After 16 weeks of stunning runways, heart-wrenching confessionals, and feuding with one Susanne Toot, Louisville’s Derby Girl, Lexi Love, has finished as a second-runner-up, tied with Sam Starr, on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17. 

Having a hometown queen not only cast but in the finale of the smash-hit reality competition series brings an electricity to the local queer community akin to hosting the Superbowl, the World’s Fair, or the Olympics (if on a smaller, but no less fervent, scale). Kentucky’s  own Monica Beverly Hillz (S5 + AS8), Jade Jolie (S6), Dusty Ray Bottoms (S10), Scarlet Envy (S11 + AS6) have left their own mark on the franchise, local, and national drag scenes alike. But until Lexi’s finale placement, no Commonwealth cuntress has risen to quite the same heights. 

This season’s finale offers us a throwback to seasons 7 and 8, in which the queens rehearse performances created just for them. The difference here is that, this time around, they’re writing and recording their own lyrics. 

“Call me Lexi, call me Love, but don’t call me Old,” said Louisville’s own “roller derby girl and hormonal whore,” Lexi Love as she ended Season 17 the same way she started it: on skates. 

Lexi’s fashion lexicon contains many references, but she frequently returns to a combination of nearly-nude and a large train, coat, or, in this case, set of Victoria’s-Secret-meets-Carnivale wings. In her number, she rocked what Carson Kressly described as “sexy Starlight Express 2.0,” covered in reflective, silver piettes. Flying across the stage with a trail of flowing black hair, Love had what could only be described as a jaw-dropping performance. 

Supporting her in the audience were Love’s drag family, Nomi Love and Jessica Diamond, whom she credited as the reason she’s still alive. Love has displayed a stunningly raw vulnerability throughout the season, and this moment was no exception. 

When asked about finding joy in drag, Love said that she gives and receives joy from her audience. “It’s a two-way street, I’m just scissor-f*cking joy,” she said. 

Presenting Miss Congeniality were last season’s co-winners, Sapphira Cristàl and Xunami Muse. The winner was Crystal Envy, who won $10,000 and the title of Season 17 Miss Congeniality. As an extra-special touch, each member of the cast was given $2,000 “for slaying all season.”

The penultimate event of the night was an honor to the incomparable Liza Minelli, whose “magical legacy” as an EGOT winner has inspired countless queer people and drag performers across almost a full century. Liza herself performed her hit rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells,” sitting like a card-carrying bisexual in an ornate red throne, while half-nude men danced around her. RuPaul visibly came alive as she interviewed Minelli, smiling a toothy smile while she volleyed with icon-to-icon. 

Minelli’s appearance was followed by last season’s winner, Nymphia Wind, who was introduced with a short video as “Dr. Jane Not-Good-at-All.” As expected, Wind’s step-down look was immaculate, featuring an illusion of smoke surrounding her. 

“Look under your seats,” she said, pulling an Oprah. The audience revealed bananas under their seats—how long were they under there? (As someone who, just yesterday, brought and ate a banana at a drag show, I felt seen). 

The night culminated with the four finalists coming back to the mainstage to cull the four into two. The final two queens to lipsync for the crown were Onya Nerve and Jewels Sparkles. Love, with a baffled expression mirroring my own, proceeded to trigger all of her planned reveals—which included a pair of succubus wings—and exit the stage. The final lipsync between Onya Nerve and Jewels Sparkles culminated in the crowning of a new Drag Superstar, Onya Nerve.

It’s not surprising, given Nerve’s performance on the season, the fan reception on RPDR’s social media, and her absolutely captivating style and personality. Given both Starr and Love’s performances in their original finale numbers, it truly felt like anyone’s game. Overall, this finale felt efficient and gave us some beautiful looks, and damn good drag. 

Lexi’s run on Season 17 was wildly entertaining, touching, emotional, and visually stunning. Regardless of the outcome of this final episode, she has made a name for herself on a national scale, and we couldn’t be more proud.

Now, for the last time this season but certainly not for all time:

Everybody say love!