RuPaul's Drag Race

For the recently concluded season, see RuPaul's Drag Race (season 9).

RuPaul's Drag Race
Genre	Reality competition
Directed by	Nick Murray
Judges	RuPaul Merle Ginsberg Santino Rice Michelle Visage Billy Brasfield Ross Mathews Carson Kressley
Theme music composer	RuPaul
Opening theme	"RuPaul's Drag Race" theme (season 1–present)
Ending theme	"Cover Girl (Put the Bass In Walk)" (season 1) "Jealous of My Boogie" (season 2) "Main Event" (season 3) "The Beginning" (season 4–5) "Dance with U" (season 6) "Fly Tonight" (season 7) "Die Tomorrow" (season 8) "Be Someone" & "Kitty Girl" (season 9)
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	9
No. of episodes	117 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Fenton Bailey Randy Barbato Tom Campbell RuPaul Steven Corfe Pamela Post Mandy Salangsang Chris McKim
Camera setup	Multiple
Running time	42–60 minutes
Production company	World of Wonder
Original release
Network	Logo VH1
Release	February 2, 2009 (2009-02-02) – present (present)
Related
RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars RuPaul's Drag U

RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV and, beginning with the ninth season, VH1. The show documents RuPaul in the search for "America's next drag superstar." RuPaul plays the role of host, mentor, and head judge for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. RuPaul's Drag Race employs a panel of judges, including RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Ross Mathews, Carson Kressley, and a host of other guest judges, who critique contestants' progress throughout the competition. The title of the show is a play on drag queen and drag racing, and the title sequence and song "Drag Race" both have a drag-racing theme.

RuPaul's Drag Race has spanned nine seasons and inspired the spin-off shows RuPaul's Drag U and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. The show has become the highest-rated television program on Logo TV, and airs internationally, including in Australia, Canada, UK, The Netherlands and Israel. The show earned RuPaul a 2016 Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, and the show itself was awarded as an Outstanding Reality Program at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards. It has been nominated for 4 Critics' Choice Television Award including Best Reality Series – Competition and Best Reality Show Host for RuPaul, and was nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Make-up for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic). In April 2017, RuPaul's Drag Race was renewed for a tenth season. In January 2018, casting began for season eleven.

Format

Casting calls are announced online, where prospective contestants submit audition tapes in hopes of being cast. All contestants selected must be 21 years of age or older at the time of taping. Applications of any sexual orientation or gender identity are accepted, although most contestants to date have been gay men. Transgender women are eligible to compete and have become more common as seasons have progressed. Sonique, a season two contestant, became the first openly transgender contestant; she came out as transgender during the Season 2 reunion special. Monica Beverly Hillz, from season five, became the first transgender woman to reveal her status during the competition. Other transgender contestants have begun transitioning after their elimination. Carmen Carrera, a season three contestant, announced her transition during an episode of ABC's Primetime: What Would You Do? Season 4 contestant Kenya Michaels announced her own transition via Facebook and Twitter. Other transgender contestants include Stacy Layne Matthews, Jiggly Caliente, Gia Gunn, and Peppermint.

RuPaul plays dual roles in the show. USA Today's Lifeline explains: "RuPaul the drag queen will be the final word in judging and eliminations, while RuPaul the man will offer guidance to contestants for each challenge." RuPaul's Drag Race uses progressive elimination to reduce the number of drag queens in the competition from the initial field of fourteen contestants (the maximum a season has started with) down to the final three or four, who will compete in the final challenge. In Seasons 1, 2, and 3, the contestants were narrowed down to a final two, with a winner being selected the final episode. Each episode (with the exception of the casting special, "recap" episode, and reunion special) follows a format consisting of a mini challenge, a main challenge, a runway walk (where the contestants model fashion on a runway, usually with a theme based on the main challenge), the judging panel, and the elimination of a contestant. There have been some exceptions to episodes, including double-elimination episodes, no-elimination episodes, disqualifications of a contestant, and the removal of a contestant due to an injury.

Mini challenges

In the mini challenge, each contestant is asked to perform a different task with varying requirements and time limitations. Certain mini challenges are repeated from season to season. For instance, the first mini challenge of the first six seasons is a photo shoot with the photographer Mike Ruiz that includes some kind of special twist (such as being doused with water while in full drag, having a high-powered fan turned on during the shoot, or being photographed while jumping on a trampoline). Another recurring mini challenge is dedicated to "reading," a drag term for making insulting observations about one's peers for comedic effect. The winner of a mini challenge is sometimes rewarded with some kind of advantage in the main challenge. Though most episodes have a mini challenge, select episodes do not and progress straight to the main challenge.

Main challenges

The requirements of the main challenge vary across each episode, and can be individual or group challenges, and initially grant immunity to the winner in the next challenge (until RuPaul announces the discontinuation of that policy mid-season). However, as of season 6, immunity is no longer granted to challenge winners. The winner of the main challenge also receives a "special" prize for their win. In the past, challenge winners have been rewarded with prizes including custom designer clothing, vacations, cruises, and quality cosmetic items. The final main challenge of every season is where the contestants star in RuPaul's music video, with the exception of season 9.

The goal of each main challenge involves a new theme and outcome. Contestants are often asked to design and construct a custom outfit, sometimes incorporating unconventional materials. Other challenges focus on the contestants' ability to present themselves on camera, perform with music, or perform humorously. Some challenges become a tradition across seasons.

Judging

Judges on RuPaul's Drag Race

Judge	Season
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
RuPaul	Main
Merle Ginsberg	Main						Guest
Santino Rice	Main						Guest
Michelle Visage			Main
Billy B			Main
Ross Mathews				Guest			Main
Carson Kressley							Main

Beginning with the seventh season, Michelle Visage, Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley are the staple judges alongside RuPaul. Visage joined the show at the start of season 3, while Mathews and Kressley joined at the start of season 7, and each joins RuPaul and Visage on alternate episodes. Past fixtures on the panel include Merle Ginsberg, who was a regular judge in the first two seasons, and Santino Rice, who held his position from the first season until the conclusion of the sixth. Until season 8, Rice was the only person, apart from RuPaul, to take part in every season of the show, serving as a main judge for seasons one through six, and all stars 1, and guest judging for season seven. In certain instances, Rice was absent and replacement judging has been provided by make-up artist Billy Brasfield (better known as Billy B), Mike Ruiz, Jeffrey Moran (Absolut Vodka marketing executive), or Lucian Piane. However, due to Brasfield's numerous appearances in seasons three and four, including appearing in the Reunited episodes both seasons, Rice and Billy B are considered to have been alternates for the same seat at the judges table throughout the two seasons.

Prior to the grande finale, the three main judges are joined by two celebrity guest judges each week. Guest judges have included Paula Abdul, Pamela Anderson, Eve, Ariana Grande, Neil Patrick Harris, Kathy Griffin, Debbie Harry, Khloé Kardashian, La Toya Jackson, Adam Lambert, Demi Lovato, Bob Mackie, Rose McGowan, Olivia Newton-John, Rebecca Romijn, Gigi Hadid, Sharon Osbourne, Dan Savage, John Waters, Michelle Williams, Candis Cayne, Martha Wash, Natalie Cole, Dita Von Teese, Niecy Nash, Debbie Reynolds, Vanessa Williams, Wilmer Valderrama, The Pointer Sisters, Trina, Leah Remini, Paula Abdul, The B-52's, Kesha and Lady Gaga.

The judges each provide their opinion on the contestants' performances in the main challenge and on the runway before RuPaul announces which queen is the episode's winner and which two had the weakest performances. The day before judging, the contestants are all provided with a song by a female artist to which they must learn the lyrics. The contestants deemed as being the bottom two must "lip sync for their lives" to the song in a final attempt to impress RuPaul. After the lip sync, RuPaul alone decides who stays and who leaves. RuPaul describes the qualities the contestants must have to be crowned the winner of the show as "Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent... These are people who have taken adversity and turned it into something that is beautiful and something powerful." The phrase "charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent" is used repeatedly on the show, the acronym of which is CUNT. On the first All Stars season, "synergy" was added to provide an explanation behind the contestants being sorted into teams (expanding the acronym into CUNTS).

Untucked

The first season of Drag Race was accompanied by a seven-episode web series, titled Under the Hood of RuPaul's Drag Race. LOGOonline published a webisode of Under the Hood after each episode of Drag Race. In this companion series, RuPaul presents a documentary of contestants' conversation in the green room, replays pertinent moments from Drag Race, and airs deleted footage.

Starting with the second season of Drag Race in 2010, Logo reformatted Under the Hood, increased its production budget, moved it from the web to television, and re-titled it to RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. Logo broadcast an episode of Untucked after each episode of Drag Race. Untucked replaces the basic green room of Under the Hood with two decorated rooms that were until season 6 sponsored by Absolut Vodka and Interior Illusions, Inc.: the Interior Illusions Lounge and the Gold Bar. FormDecor sponsored the Lounge for season 6. These two backstage areas allow for separated group conversation.

At the start of the seventh season of the Drag Race, Untucked reverted to a webseries, as part of the World of Wonder YouTube page. Instead of two decorated rooms, Untucked was moved back to the one room, an empty backstage space that connects to the main stage and work room, with couches for contestants to chat on. The newly renovated version also follows contestants following their elimination from the show, documenting them packing their belongings and leaving the set. The webseries format continued for the eighth and ninth season. For the show's tenth season, it was announced that Untucked would return to television.

Seasons

Season	Premiere Date	Finale Date	Winner	Runner(s)-up	Miss Congeniality	Winner Prizes
1	February 2, 2009	March 23, 2009	BeBe Zahara Benet	Nina Flowers	Nina Flowers	$20,000, courtesy of the V&S Group (producers of Absolut Vodka) and MAC Cosmetics Top billing in Logo TV's Drag Race Tour, sponsored by Absolut Vodka Appearance in an advertising campaign for L.A. Eyeworks A photo-spread in Paper magazine A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
2	February 1, 2010	April 26, 2010	Tyra Sanchez	Raven	Pandora Boxx	$25,000 A lifetime supply of NYX Cosmetics and be the face of NYXCosmetics.com Top billing in Logo TV's Drag Race Tour, sponsored by Absolut Vodka Appearance in an advertising campaign for L.A. Eyeworks A one-year contract with LGBT public relations firm Project Publicity A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
3	January 24, 2011	May 2, 2011	Raja	Manila Luzon	Yara Sofia	$75,000 A lifetime supply of Kryolan make-up Top billing in Logo TV's Drag Race Tour, sponsored by Absolut Vodka A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
4	January 30, 2012	April 30, 2012	Sharon Needles	Chad Michaels Phi Phi O'Hara	Latrice Royale	$100,000 A lifetime supply of NYX cosmetics Top billing in Logo TV's Drag Race Tour, sponsored by Absolut Vodka A holiday courtesy of ALandCHUCK.travel A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
5	January 28, 2013	May 6, 2013	Jinkx Monsoon	Alaska Roxxxy Andrews	Ivy Winters	$100,000 A collection of ColorEvolution cosmetics Top billing in Logo TV's Drag Race Tour, sponsored by Absolut Vodka A holiday courtesy of ALandCHUCK.travel A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
6	February 24, 2014	May 19, 2014	Bianca Del Rio	Adore Delano Courtney Act	BenDeLaCreme	$100,000 A collection of ColorEvolution cosmetics A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
7	March 2, 2015	June 1, 2015	Violet Chachki	Ginger Minj Pearl	Katya	$100,000 A one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
8	March 7, 2016	May 16, 2016	Bob the Drag Queen	Kim Chi Naomi Smalls	Cynthia Lee Fontaine	$100,000 A one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics A crown from Fierce Drag Jewels
9	March 24, 2017	June 23, 2017	Sasha Velour	Peppermint	Valentina	$100,000 A one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics A crown and scepter from Shandar Fashion Accessories & Shoes

Season 1 (2009)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 1)

The first season of RuPaul's Drag Race, later referred as The Lost Season, premiered in the United States on February 2, 2009, on Logo. Nine contestants were selected to compete in the running of becoming "America's Next Drag Superstar." The winner of the first season won a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics, was featured in an LA Eyeworks campaign, joined the Logo Drag Race tour, and won a cash prize of $20,000. One of the nine contestants to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race was determined by an audience vote via the show's official website. The results were announced in early September 2008. The contestant to win this honor was Nina Flowers from Bayamón, Puerto Rico (currently residing in Denver, Colorado). The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "Cover Girl" from RuPaul's album Champion. The winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race was BeBe Zahara Benet, with Nina Flowers winning Miss Congeniality.

In late 2013, Logo re-aired the first season, which was titled RuPaul's Drag Race: The Lost Season Ru-Vealed, and featured commentary from RuPaul

Season 2 (2010)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 2)

For season two, the number of contestants was increased from nine to twelve, and the prizes were slightly modified: a lifetime supply of Nyx Cosmetics and be the face of nyxcosmetics.com, an exclusive one year public relations contract with LGBT firm Project Publicity, be featured an LA Eyeworks campaign, join the Logo Drag Race tour, and a cash prize of $25,000. A new tradition of writing a farewell message in lipstick on the workstation mirror was started by the first eliminated queen of the season, Shangela Laquifa Wadley. The theme song playing during the runway and the end credits every episode is "Jealous of My Boogie" from RuPaul's album Champion. Each week's episode is followed by a behind-the-scenes show, RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked. The winner of the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Tyra Sanchez, with Pandora Boxx winning Miss Congeniality.

On December 6, 2011, Amazon.com released this season on DVD via their CreateSpace program.

Season 3 (2011)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3)

This season had Michelle Visage replacing Merle Ginsberg at the judge's table and Billy Brasfield (better known as Billy B), Mike Ruiz, and Jeffrey Moran (courtesy of Absolut Vodka) filling in for Santino Rice's absence during several episodes. Billy B, celebrity makeup artist and star of the HGTV mini-series Hometown Renovation, appeared as a judge in five episodes. Whereas Mike Ruiz only judged for two episodes, and Jeffrey Moran for one, Moran only appearing for promotional reasons. Due to Billy B's continued appearances, he and Rice are now considered to have been alternate judges for the same seat at the judges table. Other changes made included the introduction of a wildcard contestant from the past season, Shangela; an episode with no elimination; and a contestant, Carmen Carrera, being brought back into the competition after having been eliminated a few episodes prior. A new pit crew was also introduced consisting of Jason Carter and Shawn Morales. The theme song playing during the runway every episode was changed to "Champion" while the song playing during the credits is "Main Event", both from RuPaul's album Champion. As with the previous season, each week's episode was followed by a behind-the-scenes show, RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. The winner of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Raja, with Yara Sofia winning Miss Congeniality.

On December 6, 2011 Amazon.com released this season on DVD via their CreateSpace program.

Season 4 (2012)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 4)

The fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 30, 2012, with cast members announced November 13, 2011. The winner of season four will headline Logo's Drag Race Tour featuring Absolut Vodka, wins a one-of-a-kind trip, a lifetime supply of NYX Cosmetics, a cash prize of $100,000, and the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar." Like the last season, Santino Rice & Billy B (Billy Brasfield), celebrity makeup artist and star of the HGTV mini-series Hometown Renovation, shared the same seat at the judges table alternatively, Brasfield filling in for Rice when needed. Both judges appeared side-by-side in the audience during the "Reunited" episode. The winner of the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Sharon Needles, with Latrice Royale winning Miss Congeniality.

The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "Glamazon" and the song played during the credits was "The Beginning", both from RuPaul's album Glamazon.

Season 5 (2013)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 5)

The fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 28, 2013, with a 90-minute premiere episode. It had the most contestants since the creation of the show with fourteen.

Season five's winner walked away with the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" along with a lifetime supply of Colorevolution Cosmetics, a one-of-a-kind trip courtesy of AlandChuck.travel, a headlining spot on Logo's Drag Race Tour featuring Absolut Vodka and a cash prize of $100,000. Santino Rice and Michelle Visage were back as judges at the panel. The theme song playing during the runway every episode is "I Bring the Beat", while the song playing during the credits is "The Beginning", both songs are from RuPaul's album Glamazon. The winner of the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Jinkx Monsoon, with Ivy Winters winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 6 (2014)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 6)

The sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing February 24, 2014. Like the fifth season, the season featured 14 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". For the first time in the show's history, the season premiere was split into two episodes; the fourteen queens are split into two groups and the seven queens into each group compete against each other before being united as one group for the third episode.

Santino Rice and Michelle Visage are back as judges at the panel. Two new pit crew members, Miles Moody and Simon Sherry-Wood, joined Jason Carter and Shawn Morales. The winner of this season won a prize package that included a supply from Colorevolution Cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. This was also the first season where Absolut Vodka and Interior Illusions, Inc. were not sponsors for the show, more specifically for the Untucked episodes. The Interior Illusions Lounge is now simply known as the Silver Lounge or FormDecor Lounge. The theme song played during the runway segment every episode was "Sissy That Walk" while the song playing during the credits is "Dance With U", both from the album Born Naked. The winner of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Bianca Del Rio, with BenDeLaCreme winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 7 (2015)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7)

The seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 2, 2015.

Returning judges included RuPaul and Michelle Visage, while the space previously occupied by Santino Rice was filled by new additions Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley. Mathews and Kressley were both present for the season premiere and then took turns sharing judging responsibilities. Shawn Morales, a member of the Pit Crew since the third season and Simon Sherry-Wood, a member in the sixth season, did not appear this season and were replaced by Bryce Eilenberg.

Like the previous two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season featured 14 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The season premiere debuted with a live and same-day viewership of 348,000, a 20% increase from the previous season. On March 20, 2015, it was announced that LogoTV had given the series an early renewal for an eighth season. The winner of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Violet Chachki, with Katya winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 8 (2016)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 8)

On January 14, 2016, it was announced that the cast for the eighth season will be revealed during the 2016 New Now Next Honors on February 1, 2016, followed by the season premiere on March 7, 2016. The first episode celebrated the 100th taping of the show, and the 100th drag queen to enter the work room. Michelle Visage returned as a main judge, while Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews returned as rotating main judges. Similar to the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season featured 12 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The winner of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Bob the Drag Queen, with Cynthia Lee Fontaine winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 9 (2017)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 9)

On February 2, 2017, the cast for the ninth season was announced. On March 1, 2017, it was announced that the ninth season would premiere on March 24, the ninth season features 14 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The ninth season aired on VH1, with encore presentations continuing to air on Logo. This season featured the return of Cynthia Lee Fontaine, who previously participated in the series' eighth season. The ninth season featured a top four in the finale episode, as opposed to the top three, which was previously established in the fourth season. The winner of the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Sasha Velour, with Valentina winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 10

On April 13, 2017, VH1 renewed the series for a tenth season, tentatively scheduled to begin airing in 2018. Eureka O'Hara, who was removed from the ninth season due to injury, has accepted an open invitation she was granted to return to the competition for the next season. On August 21, 2017, VH1 announced that the tenth season of Drag Race would premiere sometime in spring 2018, alongside the televised return of Untucked.

Season 11

On January 24, 2018, Rupaul has announced on her personal Twitter account that the series will be renewed for an eleventh season, and queens are now being cast.

Music

Main article: RuPaul discography

Almost all music used in the series comes from RuPaul's albums: Champion, Glamazon, Born Naked and Realness. Exceptions are songs used during the lip-sync portion of the show.

Runway

Songs used while the contestants walk the runway have been:

• "Cover Girl" from Champion (season 1)
• "Jealous of My Boogie" (Gomi & RasJek Mix) from Jealous of My Boogie - The RuMixes (season 2)
• "Champion" (DJ BunJoe's Olympic Mix) from Champion (season 3)
• "Glamazon" from Glamazon (season 4)
• "I Bring the Beat" from Glamazon (season 5)
• "Sissy That Walk" from Born Naked (season 6–7)
• "The Realness" from Realness (season 8)
• "Unreleased remix of “Category Is...” (season 9)

The Covergurlz & Covergurlz 2

RuPaul confirmed on Twitter that a new album, in which each of the Season 6 contestants covered a song from his catalog, would be released. The album, titled RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz, was released on January 28, 2014

Similar to Season 6, each of the season 7's contestants covered a song that was previously recorded by RuPaul. The album is titled RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz2 and was released on February 3, 2015. The album also features the single "New York City Beat", a song by RuPaul featuring Michelle Visage.

Other music

Four promotional singles have been released from the show's respective casts. The first single, titled "Can I Get an Amen" was released in 2013, and featured the eight remaining contestants of the season 5 cast. "Can I Get an Amen" was a parody of the charity single "We Are the World", and featured Alaska, Alyssa Edwards, Coco Montrese, Detox, Ivy Winters, Jade Jolie, Jinkx Monsoon, and Roxxxy Andrews. The second single to surface from the show was a rap song titled "Oh No She Better Don't," and was released in 2014. The single featured the remaining nine contestants of the season 6 cast: Adore Delano, BenDeLaCreme, Bianca Del Rio, Courtney Act, Darienne Lake, Joslyn Fox, Laganja Estranja, Milk, and Trinity K. Bonet. The third single, "Read U Wrote U", was released in 2016. It featured the top 4 contestants from All Stars 2; Alaska, Katya, Detox & Roxxxy Andrews. "Read U Wrote U" is the most successful of the Drag Race promotional singles, peaking at number 29 on the Dance and Electronic Charts. The fourth single, "Category Is", featured the top 4 contestants from season 9; Peppermint, Sasha Velour, Trinity Taylor, & Shea Couleé. It was the only promotional single not released on iTunes.

Following Drag Race, many contestants from the show have delved into music careers, with some garnering significant success. Albums released by the shows alumni include PG-13 by season 4 winner Sharon Needles and Till Death Do Us Party by season 6 runner-up Adore Delano.

Related media

RuPaul's Drag U (2010–2012)

RuPaul's Drag U is a spin-off that ran from 2010 to 2012. In each episode, three women are paired with former Drag Race contestants ("Drag Professors"), who give them drag makeovers and help them to access their "inner divas". Since each episode was taped in Los Angeles over a period of one month, most of the professors were queens living in Southern California.

RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (2012–)

RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars is a recurring miniseries in which past contestants compete for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame. The show's format is similar to that of RuPaul's Drag Race, with challenges and a panel of judges. The first All Stars started six months after the conclusion of Drag Race's fourth season. 12 queens from the first four seasons competed in six-episode. The second All Stars competition aired in 2016, a few months after the season eight finale. This season featured ten queens, selected from the second through to the seventh season, competing in 8 episodes, with a special reunion episode. The third All Stars season was announced in August 2017, and the cast was revealed during a VH1 television special, which aired on October 20, 2017. Nine queens selected from second through ninth season will compete starting January 25th, 2018.

The Switch (2015–)

The Switch is a licensed glocalization of Drag Race that premiered in October 2015 on Chilean television channel Mega. As in Drag Race, queens compete in "mini challenges" and a main challenge, and are evaluated by a panel of judges. Similarly to Drag Race, The Switch requires contenstants to lip sync, dance, and perform impersonations.

Brazilian localization (2018)

In August 2017, a Brazilian version of the show was announced. It is scheduled to air in late 2018.

Beyond Belief (TBD)

In April 2013, RuPaul confirmed that he plans to executive-produce a spin-off of Drag Race that stars season-five contestant Alyssa Edwards. Alyssa Edwards has confirmed that the spin-off's title is Beyond Belief, and that his dance company in Mesquite, Texas is the setting.

British localization (TBD)

In April 2014, chat show host and television presenter Jonathan Ross told the Daily Star that a UK version of the show was being planned, fronted by Jodie Harsh instead of RuPaul. Ross said, "I’ve been working with Jodie on a UK version of RuPaul's Drag Race. Unfortunately, we have had to take a break because of some family issues. But we’re hoping to pick it up again in the near future. I am definitely serving ‘middle-aged-realness!’" RuPaul has since explained, "I think that because truTV has brought all the seasons of Drag Race to the UK I think that that might be something that will happen much sooner…. I think that people will fall so in love with the show, I think that the hunger and the thirst for a UK version will probably happen. That's my prediction." To coincide with TruTV airing new seasons of the show in the UK, RuPaul hosted a competition to find a UK Ambassador for RuPaul's Drag Race with judges Jonathan Ross and Katie Price in May 2015. The Vivienne, a drag queen from Liverpool, won the competition and created vlogs to accompany Drag Race episodes on truTV as well as visiting the set for the eighth season of Drag Race in the US.

Feature film (TBD)

In August 2015, RuPaul revealed that a movie featuring all of the contestants was in the works. "We've got a director for it, we've got a light script, but it just needs a little more retooling and scheduling."

Thai localization (TBD)

In October 2017, it was announced that Kantana Group had acquired the rights to produce its own version of RuPaul's Drag Race.

DVD releases

Season	Release date	Special features	Discs
2	December 6, 2011	Bonus scenes Interviews with contestants Extended reunion moments	3
3	December 6, 2011	Bonus scenes Interviews with contestants Extended reunion moments	4
4	June 26, 2012	Bonus scenes Episodes of Untucked Episodes of Drag Ya Later with Jon & John	5
5	June 10, 2013	Bonus scenes Episodes of Untucked	5
6	October 21, 2014	Bonus scenes Episodes of Untucked	5
7	June 8, 2016	Bonus scenes RuPaul's Drag Race: The Ru-les Episodes of Whatcha Packin'	4
8	July 29, 2016	Bonus scenes Episodes of Whatcha Packin'	3

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated artist/work	Result
2009	NewNowNext Award	Most Addictive Reality Star	Ongina	Won
2010	GLAAD Media Award	Outstanding Reality Program	RuPaul's Drag Race	Won
	NewNowNext Award	Best New Indulgence	RuPaul's Drag Race	Won
		Most Addictive Reality Star	Jujubee	Nominated
2011	NewNowNext Award	Most Addictive Reality Star	Carmen Carrera	Nominated
	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Reality Series – Competition	RuPaul's Drag Race	Nominated
2012	NewNowNext Award	Most Addictive Reality Star	Willam	Nominated
	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Reality Show Host	RuPaul	Nominated
	TV.com's Best of 2012 Awards	Best Reality Show Judge/Host	RuPaul	Won
		Best Reality Competition Series	RuPaul's Drag Race	Won
2013	RyanSeacrest.com's Favorite TV Show Awards	Best Reality Series	RuPaul's Drag Race	Won
	POPrepublic.tv Awards	Favourite International TV Shows	RuPaul's Drag Race	Nominated
2014	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Reality Show Host	RuPaul	Nominated
	TCA Award	Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming	RuPaul's Drag Race	Won
	NewNowNext Award	Best New TV Personality	Bianca Del Rio	Won
2015	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic)	Mathu Andersen (for "ShakesQueer")	Nominated
2016	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program	RuPaul	Won
		Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program	Zaldy (for "Keeping It 100!")	Nominated
	Reality Television Awards	Competition Show	RuPaul's Drag Race	Nominated
		Creative Challenge	RuPaul's Drag Race	Won
		Host	Rupaul	Won
2017	MTV Movie & TV Awards	Best Reality Competition	RuPaul's Drag Race	Won
		Best Host	RuPaul	Nominated
	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Reality-Competition Program	RuPaul's Drag Race	Nominated
		Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program	RuPaul	Won
		Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program	Doron Ofir	Nominated
		Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program	Zaldy, Perry Meek (for "Oh. My. Gaga!")	Won
		Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special	Hector Pocasangre (for "Oh. My. Gaga!")	Nominated
		Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic)	Jen Fregozo, Nicole Faulkner, Natasha Marcelina (for "Oh. My. Gaga!")	Nominated
		Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured or Competition Reality Program	Jamie Martin, John Lim, Michael Roha (for "Oh. My. Gaga!")	Won
		Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program	Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey, Tom Campbell, RuPaul Charles and Steven Corfe, executive producers; Kenneth Leslie, co-executive producer (for "RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked")	Nominated
	Reality Television Awards	Competition Show	RuPaul's Drag Race	Pending
		Creative Challenge	RuPaul's Drag Race	Pending
		Heartfelt Moment	RuPaul's Drag Race	Pending
		Host/Hostess	RuPaul	Pending
		Performance	Alaska	Pending
		Shocking Moment	RuPaul's Drag Race	Pending

Criticism

RuPaul's Drag Race has been criticized for appearing to favor glamorous drag queens over comedic or camp queens. For example, Popbytes commented Drag Race has been accused numerous times of keeping some of the more unpleasant but feminine queens in the competition for the sake of keeping the drama high . However, Common Sense Media commented, "RuPaul's Drag Race combines the fashion design drama of Project Runway with the modeling excitement of America's Next Top Model to create an entertainingly voyeuristic glimpse into the performance art world of drag queens. There's plenty of over-the-top stuff, but rather than simply treating drag performers as people to be laughed at and/or scorned, the show also focuses on the hard work and talent that goes into drag performances." Entertainment Weekly cited the elimination of comedian and eventual season two fan favorite Pandora Boxx as the season's most controversial.

In March 2014, Drag Race sparked controversy over the use of the term "She-male" in the season 6 Mini-challenge "Female or She-male?". Logo has since removed the episode from all platforms and has addressed the allegations of transphobia by removing the "You've got she-mail" intro from new episodes of the series. This was replaced with, "She done already done had herses!"

International airings

• Australia: In Australia, lifestyle channel LifeStyle YOU regularly shows and re-screens seasons 1-7, including Untucked. In addition, free-to-air channel SBS2 began screening the first season on August 31, 2013. On March 13, 2017, it was announced that Stan will fast track season 9 (including Untucked). Additionally, Stan streams all episodes from seasons 2-8.
• Brazil: In January 2011, VH1 Brasil aired season 2 followed by season 1, season 3, and season 4. The season 7 was aired on the Multishow cable network every Monday at 11:30pm in August 2015. The season 8 was premiered on April 2017 in Comedy Central. All seasons are also available on Netflix.
• Canada: The series airs on OutTV in Canada at the same time as the US airing. Unlike Logo, OutTV continues to broadcast Untucked immediately after each Drag Race episode.
• Germany: During summer 2009, TIMM – a former gay television channel from Germany – aired the first season every Friday night.
• Hungary: In Hungary, the show aired on FEM3 channel as RuPaul – Drag Queen leszek! ("RuPaul – I'll be Drag Queen!").
• Ireland: In Ireland, season 2 to season 8 of the programme are available on Netflix. Netflix has started airing season 9 episodes one day after they air in the USA.
• Latin America: In January 2011, VH1 Latin America aired season 2 followed by season 1, season 3, and season 4. The season 8 was premiered on April 2017 in Comedy Central.
• Spain: On 19 September 2016, free-to-air channel TEN began screening the series from season 5.
• Sweden: Season 8 of the series currently airs on OutTV on Thursdays at 20:00.
• The Philippines: The Philippines aired season 3 on the Velvet cable network every Tuesday at 11 pm with RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, airing directly after the show. Season 4 started airing on April 17, 2012.
• UK: E4 aired season 1 in 2009, followed by season 2 in 2010. Since its success on Netflix in the UK, TruTV acquired the broadcast rights for all eight seasons of the show including Untucked episodes. In June 2015, TruTV started airing two episodes of the show a week, starting with season 4, followed by All Stars, then season 5. Currently on truTV on Monday nights at 9pm, season 8 is broadcast with Untucked being on the truTV UK YouTube account. As of 2017, seasons 2-9 are available to stream on Netflix UK.

External links

• Official website
• RuPaul's Drag Race at IMDb
• RuPaul's Drag Race on Facebook