Sapphira Cristál

American drag performer and opera singer
Sapphira Cristál
Sapphira Cristál at DragCon 2024
Born
O'Neill Nichol Haynes

September 27, 1988 (age 35)
Bryan, Texas, U.S.
EducationEastman School of Music
Bard College
OccupationDrag queen
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race (season 16)
RelativesSaul Soliz (stepfather)
Websitesapphiracristal.com

Sapphira Cristál (born September 27, 1988)[1] is the stage name of O'Neill Nichol Haynes,[2] an American drag performer who was both runner-up and Miss Congeniality on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She is also a classically trained opera singer and a composer.[3][4]

Early life and education

Born in Bryan, Texas,[5] Haynes's stepfather was MMA trainer Saul Soliz. Haynes was raised in Houston and attended HSPVA.[6] He practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai as a child.[7] He studied music composition and opera at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester and the Longy School of Music at Bard College, but did not complete his bachelor's degree.[8]

Career

Sapphira Cristál started doing drag in Rochester, New York and worked in New York City, Boston, Massachusetts and Provincetown, Massachusetts.[9]

Cristál competed on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2023, after auditioning for the show 11 times.[6][10] She won the first episode's talent show challenge[11] by performing the opera piece "O mio babbino caro".[12] Following the premiere, Cristál released a studio version of her performance.[13] In total, she won four challenges throughout the season to earn a spot in the finale. She was voted by her fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality, alongside Xunami Muse, and placed as the runner-up to Nymphia Wind.[14]

Personal life

Haynes is pansexual[15] and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[11][16] Growing up, she went to the same church as Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland in Houston, Texas.[17]

Discography

All credits adapted from Apple Music and Spotify.[18][19]

Singles

As lead artist

Year Title Album Writer(s) Producer(s)
2024 "Get Your Flowers" Non-album single James Blaszko, O'Neill Haynes, Tazman Mekell Gillespie Ocean Kelly
"Enough" Ash Gordon, James Blaszko, O'Neill Haynes, Ocean Kelly
"O mio babbino caro"
(Sapphira Cristál with Giacomo Puccini, Giovacchino Forzano, Macedonia Radio Orchestra, Oleg Kondratenko) 		Giacomo Puccini, Giovacchino Forzano Jonathan Estabrooks

Filmography

Year Title Genre Role Notes
2023 RuPaul's Drag Race Web series Herself 1 special episode; Meet the Queens
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16) Television Contestant Runner-up, Miss Congeniality; 16 episodes
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Television Herself Season 15, 13 episodes
2024 Whatcha Packin' Web series Herself Guest; 1 episode
2024 Hey Qween! Web series Herself Guest; 1 episode

See also

References

  1. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Unveils Season 16 Queens". 6 December 2023.
  2. ^ "The Newly Crowned Miss New Hope Celebrates, Sapphira Cristal". newhopecelebrates.com. New Hope Celebrates. 17 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Penn statue debate; Philly drag queen debut; Mandatory masking returns | Morning roundup". Billy Penn at WHYY. 2024-01-08. Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  4. ^ "Philly drag queen Sapphira Cristál to compete in the next season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". PhillyVoice. 2023-12-08. Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  5. ^ Nash, Suzi (20 October 2021). "Sapphira Cristál: Shining Bright". epgn.com. Philadelphia Gay News. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Guerra, Joey. "Sapphira Cristál, a Houston native who attended HSPVA, is a 'Drag Race' frontrunner after 1 episode". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  7. ^ "On Point with: Sapphira Cristal". 7 August 2016.
  8. ^ "As Philly clubs reopen post pandemic, a day in the drag queen world. Meet Sapphira Cristál". 11 July 2021.
  9. ^ "On Point with: Sapphira Cristal". 7 August 2016.
  10. ^ Forman, Beatrice (2024-01-04). "What to know about Sapphira Cristál, Philly's first true 'Drag Race' contestant". www.inquirer.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  11. ^ a b Forman, Beatrice (2024-01-06). "Philly queen Sapphira Cristál wins first episode of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". www.inquirer.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  12. ^ "For 'Drag Race' judges, queens & fans, Sapphira Cristál is the moment". www.out.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  13. ^ "O mio babbino caro by Sapphira Cristál". open.spotify.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  14. ^ Frank, Jason P. (2024-04-19). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season-Finale Recap: All Hail". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  15. ^ "Sapphira Cristál: Shining Bright". 20 October 2021.
  16. ^ Valerio, Solmaira (2024-01-08). "Philly-based Sapphira Cristál on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Billy Penn at WHYY. Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  17. ^ "On Point with: Sapphira Cristal". 7 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Sapphira Cristál on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  19. ^ "Sapphira Cristál - Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
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