PHOTO VIA MYKI MEEKS FACEBOOK PAGE
Orlando has a new champion. Myki Meeks (Instagram), a homegrown queen from the heart of Central Florida’s drag scene, was crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar on Friday night in the Season 18 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race on MTV, taking home the title, a $200,000 cash prize, and the franchise’s first-ever official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics.
“This is for my friends, my family, all of Orlando,” Meeks said after snatching the crown. “Live fiercely, love boldly, and write it in the books, baby. The Meeks shall inherit the crown!”
The finale came down to a lip sync to “Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved” by Miley Cyrus between Meeks and Nini Coco, with Darlene Mitchell finishing third. Meeks won the final three challenges of the season consecutively, and four total, making her only the fourth contestant in the franchise’s history to place in the top for eight consecutive episodes, joining Season 5 winner Jinkx Monsoon.
Before the national stage, Meeks was already a bit of a fixture in Orlando’s drag community as a core member of Off the Record, a Best of Orlando-winning drag night, and created and hosted The Gig, an Orlando-based drag competition series that premiered on YouTube in 2025. She is also the drag niece of fellow Drag Race alumni/winner and Orlando performer Ginger Minj.
RuPaul said in a statement: “From the beginning, Myki has demonstrated the true essence of a superstar. I’m excited to experience more of her special brand of joy, laughter, and love throughout her brilliant career.”
