As “RuPaul’s Drag Race” enters its eighteenth season, its reputation as a classic and entertaining show has definitely solidified itself in the world of reality TV. However, RuPaul Andre Charles has been taking on many other professional endeavors in the meantime. From producing music to publishing books, he’s been able to raise awareness for drag queen culture as well as become an icon in the world of modeling and fashion.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” initially aired in February 2009 and instantly became a cultural phenomenon. In 2011, RuPaul won “Best Reality Show Host” at the Critics Choice Award. Then, in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, RuPaul’s Drag Race won “Best Competition Series” at the Critics Choice Award. In total, the show has received 228 nominations for awards ranging from “Best Contemporary Costumes,” which it won in 2023, to “Outstanding Achievement in Casting.” It has won over 78 awards total.
“I started watching RuPaul’s Drag Race when my mother started watching it. I think the fashion aspect as well as all of the drama is super fun to watch,” senior Arabella Martin stated.
Although the creative and interesting design concepts that the show exhibits makes watchers initially curious, it’s the drama and fun personalities that usually keep people coming back for more.
Band director Mr. Hilty shared, “There’s a lot of tea, there’s a lot of drama, and there’s a lot of shade.”
But, the TV show has had a greater influence than giving fans comedic comebacks to use in arguments.
Martin explains, “RuPaul has influenced the drag world for both good and bad. I know there was a lot of initial controversy, but it was good because it gave drag performers and the LGBTQ+ community an opportunity to be recognized.”
RuPaul has taken a hobby that was once considered taboo and normalized it as a performance art using reality TV. By bringing it into living rooms, he has destigmatized the art of drag and shut down many misconceptions about drag queens.
“He made the drag world more mainstream, accepted and prominent,” explained Hilty.
Since 1995, RuPaul has published four books, with his memoir “The House of Hidden Meanings” being the most recent. Released in 2024, it reached #1 on the New York Times best sellers list immediately. It contains the story of his road to global fame and how he changed the way the world thinks about drag.
Not just a writer and drag fashion icon, many consider RuPaul a model as well. He has been featured on the cover of “Vanity Fair Magazine” (Holiday 2019/2020), which was the first time a drag queen was pictured on their cover. He also made regular appearances on the cover of “Paper” magazine.
Plus, he has produced many songs, most of them in the dance and house music genres. His most streamed song, “Sissy That Walk,” covers topics such as self-confidence and being fierce in order to be the best. It has over 114 million streams, with RuPaul having around one million monthly listeners.
As RuPaul continues on his mission to make drag queens feel accepted and show people the true nature of their art, he will continue producing music and writing books that lifts spirits and shows people how to be themselves.
