The Bold, The Black & The Beautiful: The Jaida Essence Hall Edition

Source: Santiago Felipe / Getty
One of the shows that has brought me much comfort during the quarantine and during the resistance has been Rupaul’s Drag Race.
The 12th season of the drag queen reality show has been my Friday essential winedown and my favorite contestant has been none other than Jaida Essence Hall!
Milwaukee native, Jared Johnson, is the perfect blend of country Midwestern tendencies and diva glam lewks when he is on the drag queen stage. Sis, is GORGEOUS, her waist is snatched and that face is beat. Not to mention, she is hilarious!
Oh, and last Friday, she won the season!
You love to see it!
Every week, I cried with laughter watching her in these challenges, especially the presidential debate skit. That “look over there!” killed me every time:
Then there was the episode where Whoopi Goldberg was a judge, where we saw Jared show his softer side:
“I don’t want to get emotional, but, when Ru told us you would be here, it was miraculous because, preparing to come here, I constantly would listen to The Color Purple soundtrack,” a tearful Jaida told Goldberg, talking about the iconic 1985 film Goldberg was in and was nominated for an Oscar.
“This competition is almost exactly like the journey of Celie in the movie. You go through all of these really hard times, but, on the other side of it, there’s so much joy. So, it’s like a sign to me that you would be here today.”
Baby, that later hug was real.
“For Whoopi to make that kind of connection with me is everything right now,” Jaida says later in confessional. “I feel like it’s a huge sign that maybe something good is going to happen, or maybe that’s a sign I’m going home. I don’t know!”
Love HelloBeautiful? Get more! Join the HelloBeautiful Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
Take a look:
You gotta love that vulnerability.
Here he is, showing us the face and the alter ego for Cosmo:
Congrats Jaida! We love you!
So to celebrate her, here are some of her best lewks ever!
1. And The Winner Is…
2. Stunning!
3. The Color Purple
4. Lady In Red
5. Lady Liberty
6. Why Don't You Love You Me?
7. Black Bride
8. Lavender Updo
9. Imitation Is The Best Flattery
10. SAVAGE!
11. A Storm Is Coming
12. Fierce & Fly
13. Alter Egos
14. Rub A Dub Dub
15. Face, Face, Face
16. Dynamic Duo
17. Plastic Fantasy
18. Punk Rock Princess
19. Cheers B***h
20. MONEY, HONEY!
22. Before & After
-
Red Carpet Rundown: Queen Latifah, Deborah Cox & More Shut Down The 2026 Tony Awards
-
Red Carpet Rundown: Queen Latifah Serves Multiple Fashion Moments As Host Of The 2026 AMAs
-
21 Black Beauties From The '90s Who've Been Fine Forever
-
It Took Loctician Houston Locs 4 Days And 4 Bottles Of Cécred To Comb Out JAŸ-Z's Locs