RuPaul's Drag Race

For the recently concluded season, see RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10).

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 Your 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) "Rock It (To The Moon)" (season 10)
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	131 (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 ten 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 three consecutive Emmys (2016 to 2018) for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. The show itself was awarded as a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program in 2018 and the Outstanding Reality Program award 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 January 2018, casting began for season eleven. Later in 2018, the show became the first show to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program in the same year.

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.

RuPaul plays several roles in the show: host, coach, and judge. 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, a lipsync battle, 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.

Maxi challenges

The requirements of the maxi 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 maxi 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 maxi challenge of every season up to season 8 is where the contestants star in RuPaul's music video.

The goal of each maxi 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, such as the Snatch Game.

Judging

Judges on RuPaul's Drag Race

Judge	Season
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
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 Pam Tillis, 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, The B-52's, Kesha, Shania Twain, Graham Norton, Christina Aguilera, 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 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, Untucked returned to television, where it airs on VH1 during the 30 minute time slot after the 90 minute episode airs.

Contestants

Main article: List of RuPaul's Drag Race contestants

Contestants of any sexual orientation or gender identity are accepted, although most contestants to date have been gay men. Transgender women are also 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. Peppermint is the first drag race contestant to have been out as a transgender woman prior to the airing of her season, but after filming. Although transgender women have competed in the show, none of the contestants had come out as transgender prior to being casted on the show. All transgender contestants have come out as transgender either during the course of the competition, or after their respective season had ended. RuPaul has stated that transgender women contrast with his view of what the art of drag is defined by.

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		$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 sceptre from Shandar Fashion Accessories & Shoes
10	March 22, 2018	June 28, 2018	Aquaria	Eureka Kameron Michaels	Monét X Change	$100,000 A one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics A crown and scepter from Fierce Drag Jewels

Season 1 (2009)

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

BeBe Zahara Benet

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)

File:Tyra Sánchez (fan art).jpg

Tyra Sanchez

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)

Raja

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)

Sharon Needles

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)

Jinkx Monsoon

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)

Bianca Del Rio

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)

Violet Chachki

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)

Bob the Drag Queen

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)

Sasha Velour

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. Valentina won Miss Congeniality.

Season 10 (2018)

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10)

Aquaria

On April 13, 2017, VH1 renewed the series for a tenth season. The season began airing on March 22, 2018. Eureka O'Hara, who was removed from the ninth season due to injury, returned to the show after she accepted an open invitation. The tenth season of Drag Race premiered; alongside the televised return of Untucked. On this season, 14 contestants are again 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 tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Aquaria. Monét X Change won Miss Congeniality.

Season 11

On June 13, 2018, VH1 renewed the series, alongside Untucked, for an eleventh season.

Music

Main article: RuPaul discography

Almost all music used in the series comes from RuPaul's albums: Champion, Glamazon, Born Naked, Realness, Butch Queen, and American. 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)
• "Snapshot" from Remember Me: Essential, Vol. 1 (season 10)

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

Five 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 released on iTunes on April 20, 2018. The fifth single, "Kitty Girl", featured the top 4 contestants from All Stars Season 3; Kennedy Davenport, Shangela, Bebe Zahara Benet & Trixie Mattel. It charted at number 99 on the UK Singles Chart giving RuPaul his first UK chart entry in 20 years. The sixth single, "American", featured the top 4 contestants from Season 10; Aquaria, Asia O'Hara, Eureka O'Hara & Kameron Michaels.

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; Two Birds and One Stone, both by All Stars 3 winner Trixie Mattel; Till Death Do Us Party, by season 6 runner-up Adore Delano; and Call My Life by season 10 contestant Blair St. Clair.

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 over the six episodes. 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. Ten queens selected from the first through ninth season competed over the course of 8 episodes.

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.

Drag Race Thailand (2018–)

In October 2017, it was announced that Kantana Group had acquired the rights to produce its own version of Drag Race. Season 1 of Drag Race Thailand was met with successful ratings on Thai television. It was later announced that the first season will premiere in the United States in May 2018. The first season also made stirs in the Asian LGBT community, the most prominent of which was a campaign to establish versions of Drag Race in the Philippines and Taiwan as well, two of the most LGBT-accepting nations in all of Asia.

Brazilian localization (2018)

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

Dancing Queen (2018)

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 (later retitled as Dancing Queen), and that his dance company in Mesquite, Texas is the setting. The series aired on Netflix on October 5, 2018.

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."

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

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by RuPaul's Drag Race

RuPaul's Drag Race has been nominated for 23 Emmy Awards, and won nine. It has also been nominated for nine Reality Television Awards, winning three, and nominated for six NewNowNext Awards, winning three.

Critical reception

Early seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race were 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 drama . 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.

Controversy

In March 2014, Drag Race sparked controversy over the use of the term "shemale" in the season 6 mini challenge "Female or She-male?". Logo has since removed the segment 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!"

Host RuPaul additionally came under fire for comments made in an interview with The Guardian, in which he stated he would "probably not" allow a transgender contestant to compete on Drag Race. RuPaul compared transgender drag performers to doping athletes on his Twitter, and has since apologized. Season nine winner, Sasha Velour, has expressed her disagreement via Twitter, stating "My drag was born in a community full of trans women, trans men, and gender non-conforming folks doing drag. That’s the real world of drag, like it or not. I thinks it’s fabulous and I will fight my entire life to protect and uplift it".

International broadcast

• 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 1-10.
• 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. Only season 8–9 is 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.
• Finland: In 2010, Finnish channel TVViisi aired the second season, and during fall 2018 Sub will broadcast the show starting from the sixth season, following with the All Stars-seasons.
• Germany: During summer 2009, TIMM – a former gay television channel from Germany – aired the first season every Friday night. TLC aired seasons two to six, before the rights for the show went to Netflix. The streaming service has released the show since season seven onwards.
• 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 were available on Netflix; As of the release of Season 10, only seasons 8 & 9 are available. Netflix has started airing season 10 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: Season 3 was aired on the ABS-CBN-owned 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 on the same network.
• 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. As of May 2018, the series airs on VH1 UK Monday-Thursday at 11pm, beginning with All Stars series 3.
• Thailand: Seasons 2–8 are available to stream on LINE TV.

See also

• List of reality television programs with LGBT cast members
• LGBT culture in New York City
• Paris is Burning
• Pose (TV series)

External links

• Official website
• RuPaul's Drag Race at IMDb
• RuPaul's Drag Race on Facebook
• Edgar, E. (2011). "Xtravaganza!": Drag Representation and Articulation in "RuPaul's Drag Race". Studies in Popular Culture,34(1), 133-146. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23416354