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Precious Paula Nicole Earns First Acting Award, Shares Glimpse of Career Plans

Article (news)

Lance Joseph Martinez

<p>For most artists, recognition in the field of acting takes years of hard work, countless auditions, and the right role at the right time. It often requires a perfect build-up before an actor or actress finally gets their big break. For <strong>Precious Paula Nicole</strong>, however, the moment has finally arrived—and now, the spotlight shines directly on her.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758689241044preciouspaulame_1757988899_3722603154362724312_288658787.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @preciouspaulame</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">The <em><strong>Drag Race Philippines</strong></em> season one winner recently brought pride to the country after bagging the <strong>Best Lead Performance</strong> award for her role in the film <strong><em>Lip Sync Assassin</em></strong>, directed by <strong>Jon Galvez.</strong></p><p>The win took place at the prestigious <strong>2025 CinePride Film Festival</strong> in Los Angeles, an organization that celebrates the power of LGBTQIA+ cinema while nurturing the next generation of storytellers, as highlighted on the festival’s official website.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOex0uUDQEx/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A614916%2C%22ls%22%3A601982%2C%22le%22%3A614876%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="857" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“Bonus.” This was how Precious, fondly known to fans as <strong>PPN</strong>, described her recent milestone when asked if she had anticipated winning a major acting award.</p><p>Known for her artistry and drag performances, PPN, who uses she/her pronouns in her drag persona, expressed her heartfelt gratitude through an Instagram post after her win.</p><p>“<em>Alam kong hindi lang ako ang ganito, kaya sa lahat ng nangangarap, </em>please hold on to it, and don’t give up on your dreams!!!” she wrote.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with <strong>Metro.Style</strong>, the drag superstar shared her experience filming <em>Lip Sync Assassin</em> and reflected on the complexity of her character.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758689116764preciouspaulame_1757988899_3722603154404631668_288658787.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @preciouspaulame</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>“It was a fun experience! All the people I worked with made the filming fun and light. With regard to the role, I would say it’s both, it was easy in a way that the drag queen part of it was natural to me because that’s already who I am, but at the same time challenging because it’s the first time that I played a complex character—a hired killer,” PPN, who portrayed the character of Sampaguita, revealed.</p><p>Despite the challenges, PPN embraced the opportunity and acknowledged that her previous roles paved the way to this moment of recognition.</p><p>“Honestly, acting is something I’ve always dreamed of doing, but I just didn’t get the chance before. <em>Dito rin siguro papasok &#x27;yung </em>beauty <em>ng</em> art of drag, because even if I didn’t get to act on films before, I get to live my actress fantasies every time I’m on stage when I perform. Eventually, I was blessed to be given opportunities—from <em>Die Beautiful</em>, to <em>Drag You and Me</em>, to the short films I starred in (<em>Happy Mother’s Day, Sisenta</em>) <em>and ngayon, sa</em> <em>L</em><em>ip Sync Assassin</em>,” she stated.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOnRwAFkUrx/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A838958%2C%22ls%22%3A601982%2C%22le%22%3A614876%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="924" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>When asked how she felt upon hearing her name called as the winner of the award, PPN responded with humility:</p><p>“<em>Sa mga binibigay palang sa&#x27;kin,</em> happy<em> na ako</em>. ‘<em>Yung</em> recognition <em>at</em> awards, <em>bonus na lang talaga ‘yun</em>.”</p><p>This sense of gratitude is not new to her. Since winning the inaugural season of <em>Drag Race Philippines</em> in 2022, PPN has continuously expressed how blessed she feels to keep doing what she loves.</p><p>“‘<em>Yung kahit</em> three years <em>na</em> since my win and I still get to do what I love to do, <em>a</em><em>y grabe ang saya sa pakiramdam.</em> More than anything, I feel very blessed. It makes me happy and gives me the affirmation <em>na baka tama nga itong ginagawa ko.</em> I am where I’m meant to be, and I’m doing what I’m meant to do,” she stressed.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758689427284preciouspaulame_1757990074_3722613012889717826_288658787.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @preciouspaulame</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>After achieving two groundbreaking milestones—becoming the first <em>Drag Race Philippines</em> winner and now winning her first major acting award—PPN is more eager than ever to expand her artistry.</p><p>“More drag! More acting! More songs! <em>Ang dami ko pang gustong gawin, </em>a<em></em>nd I don’t want to stop creating art. <em>Gusto ko mas marami pa akong ma-</em>inspire<em> </em>because of the things I do,” she revealed.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DM__CxXPYH6/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A1009679%2C%22ls%22%3A601982%2C%22le%22%3A614876%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>To conclude, she left a powerful message to young queer dreamers who aspire to follow in her footsteps, whether as drag artists or future actors.</p><p>“I want to remind them to never give up on their dreams because NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. Believe me, <em>kasi</em> I am living proof <em>na wala talagang</em> impossible <em>sa taong nangangarap </em>as long as they put in the work and effort <em>at makisamang mabuti sa mga tao. </em>Lastly, don’t ever forget to put your HEART into everything that you do, and the rest will follow,” she concluded.</p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photo from <strong>@preciouspaulame</strong></p>

<p>Drag superstar Precious Paula Nicole beams with pride as she reacts to her recent win, bringing honor to the country after clinching the Best Lead Performance award for her role in "Lip Sync Assassin" at the 2025 CinePride Film Festival.</p>

Drag superstar Precious Paula Nicole beams with pride as she reacts to her recent win, bringing honor to the country after clinching the Best Lead Performance award for her role in "Lip Sync Assassin" at the 2025 CinePride Film Festival.