{"id":239937,"date":"2026-04-21T04:42:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/239937\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T04:42:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:42:12","slug":"orlandos-myki-meeks-crowned-winner-of-rupauls-drag-race-season-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/239937\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando’s Myki Meeks crowned winner of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Myki Meeks Credit: Screen capture courtesy GMA\/YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

Orlando drag performer Myki Meeks won Season 18 of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race over the weekend, snatching the crown and beating out fellow finalists Darlene Mitchell and Nini Coco.<\/p>\n

A packed Renaissance Theatre in Orlando \u2014 where Meeks honed her craft as a member of the Off the Record drag ensemble \u2014 positively exploded, as did venues and living rooms across the City Beautiful, on Friday night during a live watch party when RuPaul crowned Meeks as \u201cAmerica\u2019s Next Drag Superstar.\u201d Meeks progressed to the top two after performing an original song, and then tidily won the lip sync challenge to bring the crown home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is for my friends, my family, all of Orlando, live fiercely, love boldly, and write it in the books baby, the Meeks shall inherit the crown!\u201d said an exuberant Meeks upon winning.<\/p>\n

The win netted Meeks a $200,000 grand prize and an official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics.<\/p>\n

Despite an early stumble in the \u201cRate a Queen Talent Show,\u201d as the season progressed Meeks became a \u201cdominant force\u201d \u2014 per the <\/a>Hollywood Reporter<\/a> (we agree) \u2014 among the cast, even winning the last three main challenges in a row.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been an Orlando queen on a regular season since Season 9. This is Season 18, so almost 10 years. It\u2019s a whole new generation, and I\u2019m just excited to represent them,\u201d Meeks told OW<\/a> right before the Season kicked off. Mission accomplished.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be honest, I\u2019m not at all surprised that Myki did so well on that show. Sometimes, good things happen to good people and Myki is a genuinely kind, hardworking and talented artist who deserves this moment,\u201d said Donald Rupe, creative director at the Ren, to OW over the weekend.. \u201cDrag is art and art is life. We\u2019re so proud to be Team Myki, and we\u2019re so excited to continue to invest in the art of drag in Orlando.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Meeks\u2019 travel schedule just got a hell of a lot more busy, you (as of this writing) can still catch her locally at the Ren Theatre for Off the Record Wednesday night, along with fellow finalist (fourth place) Juicy Love Dion. Tickets are probably close to sold out but you, the eternal optimist, can try to grab some at the Ren\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Orlando\u2019s daily dose of what matters. Subscribe to The Daily Weekly.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Orlando\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tAnd that\u2019s only part of a pivotal year for this Orlando performer\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tGet ready to get scared, uglies\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Volume\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

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