First Drag Den winner NAIA hopes victory inspires young queer artists

Prime Video’s hit Filipino reality competition show, Drag Den, has produced its first winner in the person of NAIA.

The 26-year-old from Las Piñas won the title as the first Filipino Drag Supreme in the eighth and final episode of the drag competition series, besting fellow Top 3 finalists Shewarma and Maria Cristina.

She was crowned by Drag Den’s main host, Fil-American drag icon Manila Luzon, last Thursday, Jan. 26, in a live coronation night at the SM Aura Samsung Hall in Taguig City.

During the show’s finale, the Top 3 showed off their glamorous ensembles and lip-syncing talents, walking the runway one last time in their national costumes, swimwear, and long gowns, and performing one final lip-sync battle to the Sarah Geronimo hit Kilometro.

They also gave inspiring words during the episode’s final Q&A portion, answering the final question: “What is the one and only one quality that will make you a true Drag Supreme?”

NAIA dazzled the judges with a farmer-inspired national costume and stunning evening gown, as well as a moving and inspirational final answer addressed to young queer artists.

“I’ve stumbled and I’ve gone through so much hardship, especially in this competition. And Manila, you’ve opened my eyes to what drag can truly be,” she said. “It is freedom of expression and I can’t be more happy to be here. I hope that my story inspires young queer artists who are afraid of putting themselves out there because I was afraid.”

She ended her winning answer by thanking Manila for the platform she gave to drag artists such as herself.

“Thank you, Manila, for giving me this platform because I was able to prove that growth is what you need to be the next Drag Supreme,” she concluded.

During the press conference for the finale episode of Drag Den last Jan. 24, NAIA hoped her stint in the show would inspire young artists like her to continue taking the risk and putting themselves out there with their art.

“All I had was my passion for drag, that’s what put me in the Top 3. And I hope that inspires people and inspires young artists like me to not only respect the people who came before like the original drag queens of the Philippines because that’s what drag is all about. But I also hope it inspires them to put themselves out there like what I did and see where it will take you. Just be brave and take that leap of faith,” she explained.

During the live coronation night, NAIA made a speech after being crowned by Manila, expressing her love for fellow castmates, supporters and family, as well as looking back on her experience on starting drag.

“The NAIA you saw on Drag Den was such a baby, but I love her so much and she’s so precious to me and, now, I’m so happy to stand in front of you as the first-ever Filipino Drag Supreme,” she said.

Furthermore, she advised fellow queer artists to use their voices and art forms. “As drag queens, as queer icons, we should use our voice to empower others and to lift our spirits up,” she said. “Drag is political, drag is comprehensible.”

With the Drag Den victory, NAIA won a grand prize worth P1,000,000, a one-year supply of make-up from Teviant, a one-year contract from Avignon Clinic, P100,000 worth of shoes from Filipino shoe designer Jojo Bragais, P100,000 worth of products from SNAILWHITE, a three-day, two-night stay at Angkla Beach Club & Boutique Resort, and a three-year management contract from Cornerstone Entertainment.

The final episode of Drag Den, along with its first seven episodes, is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The show, presented by Manila Luzon, is directed by Rod Singh and produced by CS Studios, Singh, and Project 8 Projects’ Antoinette Jadaone.

It also features drag queen contestants Aries Night, Barbie-Q, Lady Gagita, Maria Cristina, NAIA, O-A, Pura Luka Vega, and Shewarma, as well as Internet sensation Sassa Gurl as the show’s “Drag Runner” and beauty queen Nicole Cordoves asthe “Drag Dealer.”