfish sidekick?
Both Peppermint and Shea have been solid performers, but Peppermint’s drag — while polished — is nothing ground-breaking. Shea has won the most challenges and is a dynamic performer, but Trinity has shown just a little more range.
Final thought: For some odd reason I think RuPaul might crown two winners. Sasha and Shea have had such great chemistry throughout the season, I would totally watch a show featuring both.
Nakita Wunder, FANDOM Production Coordinator
Who will win: Sasha Velour
Who should win: Sasha Velour
Why: Can you pull off Medieval unicorn realness on the runway?! That’s what I thought. Sasha can do no wrong and is a living work of art. She’s the type of queen that makes you want to wear monster teeth, become a dominatrix and educate yourself all at the same time.
Peppermint is cute. Trinity is more cute. Shea Coulee is fiya, but Sasha can exterminate all those queens with one scream and some facts Wikipedia doesn’t even have on record.
Final thought: “Be the strange you wish to see in the world!” And honey, NO ONE else can do it better than Sasha.
Drew Dietsch, FANDOM Entertainment Editor
Who will win: Peppermint
Who should win: Sasha Velour
Why: I’m the real outside vote here because I’ve never seen an episode of Drag Race before. However, my girlfriend is a die-hard Drag Racer and she took me to school. And you know I’m gonna back my boo!
She feels that Peppermint has so much going in her favor. Peppermint has got charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and true talent. She’s also lovable, funny, compassionate, and did well in the challenges. Not to mention that Peppermint has a powerful storyline as well as being the first queen to enter the competition as an openly trans woman.
But, my girl is a big fan of Sasha. Her bald tribute to her mother who passed from cancer is extremely moving, and her fashion was consistently amazing throughout the entire season. If she did win, I know my sweetheart would be very, very happy. So that means I’d be just as pleased.
Final thought: This is a great lineup and all of them are deserving winners. At least, that’s what I’ve been told and I have no reason to doubt it.
