RuPaul's Drag Race , an American reality competition television program, premiered in 2009 and documents host RuPaul's search for "America's Next Drag Superstar". Its success has led to the creation of a franchise including RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ; international spin-off series including British and Australian and New Zealand versions hosted by RuPaul; Chilean, Thai, Canadian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, French, Philippine, Belgian, Swedish, Mexican, Brazilian, and German localizations; and international "vs. the World" competitions hosted in the UK and Canada. 210 contestants have appeared on the original American series over sixteen seasons; 83 past contestants have returned to compete on All Stars; and another 395 contestants have appeared across the international editions of the show.
Contents
- U.S. seasons
- RuPaul's Drag Race
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
- RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race
- RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular
- RuPaul's Drag U
- International seasons
- Canada's Drag Race
- Drag Race Belgique
- Drag Race Brasil
- Drag Race España
- Drag Race France
- Drag Race Germany
- Drag Race Holland
- Drag Race Italia
- Drag Race México
- Drag Race Philippines
- Drag Race Sverige
- Drag Race Thailand
- RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK
- See also
- Notes
- References
The original series has crowned sixteen winners. In addition, in eight seasons of All Stars , eight queens have won entry into the "Drag Race Hall of Fame"—Chad Michaels, Alaska, Trixie Mattel, Monét X Change, Trinity the Tuck, Shea Couleé, Kylie Sonique Love, Jimbo—and one, Jinkx Monsoon, has been crowned the "Queen of All Queens", becoming the first contestant to win two different seasons in the franchise.
Most competitors have been cisgender gay men, although several contestants came out as trans women on the show, while others entered the competition already out and at various stages in their transitions. Monica Beverly Hillz, who came out as a trans woman during season 5, said in a 2013 interview that the show does not require contestants to identify as male and that transgender women can participate if they consider themselves drag artists. [1] However, in 2018, RuPaul told The Guardian that he would "probably not" allow a transgender contestant who had "really transitioned" to compete [2] and later compared transgender drag performers to doping athletes. [3] RuPaul has since apologized for those comments. [4] [5]
Kylie Sonique Love, who made history as the first contestant to come out as trans on the show, during the season 2 reunion episode, became the first out trans woman to win a U.S. version of the show when she was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" in All Stars 6. [6] However, Angele Anang was the first trans woman to win a season in the entire franchise, after she emerged victorious on Thailand season 2. [7] The two have been followed by Vanessa Van Cartier (Holland season 2), [8] Sasha Colby (season 15), [9] and Captivating Katkat (Philippines season 2). [10] On season 13, Gottmik became the first trans man to compete on the show. [11] She has been followed by Denim (Canada season 4). [12] On UK series 3, Victoria Scone became the first cis woman to compete on the show. [13] She has been followed by Clover Bish (España season 3) and Pandora Nox (Germany season 1), the latter of whom became the first cis woman to win a season of Drag Race. [14] On season 14, Maddy Morphosis became the first cisgender heterosexual man to compete. [15]
As of 2023 [update] , Jujubee has appeared more than any other contestant on Drag Race, competing on four different seasons: season 2, All Stars 1, All Stars 5, and UK vs the World 1 . Several other queens have competed on three seasons, includingShangela (the first to do so), Gia Gunn, Latrice Royale, Manila Luzon, Alexis Mateo, Eureka!, Ginger Minj, Pandora Boxx, Yara Sofia, Mo Heart, Monét X Change, Shea Couleé, Trinity the Tuck, Ra'Jah O'Hara, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Jimbo, Mayhem Miller, Scarlet Envy, and Pakita.
As of 2023 [update] , four previous contestants have died. Season 2 contestant Sahara Davenport died of heart failure in 2012, at age 27. [16] Davenport was in a long-term relationship with season 3 contestant Manila Luzon at the time. Season 8 and All Stars 3 contestant Chi Chi DeVayne died of complications from scleroderma and pneumonia in 2020, at age 34. [17] [18] UK series 2 contestant Cherry Valentine died by suicide in 2022, at age 28. [19] Thailand season 2 contestant Bandit died in 2023, at age 38. [20]
