The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 has been crowned, and it’s Myki Meeks!

Meeks told Blavity’s Shadow and Act that finally learning she won after months of uncertainty “was everything in that moment.”

“Me and Nini [Coco] were the only ones from the cast since filming [who] did not have any closure for this past year of what could happen. So to finally receive the end of the chapter meant the world, and to know that I successfully came out as the winner was a lot of validation, a lot of joy out of that.”

Meeks said her mindset going into the final lip sync was to bring the song to life. As she said, “I’m from the school of Roxxxy Andrews where all you do is perform.”

“I think I knew I wanted to embody the essence of the song instead of relying on any type of reveal or gimmick or stuff,” she said. “…I just wanted to deliver the best I could and that song is so emotive and I knew I wanted a beginning, middle [and] end of the energy and I felt like I delivered.”

Andrews is just one of the Orlando queens who have brought Drag Race to Central Florida. Meeks, who also hails from the area, said that bringing the crown home is “an honor.”

“I was raised by the queer scene here in Orlando and by the legends that came before me to gain their respect and to be an inspiration for the younger generation,” she said. “And it means the world. I knew no matter however I placed on the show, I was coming back to a community that has welcomed me and championed me. So I felt very confident no matter what I did.”

She also shared the season with several Florida girls, which she said was “everything” and made her feel “right at home.”

“The only queen out of the Florida bunch I didn’t know was Mia [Starr]. And she reminds me so much of my sisters from back home,” she said. “It was very cool, I think especially in this political time, I think it’s very important to showcase from a state that is actively against us. And five queens? I mean, it makes sense to me. I think it’s one of the best drag states out there. Every scene has its own type of queen and it’s an honor. It really is.”

Meeks showcased her talents throughout the season with her acting and singing. The Rusical and Meeks’ Snatch Game performance as Drew Barrymore made Meeks one of the competition’s frontrunners.

“Those were the challenges I was looking forward to the most, especially the Rusical,” she said. “I kind of held my cards close on how much of the theater kid I was to the other girls. So going into the Rusical, I felt incredibly confident. I mean, I remember when me and Nini were going for the main role. I said, ‘Girl, you can give me whatever role you want. I feel confident with it all.’ But to land Fanny and to be able to deliver on it felt very special. It reignited a passion for theater that I kind of let go of for a while. It was nice to reignite that.”

“And as for Snatch Game, I mean that was a little unpredictable ’cause you really never know how it can land,” Meeks continued. “But as soon as I got in the room and could feel the energy and seeing the couch set-up too, I just thought it was so fun. It was, it was one of the most fun challenges. Even with Kenya [Pleaser] as Lizzo in my ear, you know,” she added, joking.

Meeks’ impersonation landed on the couch of the real Drew Barrymore on the actor’s daytime talk show.

“ It was a dream, to be able to do the impression in front of the person you’re impersonating is, is beyond,” she said. “She’s just as amazing as you think she is. Like she was so kind and empathetic and caring, and she felt that you could tell that she was honored by this and she was willing to laugh with it, ’cause I wasn’t making fun of her. I was pointing out her quirks and what makes her special. So to have that opportunity felt very cool.”

After Drag Race, Meeks said that she wants to try her hand at Broadway.

“I would love to move into some creative directing and producing. I mean, Michelle [Visage] and RuPaul both encouraged me to go for Broadway. So let’s do it, baby. Why not?” she said. “I would love to move into TV and film and whatever aspect. I think that’d be really cool. And then a long shot, like a really long shot is SNL. I think that’d be a really huge accomplishment.  I think I, even if it’s just an appearance, I just wanna be on it once just to like say I did it.”

The full season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 is available on demand via your TV provider on MTV.com.