Parting Words

Ongina releases emotional statement following ‘Drag Race’ episode

Warning: Spoilers for Drag Race All-Stars Season 5 below

Drag Race alum Ongina has released a statement following her elimination from Drag Race All-Stars last week.

Fans raised eyebrows when Ongina ended up in the bottom three and up for elimination following a girl-group lipsync battle. In a surprising twist, she told the judges that she felt she deserved to be eliminated from the competition. Said judges agreed, sending Ongina sashaying away.

Now she’s taken to social media to share the reasons she volunteered herself for elimination.

Related: Twelve Days of Drag: Ongina

“I’ve been dreading this episode since I went home last year but I’m at a much better state of mind,” she wrote on Instagram.  “At that time I refused to say I quit because I based my request to get voted off on how I’ve been performing and from getting sick, but who’s to say they weren’t going to vote me off anyway?  Either way, I lost the fire to fight and that is my biggest regret.  I wasn’t the best in this contest, but I know my worth, love my drag and what I bring to the world and I’m glad I got to show you and I don’t regret that.”

“I got to show you some amazing looks and my authentic self,” she concluded, “and I’m super proud of that!”

Ongina then went on to thank her fellow queens, with one exception: she leveled pointed criticism at fellow competitor, Miz Cracker.

View this post on Instagram

MODERN FILIPIÑANA LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN By @patrick_isorena ?@ampedaccessories [email protected] ? by @mrdn Edit by @retoucher_ryan INSPIRED BY THE SARIMANOK for good fortune (a legendary bird of the Maranao people of Mindanao with colorful wings but done in NUDE FOR THIS SPECIFIC RUNWAY.) Also inspired by IBONG ADARNA a folklore about love, sacrifice and fantasy.  The bird is beautiful and can change in a lot of different forms.  And this is what All Stars 5 was about for me. Coming back 11 years later, I wanted to show everyone my growth as an artist and the love, sacrifice, fantasy and beauty I have invested in my drag as Ongina.  I also wore this dress to embrace my culture again and really love the skin I’m in. I’ve been dreading this episode since I went home last year but I’m at a much better state of mind.  At that time I refused to say I quit because I based my request to get voted off on how I’ve been performing and from getting sick, but who’s to say they weren’t going to vote me off anyway?  Either way, I lost the fire to fight and that is my biggest regret.  I wasn’t the best in this contest, but I know my worth, love my drag and what I bring to the world and I’m glad I got to show you and I don’t regret that.  I got to show you some amazing looks and my authentic self and I’m super proud of that! I want to say thank you to @sheacoulee for being patient with me for this entire episode and making my last day on set incredible, my teammate @mug4dayz for all the laughs and being the best partners.  I want to say thank you to the girls for all the love and support in this episode especially @miss_alexis_mateo and @indiaferrah. And thank you 2 mu sisters for reaching out to me today. And to @miz_cracker , I just want to say that I hope next time you are surrounded by queens, wether its a local stage or a world stage like All Stars; if a queen is feeling nervous, unsure of themselves or losing confidence that you choose to uplift them instead of kicking them while they’re already on the ground.  We can make the choice be genuine and sisterly even in a competition with a $100K is on the line. And @alyssaedwards_1 THANK YOU! ALL LO

A post shared by ONGINA (@ongina) on

“I just want to say that I hope next time you are surrounded by queens,” she wrote to Miz Cracker, “wether [sic] its a local stage or a world stage like All Stars; if a queen is feeling nervous, unsure of themselves or losing confidence that you choose to uplift them instead of kicking them while they’re already on the ground. We can make the choice be genuine and sisterly even in a competition with a $100K is on the line.”

Ongina’s remarks to Miz Cracker refer to an exchange earlier in the episode in which Cracker implied that Ongina should have been eliminated the previous week.

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