Condragulations! Here's Your Season 13 RuPaul's Drag Race Winner

Despite all the restrictions due to COVID-19, Symone feels that unprecedented filming actually made the season 13 group closer. "They did a fabulous job of keeping us safe and they went above and beyond to make sure that we all felt safe, that they were safe, and that we could film," Symone divulged to POPSUGAR. "I think that it kind of made our cast closer in a way that no other season is going to be, because all we really had were each other to touch, be around, hug, or throw things at. It made us, in a strange way, kind of want the season more because we had all these things stacked against us."

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preparing for the show wasn't as easy as Kandy Muse would've hoped. "It was difficult getting ready for the show because there weren't fabric stores open so you're running around. Plus, you have a short period of time to get ready for the competition," said Kandy Muse to POPSUGAR. "But, you know this is the phone call that you've been waiting for for your entire life. You can't say no. RuPaul calls, baby, you answer. I will say that being on set was almost like a vacation because you forget about everything that's happening outside in the world."

In a competition setting, it's hard to have control over everything, as Rosé found out during season 13. "I was just nervous that something might go wrong, because I am a perfectionist," Rosé explained to POPSUGAR. "I really like things to be done a specific way and I love feeling in control. When you compete on Drag Race, a lot of the time you are not in control and you need to find that control in order to hopefully succeed. So, I was just afraid that that was going to happen. I'm not going to tell you if it did or not, because that would be a spoiler."

Shooting during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for queens like Gottmik, who thrive on personal connections. "I feel like the biggest challenge for me is that I'm a very affectionate person. I want to be touching everyone around me at all times," Gottmik divulged to POPSUGAR. "The fact that there was only a certain amount of people in our bubble that could help us literally stressed me out. I would be like, 'Oh, who can touch me? Please help me.' I certainly was over-affectionate with my other season 13 cast members."

While other queens had to audition a few times to get on the show, Olivia Lux earned her position only auditioning once. This had her nervous about people underestimating her as competition. "The biggest thing I was nervous about going in was that folks would underestimate me because I'm a younger girl," Olivia Lux shared with POPSUGAR. "I celebrated my two years in drag recently and I'm just really happy about everything. Going into something like RuPaul's Drag Race, I knew that it was such a big accomplishment and I'm like, 'Oh, my God, I'm here, and I'm also like a fetus.'"

Even if a queen from a previous season gives off a similar vibe to a new queen, there's likely a good reason for that. Utica Queen found inspiration in season nine winner Sasha Velour. "I can't say that I have many family ties to the show. I'm relatively a new being in all of this, but I definitely look up to Sasha Velour," Utica Queen told POPSUGAR. "I think her and I are very much cut from the same cloth. I think being able to do our art through storytelling is so magical. I think she just does that to its highest form and to be able to strive for that level of storytelling is something that's very intriguing to me."

It's hard not to compare queens when looking at previous Drag Race seasons. Even the current queens, like Tina Burner, have previous Drag Race alumni that they look up to. "I truly believe Bianca was such a trailblazer," Tina Burner told POPSUGAR. "I really love that when she says things, she doesn't apologize for it, but is also a caring-hearted person as well. I think that's really what Bianca stands for. Bob and Monet, of course, are two of my New York sisters that I was so happy to see do so well. To see people come from nothing to do amazing things and you can be from anywhere, any color, any lifestyle, anything, and become a superstar. Drag provides that for so many people."

Denali came to the competition ready for a challenge, but was still nervous. "I come from a performance background, so I was really excited for performance challenges, dancing, things like that," Denali told POPSUGAR. "But acting and improv were things I'd never done before. I know they are obviously a big part of the show so, not going to lie, I was a little nervous for that stuff."

Apparently, the judging is even more nerve-racking in person than what we see on screen, at least according to Elliott With 2 Ts. "Judging was very scary because you start to question and doubt yourself, thinking, 'Am I just complete garbage or are they actually living?,'" Elliott With 2 Ts shared with POPSUGAR. "You never actually know until they start talking to you. But that whole time between when you first walk out, do the runway, walk out, and line up, it feels like an eternity before they start actually saying anything."

Walking into the Werk Room for the first time is almost always daunting, even more so for queens like LaLa Ri that were faced with the big season 13 twist. "It was insane walking into the Werk Room," LaLa Ri revealed to POPSUGAR. "It finally hit me that I was on RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 when I walked in so that was exciting, but other than that, I was trying not to pass out. It was also like walking into a fantasy land because the Werk Room is beautiful."

While watching the show, it's easy to get caught up in the drama and forget that the queens are real people with real emotions. If there's one thing that Tamisha Iman wants the fan's to remember, it's that. "I hope that fans see that we are real," Tamisha Iman revealed to POPSUGAR. "We are human beings who have different levels of emotion. We're not necessarily acting for the camera, but we are putting our persona out into the world. Everybody wants to be liked and loved and appreciated, but just understand that you're watching a show. These are real human beings doing their best to entertain you and show you who they are as individuals. You're not going to like everybody, that's how life is, but you can respect everyone."

The queens are never quite sure what will make it on TV until the show airs, but Joey Jay certainly feels she gave the fans enough to see her style of drag. "I feel like I gave them a lot of ammunition to go so many different directions, so I have no idea," Joey Jay explained to POPSUGAR. "I want the fans to see my drag, which I know is a little bit different, and I want them to go, 'It's okay to be a little bit weird. It's okay to live my best life as long as I'm happy.' I love that this season is so queer and there's so many different styles of drags. Like Kandy Muse says, 'This is the Renaissance of Drag Race.'"

There were times that the queens struggled with how to feel about filming during COVID-19, with Kahmora Hall in particular feeling guilty about the state of the world. "With everything happening this year, particularly the pandemic and the presidency, you kind of feel bad for doing this competition, trying to focus all your energy into this," Kahmora Hall said to POPSUGAR. "I felt like I should have been more involved in the protests and whatnot. But at the same time, I had to remind myself that I've been dreaming of this moment for so long and it's okay to be a little selfish and go for your dreams and passions. I hope that people watching this show will be inspired to do the same."