Sapphira Cristál

Sapphira Cristál (born September 27, 1988) is the stage name of O'Neill Nichol Haynes, an American drag performer who was both runner-up and Miss Congeniality on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She is also a classically trained opera singer and a composer.

Early life and education Born in Bryan, Texas, Haynes's stepfather was MMA trainer Saul Soliz. Haynes was raised in Houston. His first exposure to opera was at the age of 4, when he attended a Houston Ebony Opera Guild performance of La bohème at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston. Haynes attended Houston's Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He studied music composition and opera at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester and the Longy School of Music at Bard College, but did not complete his bachelor's degree. His first experience singing opera was when he attended a voice lesson dressed as Leontyne Price while attending the Eastman School and his teacher, Karen Holvik, allowed him to sing as a sopranist for the first time. After transferring to the Longy School of Music, Haynes' father discovered his sexuality and cut off his financial resources, eventually leaving Haynes homeless. He was subsequently expelled from the school after cursing out a pair of administrators who refused to help him with his housing situation. Haynes and their father would later reconcile their relationship.

Career Sapphira Cristál started doing drag in Rochester, New York and worked in New York City, Boston, Massachusetts and Provincetown, Massachusetts. She won the first episode's talent show challenge by performing the opera piece "O mio babbino caro". Following the premiere, Sapphira Cristál released a studio version of her performance. In total, she won four challenges throughout the season to earn a spot in the finale. She was voted by her fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality, alongside Xunami Muse, and placed as the runner-up to Nymphia Wind.

Outside of Drag Race, she has won fourteen drag pageants.

Podcast In March 2026, Cristál began hosting the eponymous interview podcast Sapphira, produced by Do the Most and BeeZee Productions. Episodes are released weekly on Tuesdays on podcast platforms and Cristál's YouTube channel. The first episode, featuring Cristál's RuPaul's Drag Race castmate Dawn, was released on March 10, 2026.

Personal life Haynes is pansexual, polyamorous and non-binary, and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Growing up, Haynes went to the same church as Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland in Houston, Texas. Albums The Cristál Ball (2025)

Singles As lead artist

As featured artist +YearTitleAlbumWriter(s)Producer(s)2024"DANCE!"(The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race featuring Sapphira Cristál)Brett McLaughlin, O'Neill HaynesLeland, Gabe Lopez

Filmography YearTitleGenreRoleNotes 2023 RuPaul's Drag Race Web series Herself 1 special episode; Meet the Queens2024 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16)Television Contestant Runner-up, Miss Congeniality; 16 episodes RuPaul's Drag Race: UntuckedHerself Season 15, 13 episodes Whatcha Packin'Web series Guest; 1 episode Hey Qween! Guest; 1 episode Touch-Ups with Raven (2024) Bring Back My Girls