Pit Crew (RuPaul's Drag Race)

Last updated
Pit Crew members with RuPaul (second from left), including Shawn Morales (second from right), at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2019 RuPaul and his Pit Crew at Dragcon by dvsross.jpg
Pit Crew members with RuPaul (second from left), including Shawn Morales (second from right), at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2019

The Pit Crew is the ensemble of scantily clad male models who appear on camera for various segments of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race and its derivatives, utilizing the motif of car drag racing. [1] During season 6 of Drag Race, [2] and on Drag Race Thailand, the group are known as the Scruff Pit Crew. The group are called the Brit Crew on RuPaul's Drag Race UK . [3]

Contents

A behind-the-scenes weekly web series Oh Pit Crew launched in 2014 with season six and airs on WOW Presents Plus, and its related YouTube channel. [4] [5]

Function

Crew members often appear dressed only in designer underwear, and features as human props, and in sketches, mini-, and maxi-challenges to aid the drag queen contestants. [1] [4]

In one mini-challenge called "Pants Down Bottoms Up", the competing drag queens picked Pit Crew men by two to drop their pants until they found matching underwear. [6]

Members

RuPaul's Drag Race (2009–present)

Shawn Morales in 2018 Shawn Morales Pit Crew Member by DVSROSS.jpg
Shawn Morales in 2018

Pit Crew members of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race included Kenyon Glover, Keon Hunt, and Preston Taylor. [1] Max "The Body" Philisaire participated during the second season. [1]

Television host and men's lifestyle expert Jason J. Carter joined for seasons 3–10. [1] [7] Shawn Morales was a member for seasons 3–6. [1] [8] According to Morales, he and Carter got the job through their being go-go dancers in gay clubs; a friend "knew someone in the casting department" and secured an audition. [9]

Ronnie Kroell was a Pit Crew member for the fifth season. [10] [11] Miles Davis Moody, an actor and model, was a member for seasons 6–8. [1] [12] [13] Simon Sherry-Wood was a member for the sixth season, and previously starred on The Real World: Paris (2003). [1] [14]

Bryce Eilenberg, a straight ally, was a member since season 7. [1] [7] [15] Jared North and Yadier Despaigne joined the crew for season 9. [1] Laith Ashley appeared as the Pit Crew's first openly trans man during the series' tenth season. [6] [16] [17]

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012–present)

Wilson Lai was a member during the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars . [18] [19]

Drag Race Thailand (2018–present)

Drag Race Thailand started in 2018 with an eight-member crew branded as the Scruff Pit Crew, after the queer men's dating mobile app. [20] Up to three members appeared in each episode. [20] Members include Nikkai, cosplay enthusiast Nut, and Pae. [20]

RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019–present)

The Brit Crew members were announced a few weeks prior to RuPaul's Drag Race UK premiering in October 2019. [3] [21] The casting requirements included that they were at least six feet tall, attractive, “athletic and toned physique”, no tattoos, aged 18-35, and comfortable in just underwear. [21] The series debuted with five members, and two more were added after the first episode. [22] Season 1 members include:

RuPaul's Drag Race Live! (2020)

RuPaul's Drag Race Live! shows in Las Vegas features a rotating cast of RuPaul's Drag Race contestants in a live show akin to the Werq the World tour. [36] The shows Pit Crew all double as dancers in the queens' numbers. [36] Crew members include: AJ Watkins, Dallas Eli, Filip Lacina, Michael Silas, Nick Lemer, and Sebastian Gonzalez. [36]

Canada's Drag Race (2020-present)

The Pit Crew on Canada's Drag Race attracted media attention for including Mina Gerges, who was the first plus-size man to be featured in the Pit Crew on any edition of the series, [37] and Travis L'Henaff, an HIV-positive model and activist who has been featured in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in Canada. [38] Other members included Ming Yao, Seth Falk and Evan Boutsov. [39]

RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (2021–present)

Regular members of the Pit Crew of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under included Max Currie, Sean Walters, and Rod Tian. [40] [41]

Drag Race España (2021–present)

The twelve members of Pit Crew on the Spanish adaptation were presented a few weeks prior to Drag Race España premiering in May 2021. [42] New members were introduced during season 2, among them a trans man and a bear. [43]

Reference

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shea, Ryan (October 18, 2018). "Yum! Let's Take a Closer Look at the 'Drag Race' Pit Crew". Instinct . Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  2. ↑ RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 Episode 9 Recap: the Queens of Talk
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Towle, Andy (September 19, 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Introduces its Pit Crew, er, 'Brit Crew'". Towleroad Gay News . Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Tharrett, Matthew (February 28, 2014). "The Underwear Models Of The "Drag Race" Pit Crew Now Have Their Own Miniseries". Queerty . Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. ↑ Reid, Joe (May 24, 2017). "If You're Into 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' You MUST Check Out the World of Wonder YouTube Channel". Decider . Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Hirst, Jordan (May 22, 2018). "Transgender Laith Ashley Welcomed in RuPaul's Drag Race's Pit Crew". QNews . Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Shea, Ryan (February 15, 2018). "'RPDR' Pit Crew Legend Jason J. Carter on His Amazing Rise in Entertainment!". Instinct . Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  8. ↑ Lambe, Stacy (February 19, 2014). "Meet RuPaul's Drag Race's New, Bulgier Pit Crew". Out . Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  9. ↑ Spargo, Chris (February 22, 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Interview: Pit Crew Shawn Morales". LOGO News . Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  10. ↑ Leighton-Dore, Samuel (February 18, 2019). "This former 'Drag Race' pit crew member has announced he's running for President". Special Broadcasting Service . Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Meet Ronnie Kroell—The Other Openly Gay Candidate—Who Thinks He's The Man To Beat Trump In 2020". Towleroad Gay News. 2019-02-15. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  12. ↑ Allen, Timothy (March 8, 2016). "PHOTOS: These Pit Crew Boys Can Do More Than Lube Your Engine". Queerty . Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Miles Davis Moody desnudo: el nuevo modelo de 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". CromosomaX (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  14. ↑ Avery, Dan (February 22, 2014). ""Real World" Star Simon Sherry-Wood Is New Pit Crew Hunk On "RuPaul's Drag Race"". LOGO News . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  15. ↑ Tharrett, Matthew (February 19, 2015). "The "RuPaul's Drag Race" Pit Crew Is Getting A Red-Hot Ginger Hunk". LOGO News . Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  16. ↑ Reynolds, Daniel (May 19, 2018). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Introduces First Trans Pit Crew Member". The Advocate . Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  17. ↑ Rodriguez, Mathew (May 19, 2016). "Dominican, Trans Model Laith Ashley Covers Gay UK Mag Targeted by #GayMediaSoWhite". Mic . Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  18. ↑ Gremore, Graham (January 28, 2019). "Everyone's gagging over Wilson Lai, the Pit Crew's hunkiest new member". Queerty . Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  19. ↑ Henderson, Taylor (January 22, 2019). "Everyone's Thirsting Over 'Drag Race' Pit Crew Recruit Wilson Lai". Pride.com . Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  20. 1 2 3 Ferber, Lawrence (February 14, 2018). "Meet The Hunky Pit Crew of "Drag Race Thailand"". LOGO News . Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  21. 1 2 Hudson, David (September 19, 2019). "Forget the 'Pit Crew', meet RuPaul's 'Brit Crew' for Drag Race UK". Queerty . Archived from the original on January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  22. 1 2 Street, Mikelle (September 18, 2019). "Meet the Men of 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK's Sexy Brit Crew". Out . Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 Shea, Ryan (October 13, 2019). "Take a Look At The Sexy Pit Crew From 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK'". Instinct . Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  24. ↑ Yates, Jonathan (January 17, 2020). "Who's on the RuPaul's DragCon UK lineup at Olympia London?". MyLondon. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Thomas Archie Ahern - The Law Society". solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  26. ↑ Sonoma, Serena (October 11, 2019). "The Hunky Otter From 'RuPaul's Drag Race U.K's Brit Crew Is Engaged". www.out.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  27. ↑ Ashenden, Amy (September 23, 2016). "'People brand me as a gay athlete' says canoeist Matt Lister". Evening Standard . Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  28. ↑ Tharrett, Matthew (October 5, 2019). "Nyle DiMarco's day off, Justin Bieber's skivvies, & Odell Beckham Jr.'s thick thighs / Queerty". Queerty . Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  29. ↑ Morgan, Joe (April 29, 2016). "Here are all the incredible panelists who will debate and discuss at Digital Pride: The Festival in London". Gay Star News . Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  30. ↑ Koff, Derek de (August 3, 2017). "Let's all take a break from our busy modern lives to drool over the Mr. Gay Europe candidates". Queerty . Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  31. ↑ Scheib, Julia (December 3, 2015). "Greater York Dance's 'The Hip Nut' mixes cultures and genres". York Dispatch . Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  32. ↑ Zelko, Abbey (November 16, 2015). "See traditional, hip-hop 'Nutcracker' in York". FlipSidePA. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  33. ↑ "I am Niko Wirachman…Living his 'Best Gay Life'". Best Gay Life. 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  34. ↑ "Niko Wirachman By Alex Botic – Part 2". DNA Magazine Australia. December 17, 2017. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Cast Announced For BARE: A POP OPERA At The Vaults". Broadway World News . May 23, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  36. 1 2 3 "Here's the Pit Crew from 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Live' in Vegas". Out . January 31, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  37. ↑ Michael Cook, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Brings Beefiness To the Pit Crew With Mina Gerges". Instinct , July 28, 2020.
  38. ↑ Mikelle Street, "'Drag Race' Pit Crew's Travis Says You Can Slide In His DMs". Out , September 2, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Introducing Canada’s Drag Race Pit Crew". DNA , July 17, 2020.
  40. ↑ Street, Mikelle (May 4, 2021). "Meet 'Drag Race Down Under's Hunky (and Talented) Pit Crew". Out.
  41. ↑ Hirst, Jordan (June 7, 2021). "Some Aussies have joined the Pit Crew on Drag Race Down Under". QNews.
  42. ↑ Street, Mikelle (May 15, 2021). "'Drag Race Espana's 12 Member Pit Crew Has Us Sweating Already". Out . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  43. ↑ "La segunda temporada de 'Drag Race España' se estrena con más diversidad y un espectacular ángel caído". 20 minutos . March 28, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.

Related Research Articles

RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV, WOW Presents Plus, 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, an alternating third main judge of either Carson Kressley or Ross Matthews, 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.

Tammie Brown

Tammie Brown is the stage name of Keith Glen Schubert, an American drag performer, reality television personality, and recording artist. Brown was a fixture in the Southern California drag scene before appearing on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.

BeBe Zahara Benet Cameroonian-American entertainer (born 1981)

Nea Marshall Kudi Ngwa better known by his stage name BeBe Zahara Benet, is a Cameroonian-American drag performer, television personality, and musician best known for winning the first season of the reality-television drag competition RuPaul's Drag Race in 2009. In 2018, he returned as a surprise contestant for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, placing in the top four.

Chad Michaels American drag performer and Cher impersonator

Chad Michaels is an American drag performer and professional Cher impersonator. He was the runner-up of the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, alongside Phi Phi O'Hara, and the winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2013, he released "Tragic Girl", his debut single and music video.

Alaska Thunderfuck American drag performer and recording artist

Justin Andrew Honard is an American drag queen and recording artist known by the stage name Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, primarily known mononymously as Alaska, from Erie, Pennsylvania. She is best known as the runner-up on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the winner of the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

DWV (group)

DWV was an American pop group based in Los Angeles, consisting of drag queens Detox, Willam Belli, and Vicky Vox. They found fame with the release of "Chow Down " in March 2012, a parody of "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips, satirizing Chick-fil-A's controversial stance on gay marriage. The single's music video went viral online. They followed this up with the January 2013 release of "Boy Is a Bottom", a parody of the Alicia Keys song "Girl on Fire", which proved to be even more popular, amassing 25.8 million views on YouTube, as of 2022.

Adore Delano American drag performer and recording artist

Daniel Anthony Noriega, better known under the stage name Adore Delano, is an American drag queen, singer-songwriter, and television personality. Noriega appeared as a contestant on the seventh season of American Idol in 2008 and later competed as Adore Delano on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, placing in the final three. Delano then went on to compete on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, placing ninth after voluntarily leaving the competition. Delano has recorded and released four studio albums: Till Death Do Us Party (2014), After Party (2016), Whatever (2017), and Dirty Laundry (2021).

Shea Couleé Musical artist

Jaren Kyei Merrell, known professionally as Shea Couleé, is an American drag queen, musician, actor, podcaster, and fixture of the Chicago nightlife scene. Born in Warsaw, Indiana, they began their drag career in 2012. In 2017, Couleé achieved international fame after competing on season nine of RuPaul's Drag Race, placing in the top four. In 2020, Couleé won the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Couleé later returned to compete on the all-winners seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2022.

Mayhem Miller (drag queen) American drag queen and performer

Mayhem Miller is the stage name of Dequan Johnson, an American drag performer and actor, best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018) and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2020).

Mo Heart American drag performer and singer

Mo Heart, previously known as Monique Heart, is the stage name of Kevin Richardson, an American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018), the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (2018–2019), and the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK Versus the World (2022). Since her season aired in 2018, Heart has appeared in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, including a starring role in Manic Moments With Monique Heart, and hosted her own podcast, Ace of Hearts with Monique Heart. In January 2019, she released her debut single "Brown Cow Stunning", and later released her debut extended play Beloved SoS 6.3 in 2020.

Simon Sherry-Wood is an Irish-born American television personality and model. He is best known for his appearances on The Real World and RuPaul's Drag Race.

Brooke Lynn Hytes Canadian drag performer and dancer

Brooke Lynn Hytes is the stage name of Brock Edward Hayhoe, a Canadian drag queen, ballet dancer, performer, and television personality. After working as a dancer with Cape Town City Ballet and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Hytes achieved international recognition for competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race; Hytes placed second, only to winner Yvie Oddly. Hytes is the first Canadian to compete in the series. Hytes is also a main judge on the spin-off series Canada's Drag Race, becoming the first Drag Race contestant to become a full-time judge in the franchise.

Shawn Morales

Shawn Morales is an American model, actor, and nightlife personality based in Los Angeles, California.

Dahlia Sin American drag performer

Dahlia Sin is an American drag performer most known for competing on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. She is a "drag daughter" of fellow Drag Race contestant Aja and a member of the Haus of Aja. Season 13 contestant Kandy Muse is a "drag sister".

Heidi N Closet American drag queen

Heidi N Closet is the stage name of Trevien Anthonie Cheek, an American drag queen from Ramseur, North Carolina, best known for competing on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she placed 5th and won the Miss Congeniality award.

India Ferrah American drag queen and costume designer

India Ferrah is the stage name of Shane Richardson, an American drag queen and costume designer best known for competing on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Richardson was raised in Roanoke, Virginia, and came out as gay and started performing in drag as India Ferrah during his teens. He later lived in Dayton, Ohio, and performs regularly in Las Vegas. India Ferrah competed on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

Gottmik American drag performer and make-up artist

Kade Gottlieb, better known as Gottmik, is an American drag performer and make-up artist. He became the first openly trans man to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race, tying for 3rd place on the thirteenth season.

Symone (drag queen) American drag performer

Reggie Gavin, known by the stage name Symone, is an American drag queen and model. She is best known as the winner of season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race (2021). She is a member of the queer art collective House of Avalon.

<i>Canadas Drag Race</i> (season 1) First season of Canadas Drag Race

The first season of Canada's Drag Race premiered on July 2, 2020. The cast was announced on May 14, 2020. The winner of the first season of Canada’s Drag Race was Priyanka, with Rita Baga and Scarlett BoBo as runners-up.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.