Will Pill became an inspiration for many after she emerged winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, taking home a prize of $150,000.
It would have been just another win, except that she’s battling an illness that could easily have prevented her from emerging victorious.
She’s not a big pill, she’s a WINNER baby! 💊✨ Condragulations to the winner of #DragRace Season 14, @WillowPillQueen! 👑 pic.twitter.com/NQAqjAwBFk
— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) April 23, 2022
The RuPaul Drag Race queen has been diagnosed with cystinosis, a kidney disease that causes problems with her eyes, throat, and muscles. In fact, commenting about her illness, she had noted that there’s no part of her body unaffected by it.
She was born with the disease, which she described as “ravenous.” She had kidney failure at 14 and had to be on dialysis at some point. She had a kidney transplant, with her brother as the donor. But her challenges remained. Incidentally, her sister Elizabeth had died earlier from complications of the same disease.
While cystinosis is no joke, Willow hasn’t let it hold her back or down. She brushed aside fierce competition to emerge the winner of season 14 of the Drag Race. Her win has led to a massive celebration on social media, with some of her fans commenting that the victory was also a victory for trans and the community behind them.
Congratulations are in order for Willow Pill.
