Sasha Colby, the Hawaiian goddess, was crowned the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 on Friday after an electrifying performance that showcased her talent, bravery, and unapologetic self-expression. Colby’s first solo lip-sync performance to the original song “Goddess” left the judges and the audience in awe, as she transformed into a snake-turned-Medusa in the Garden of Eden. In the final battle against Anetra, the two lip-synced for the crown, and Colby emerged victorious, making history as the first transgender queen to win both Miss Continental and RuPaul’s Drag Race.
What made Colby’s performance truly remarkable was not only her stunning visuals but also her intentional choice to bare it all, both physically and emotionally. As she entered the stage in a massive black dress, no one was prepared for Colby to strip down to something that left little to the imagination. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly’s Quick Drag podcast, Colby explained that being naked was a deliberate decision that aimed to challenge the audience’s discomfort with trans bodies and to showcase their beauty and power.
“It was a specific choice to be naked in these times,” Colby said. “I wanted them to see what they’re trying to eradicate. The only way you can feel upset with something is if it evokes a strong feeling in you. Usually, that feeling is lust hidden under hate. That’s what they’re uncomfortable with.”
Colby’s Garden of Eden theme in her opening performance was also a nod to her own interpretation of the goddess, where she embraced her nakedness as her most comfortable state. “Everything I showed you in this finale is a different interpretation of the goddess,” Colby said. “I’ve been ‘Mother’ most of the season, and I’ve never done Brunch Sasha Colby, butt-ass naked, getting tips, and this finale was me being butt-ass naked in my most comfortableness, which is my skin!”
Colby’s win and her daring performance send a powerful message of self-love, acceptance, and resilience to the LGBTQ+ community, especially the transgender community, who face disproportionate discrimination and violence. Colby hopes that her victory and her unapologetic self-expression will inspire others to embrace their true selves and to fight against those who want to silence them.
“I told myself, while doing the finale, that this wasn’t trying to win, this was me showing these people that want to silence us and put us down and — for lack of better words — say ‘f— you’ to all of them,” Colby said.
In a world that often tries to erase or marginalize LGBTQ+ voices and experiences, Colby’s win and her electrifying performance are a testament to the power of visibility, representation, and self-love. As Colby continues to inspire and empower others, her legacy as a Hawaiian goddess and a trailblazing transgender queen will undoubtedly live on.