“Life’s a climb, but the view is great,” Cyrus said as the show flashed a picture of the “Hannah Montana” superstar at age 4.

Miley Cyrus declares herself a ‘drag queen,’ dedicates powerful speech to 4-year-old self on RuPaul’s Drag Race finale

"Life's a climb, but the view is great," Cyrus said as the show flashed a picture of the "Hannah Montana" superstar at age 4.

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul’s Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

April 17, 2026 8:59 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Miley Cyrus accepts the Giving Us Lifetime award on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 finale. Credit:

- Miley Cyrus accepted the Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award on the *RuPaul's Drag Race *season 18 finale.

- Cyrus dedicated an emotional speech to her 4-year-old self on the show.

- "Life's a climb, but the view is great from Beverly Hills," Cyrus said, after declaring herself a "drag queen" too.

Miley Cyrus' *Hannah Montana* wig apparently worked some extra potent magic back in the day, as the superstar actress and pop icon declared herself an official "drag queen" on the *RuPaul's Drag Race** *season 18 finale.

Taking the *Drag Race* Main Stage Friday night alongside her longtime friend, inspiration, and "Cattitude" song collaborator RuPaul, Cyrus accepted the show's annual Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award, which has gone to industry legends and queer community fixtures like Liza Minnelli and Elvira in the past.

Ahead of the final two queens lip-syncing to Cyrus' Naomi Campbell–featuring *Something Beautiful *album track "Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved," RuPaul welcomed Cyrus to the stage to accept her honor for a career spent advocating for LGBTQ people.

Cyrus and RuPaul on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 finale.

"This makes the Grammy look cheap," Cyrus joked as she accepted her award from RuPaul, who stood beside Cyrus on the final episode of season 18 that pitted top-three finalists Darlene Mitchell, Myki Meeks, and Nini Coco against each other in a battle for the title of Drag Superstar and the coveted crown.

After playing a reel of highlights from Cyrus' career, including moments that showed her vocal support for the LGBTQ community, RuPaul then asked Cyrus about what keeps her going in life and in Hollywood.

"Moments like this, to stand beside my idols and icons like Mother Ru, and get my flowers. But to also use my platform to serve this incredible community," she said, later adding, "Because I’m a drag queen and I love the idea of an alter-ego giving us power. My persona just performed in Paris with Beyoncé — she’s my she-ro!"

'Drag Race' star Kenya Pleaser reacts to Libs of TikTok, Nancy Mace targeting show (exclusive)

The best and worst moments from the 'Hannah Montana' 20th anniversary special

RuPaul also turned the conversation toward *Drag Race* when he asked which challenge Cyrus would slay if she participated in the show (“*Snatch Game* as Hannah Montana," naturally), before asking the star to give a speech to her 4-year-old self — much like Mama Ru asks of the contestants each season.

While a few photos of a young Cyrus flashed on screens behind the pair, the "Flowers" Grammy winner confidently replied with a reference to "The Climb," one of her signature hits: "Life’s a climb, but the view is great. Especially from Beverly Hills!"

Cyrus then sashayed off stage, with season 18's cast of queens applauding from the audience while she left.

Cyrus on the 'Hannah Montana' 20th anniversary special.

Disney/Ser Baffo

Cyrus has supported drag artists for years, ranging from her appearance as a drag king in the Werk Room on *RuPaul's Drag Race* season 11 (where she famously hitched a ride on the shoulders of contestant Silky Nutmeg Ganache) to challenging controversial podcast cohost Joe Rogan when he told her during an interview that drag queens "all do the same move" on the air. "That's what I think when I'm watching your shows, too. You know, all the same stuff!"

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter*****.**

The entertainer also welcomed several *Drag Race* alums to the stage with her at the 2015 MTV VMAs, where she performed "Dooo It!" alongside show legends like Alyssa Edwards, Alexis Mateo, Violet Chachki, Tammie Brown, Willam, Gia Gunn, Latrice Royale, Vivacious, Courtney Act, and the late Jiggly Caliente, among others.

- RuPaul's Drag Race Fandom

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW RuPaul”