Emmys 2019: RuPaul's Drag Race star Nina West makes Emmy history by walking the purple carpet in full drag

West finished sixth in the recent eleventh season of Drag Race, with Yvie Oddly emerging as the winner this year.

'RuPaul’s Drag Race' just won the best reality competition at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, after a record 14 nominations in 2019, but the show also made Emmy history with contestant Nina West walking the prestigious Emmys Purple Carpet in full drag.

West finished sixth in the recent and eleventh season of Drag Race, with Yvie Oddly emerging as the winner this year. West, however, was a fan favorite right from the beginning and even bagged the title of Miss Congeniality.

Nina West attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

West had spoken to Cosmopolitan at Entertainment Weekly's 2019 Pre-Emmys party, reflecting on what it feels like to be an ambassador of drag and Drag Race. She had said: "I’m lucky enough to kind of be under her wig and go out into the world and celebrate her message, which is a platform I also believe in. 'Everybody say love!' That’s a huge thing that we all have an opportunity to share, and especially in these times where people are so angry and angst-filled, the show is such a bright light of hope. It’s great to be a part of that."

Cast and crew of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' accept the Outstanding Competition Program award onstage during the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

At the Creative Arts Emmys which took place last weekend on September 14 and 15, alongside HBO's overachieving child 'Game of Thrones', RuPaul's has been rivaling the drama in terms of reality television. Creator and host RuPaul Charles also picked up his fourth consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program, in a tie with Survivor's Jeff Probst for most wins in the category.

During his win for Outstanding Reality-Competition in the Primetime Emmys, RuPaul got extremely political in his award acceptance speech and for all the right reasons. After he thanked the Academy voters, he also urged all the viewers watching from their screens to actively participate in the 2020 Presidential election. “Speaking of voting for love, go and register to vote,” he added.

The series has also won awards in the categories of Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming as well as Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special. 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Malik has no idea Hondo knows his secret, and Adain Bradley says their story is far from over.
2026-10-17T20:45:16.000Z
Jo’s resignation raises questions about her future as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ begins a new era in Season 23
2026-10-17T18:23:30.000Z
‘Tulsa King’ Season 4, starring Sylvester Stallone, streams every Friday on Paramount+
2026-10-17T10:36:40.000Z
Pavi and her long-lost twin Nisha hunt for their origins as the Havens cheer the last Avatar’s death
2026-10-17T08:37:00.000Z
Season 2 of the HBO Stephen King prequel jumps back to 1935 and a gang of bank robbers
2026-10-17T06:52:24.000Z
‘Fire Country’ season 5 episode 2 reveals Jake’s fate after the shooting as the team uncovers the attacker’s motive
2026-10-17T06:41:28.000Z
Wes ends ‘Sheriff Country’ Season 2 Episode 2 in the hands of Stoyanovs after exposing bakery bug
2026-10-17T05:35:47.000Z
Chad Lowe is the executive producer on ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ and has also directed many episodes
2026-10-17T05:07:28.000Z
Issa López returns as showrunner for a Jamaica Bay story with ties to ’Night Country’
2026-10-17T03:12:59.000Z
Oklahoma’s governor and Dwight’s love interest board a private jet in the first episode of Season 4
2026-10-16T09:30:07.000Z