Sapphira Cristál Shows off Her Six-Octave Opera Voice | RuPaul’s Drag Race | Entertainment Weekly

RuPaul's Drag Queen season 16 contestant Sapphira Cristál sits down with EW's Joey Nolfi to preview 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 16.
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Sapphira Cristál Shows off Her Six-Octave Opera Voice | RuPaul’s Drag Race | Entertainment Weekly
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[@Abigail.444]

I’m sorry but Sapphira speaks like a winner!!! Edit: I am team Nymphia btw I just like Sapphira too!😄

[@user-vx3us4we1o]

I'm sorry but she IS indeed the winner of this cycle~😂😂😂

[@SirenRyan]

@@user-vx3us4we1o Nymphia is the winner but Sapphira will def do good this season!

[@qualen91]

Why on Earth would you be sorry for that?

[@JB-nj7nq]

​@@SirenRyany'all said aurora would win Canada's drag race and look how that turned out 😂

[@AriaArah]

With 4 maxi challenge wins under her belt and never beEn to the bottom, she will win RPDR S16!!!

[@karenholvik2265]

I have believed in her since I met her!! I had the great pleasure of being her voice teacher at the Eastman School of Music, and her lessons were always a high point of my week. I learned so much from working with her, and we always had a blast - that LAUGH!!! People walking by my studio must have thought we were crazy. (We were, and still are.) For Halloween in her first semester she came to her lesson dressed as Leontyne Price - totally gorgeous! Then I watched her win one of her first pageants in Boston at a club called Machine. I'm a SUPER FAN and I'm so glad to read these comments. She deserves every bit of success and I hope she WINS!!!!!!

[@Jubileeluna]

That’s amazing! She is my winner ❤

[@gunnerlala]

Wow that is very cool! Must be a great feeling to be so proud of one of your students!

[@LoveLakesAndStuff]

It would be so funny to me if you made this all up 😅

[@karenholvik2265]

Wow. What would I possibly have to gain by making this up? I have known Sapphira since before she was Sapphira. If you choose not to believe that, it really makes no difference one way or the other. @@LoveLakesAndStuff

[@yoyobobi1722]

This is so cute! I love little background information like this

[@dino2064]

Can’t even imagine how this must feel after so many auditions! The polish and the confidence are everything

[@AmethystPrince22]

How many times did she audition?

[@dino2064]

@@AmethystPrince22 she said 11

[@jeremymoore145]

shes a queen!

[@pablo.4011]

Love this queen's energy. She comes off as effortlessly classy.

[@GINABEANA205]

Thank you, Sapphira for wearing a heavy and luxurious fabric that was well steamed and/or irorned. This is excellence

[@scottsummers4234]

Giving winner energy. So classy! The mother of the season just like Sasha on S15.

[@diegoreyes3604]

absolutely OBSESSED! Her and Nymphia are my Top 2.

[@michaelclarke1737]

agreed

[@nerheus]

as if you didnt saw spoilers 😂 carry on lol

[@michaelclarke1737]

@nerheus i did and even before then i liked sapphira a lot

[@yvonnenoel7206]

​@@nerheus,....and I Oop 😎💀💀💀

[@diegoreyes3604]

@@nerheus can you please not go around just saying that because I actually didn’t. Now cause of you I know it for sure… you know it’s not that far of a stretch for someone as seasoned as Sapphira and unique as Nymphia to make it that far, but especially with the talent they’ve already shown. Ty for ruining basically the biggest aspect of the season.

[@fritomusic7832]

She’s like Sasha and Bianca at the time of their seasons, a well connected drag queen who is already successful who is looking to elevate their career, and I’m excited for this

[@youfoundtorri]

she possesses so much class and I aspire to be as classy

[@michaelclarke1737]

she exudes big winner energy. i loved her back story! yall better show out and show up for this queen. the polish is immaculate and the talent is there! I'm confused as to why they took so long to put her on #dragrace because she is it.

[@romariotummings6390]

They did the same thing to tamisha

[@Jubileeluna]

I agree ❤

[@quaquaval]

Sapphira “Winner” Cristàl

[@michaelclarke1737]

I am hoping soA

[@mateusz1578]

oh, i'm rooting for Sapphira! she's what this franchise needs

[@zenithian15]

She's giving finalist, if not WINNER, energy! So regal, confident, and polished 😍

[@JB-nj7nq]

Well guess what Mimi? She goes home number 3rd in the voting, I could NOT believe it !! 😂

[@ashi4274]

I’ll be back episode 4 to check you. 🔖

[@ashi4274]

I’ll be back episode 4 to check you. 🔖

[@Kyoukichi]

You know... She was born with all these gifts that she nurtured and she's talented, cool. Still, what I like most about her, by far, is her owning her being. She's natural in her skin, there are no mannerisms that scream "look at me!!" She seems to be cool with herself and I love it.

[@Super_Grover_]

Sapphira is so phenomenal in every way possible (personality, fashion, makeup, hair, voice, talent, energy, etc. etc.) that I find it rather difficult to put into words how awe inspiring she is 💙💙💙

[@donpaul3043]

When you see somebody there are two options. You can get jealous or you can be inspired. I love her!

[@coconutshavedice1078]

She’s my favorite interview so far! 💕

[@davidhowe751]

Yep, she just has a certain maturity - and she's not even that much older than the others - but it shines through

[@missshuggenah]

It’s about time they started casting Philly queens

[@GINABEANA205]

Leontyne Price?!!! She is an OHIOAN legend. Never thought she would ever be referenced on Drag Race...ever. Thank you, Sapphira. Bring her to the forefront. She was a game-changing talent as are you.

[@valentinomiller6251]

Interestingly enough, Sapphira looks like the late, great Jessye Norman, don't you think?

[@got78kio]

I love how eloquently she spoke and how she didn't budge when joey tried to get spoilers for the season.

[@michaelclarke1737]

its time for another winner with a classic drag aesthstic!

[@JuanPerez-et3dj]

That Kelly Rowland story has me cackling. I need to say that from now on

[@tiarasorrel]

Winner energy!! I love Sapphira!

[@ytscrownjewell]

WINNER WINNER WINNER

[@kellydunham4104]

the talent, the humor, the inner beauty, the wisdom - my heart, my winner

[@Lvl1Critters]

she's my favorite, I love her so much, I want her to win so bad! #TeamSapphira

[@nanjacks913]

Talent, class and much skill! She's a winner baby!!

[@davidtesto]

Love them!!!! So honest and vulnerable yet so strong and confident ❤ and then the sobriety thing too. So true and thank you for being a leader and spreading these messages! My winner

[@cgonwere]

Representing for H-Town!! 🙌. The depth of her some of her experiences and challenges in life (such as feeling boxed in and labeled over your sexuality and conquering the battle of substance and alcohol abuse) has really resonated with me immensely. I am definitely here for Saphirra all the way!!

[@lewischick123]

Absolute class act

[@bkteacherret5548]

I feel myself falling in love with this queen- such a powerhouse but so real! In watching these interviews, some of them are very performative. They are entertaining, but the persona is speaking, not the person. I prefer when the queen is able to drop the artifice and have a real conversation. I am so excited for this queen!!!

[@ryanm7654]

I remember the first time I saw her live and she was kicking her face over and over, and the audience wasn’t hype enough, so she looked over to the crowd on the other side of her leg and raised her eyebrows while high kicking and then everyone cheered 😂😂 A performer

[@medro7321]

She's marvelous.

[@danielroberts9056]

My favorite already. She’s giving me everything ❤

[@onebluebrow]

Her vooooice is so mesmerizing

[@readwithana]

she gives suuuuuuch winner energy 😍

[@saturninebear]

Genuinely lovely person. Clearly.

[@susankeefer5981]

Sapphira has it all! She is the clear winner of Drag Race season 16. 👑💎💙

[@lifegoesonlike]

i love her

[@robertsandybeach9990]

I had the pleasure of booking her for my residence at Showboat Hotel in AC..she always tore it up!

[@gashishnedorogo]

love these interviews

[@artbertomedia]

These interviews are the real Meet the Queens. So good.

[@AriaArah]

Ya'll, RPDR Season 15 winner!

[@alex-ks1nx]

*16!!! but yes

[@swtvic]

auditioning this many times is commitment omg i hope she doesn't flop after all that

[@jemimajoel]

Loving you Sapphira

[@rickeetewini]

That bass!

[@aaliyahkhan215]

Philly for the win!

[@jeannejohnson74]

WINNER, WINNER!

[@juancaaguilar4888]

I loved this interview. The best one so far.

[@marikuna750]

Sepphira for the crown

[@Insulindependantfati]

She really gives big winner energy.

[@kittens_shades3901]

Winners glow babeeee

[@Andydandy7]

I'm very excited to see more of this queen!!

[@bulbasaur99]

Crown the professionals Drag Race !! She is radiating that energy already !

[@Rodelbailarin]

She’s giving me a bit of Tyra Sanchez’s older sister 😍

[@user-mz2ne4yh2t]

She's Symone's mother, waiting for her to join her daughter in the Winner's Circle

[@katielawrence5420]

I love Sapphira Cristál.

[@fluffyyxy]

TEAM SAPPHIRA FOR THE WINNN

[@flzrin]

Y’all when you see a black drag queen who’s confident: 🥰🥰😍😍🤭🤭

[@andrescorena4270]

I just need her to win so that she joins Cristian Peralta in the pansexual winner circle

[@vacantalleyways]

Philly represent!!!!!

[@Kaw92101]

I cannot wait to see Sapphira on this season! Already so inspirational! ❤️🏳️‍⚧️

[@joshandrus5206]

Obsessed

[@esmeesmeralda701]

She’s so cool I love herrrrr❤❤❤❤❤

[@danteshaw7685]

Can’t wait to watch her or Q win!

[@davidelaffeimagingphotogra995]

Been looking fwd to seeing hers the most

[@B0zo0.]

I been waiting for thisss

[@felipeoppen8300]

This heart warming talented diva just said something so powerful, thank you QUEEN.

[@missmayajessica]

Never give up ❤

[@CorneliusYogaBurn]

Oh she’s giving me for real WINNER vibes. Sapphira is #1 for me

[@santiagogrgr]

Looooove her laugh

[@MakeLuv_NotWar]

Her voice is amazy🎉❤🎉❤ i love..!!!

[@maranovaina]

Winner energy

[@Tuesdayflavor]

Winner winner!

[@Bacchusmbt]

Look at you singing Mephistopheles from Gounod’s Faust! I’m obsessed with this QUEEN!

[@angela799]

I'm in LOVE with Sapphira Cristal. OMG, she has a new fan!!!

[@pililja676]

Winner energy😩🙌👑

[@anitacoffeeor3553]

I am in love 💙

[@DuhiiTzDuhViine]

LOVE SAPPHIRA

[@bratpackbimbo]

Need her to win

[@gonzalodcs]

She's my winner pick

[@cusimilooking4965]

I love her comments about people with other identities. There is a wonderful maturity that I admire in her. She seems to me like she has a lot to give but her imposing personality may be a limiting factor in her life.

[@Emile.gorgonZola]

take a shot every time joey nolfi says "i was doing research on you"

[@nickmullins3451]

The amount of similarities between Saphira and Lola from Kinky Boots are astounding.

[@williamromulanhall7256]

Sapphira and Nymphia are definitely top 2

[@wyheadintx]

Definitely been rooting for Houston homegirl Saphirra on RDR, who should win. And BTW, Houston Grand Opera is one of the world’s great opera companies, and I wonder how many of their productions she’s seen? As a season subscriber for years (best deal in town!) I’d sure love to see her perform there, or anywhere!

[@lodger9]

She should have won. She's a phenomena

[@SabrinaFantasia95]

Sunny Hostin is looking fine.

[@brandireichert6941]

LOVE 🔥LOVE 🔥LOVE 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🥰🥰

[@paigesimpkins9125]

loveeeeeeeeee more houston representation

[@Takisman360]

Houston ppl just know how to keep it real! Love her! I hope she wins.

[@cusimilooking4965]

So she is a great business woman.

[@gameoftomes14]

Yeah for the pan rep! 🩷💛💙

[@henrycenteno490]

Libra power❤

[@hehe8012]

this is MY winner

[@erikm8372]

Omg, if you haven’t heard of the “Brazilian Beyoncé”, Iza, look her up-same bday as B too lol-but to me Sapphira could absolutely do a tribute to Iza. In a good way, lol. The style, looks, vibe. And with her opera background, singing in multiple languages is clearly a talent she has, so she could even sing the Portuguese lyrics 😊

[@Dang-HoYuSickning]

If she's not Laverne Cox for snatch game I'm gonna scream 🤣🤣

[@boyinthebigcity]

oh so she's MOTHER got it

[@jeremymoore145]

Winner 🥇

[@daledoback8380]

Give this man a cigar

[@elohelreh]

ooooooo i love that. I started walking when I removed my crutches.