Jewels SparklesTampa drag queen Jewels Sparkles made the Bay proud last month when she placed second in the season 17 finale of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Now, she’s back home to serve up some Leche at a rooftop drag brunch. Credit: c/o Paramount Press

Drag queen Jewels Sparkles has made Tampa proud through the entire 17th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. And next week she could shine even brighter for us with a crown and scepter.

After the eliminated queens battle it out for a smaller prize in the Lip Sync Lalaparusa this week, Sparkles and three other finalists—Lexi Love, Onya Nurve and Sam Star—will compete for the crown and $200,000 in next Friday’s episode.

Cocktail St. Pete and Southern Nights Tampa host watch parties each week. Drag Race alum Latrice Royale hosts Cocktail’s watch party this week. Gia Banks hosts the Southern Nights celebration. The show starts at 8 p.m. Friday, but be sure to get there in time to grab a drink and a good viewing spot.

Though the finale is pre-recorded, Jewels will be watching with the other finalists. All four queens are filmed being crowned to prevent finale attendees from leaking the results, so they see the winner on TV along with the rest of us.

Sparkles shared the screen with her dad last month for a family makeover challenge, but he’s no stranger to the spotlight either. Douglas Rodriguez, the James Beard-winning chef who opened Ybor City’s Flor Fina in 2021, was on the first season of Top Chef Masters.

There’s no cover for Cocktail and Southern Nights’ “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finale watch party happening Friday, April 18.