RuPaul’s Drag Race

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. To date, there have been twelve winners of the show: BeBe Zahara Benet, Tyra Sanchez, Raja, Sharon Needles, Jinkx Monsoon, Bianca Del Rio, Violet Chachki, Bob the Drag Queen, Sasha Velour, Aquaria, Yvie Oddly and Jaida Essence Hall.

RuPaul’s Drag Race has spanned thirteen seasons and inspired the spin-off shows RuPaul’s Drag URuPaul’s Drag Race All StarsRuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked and RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race. The show has become the highest-rated television program on Logo TV, and airs internationally, including in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Israel. The show earned RuPaul five consecutive Emmys (2016 to 2020) 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, 2019 and 2020, and the Outstanding Reality Program award at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards. It has been nominated for four 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). 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, a feat it has since repeated. Season 13, the current season, premiered on January 1, 2021.

Format

Season 11 contestants Ra’Jah O’Hara (left) and Scarlet Envy (right) competing in a Lip Sync for Your Life

Prospective Drag Race contestants submit video auditions to the show’s production company, World of Wonder. RuPaul, the host and head judge, views each tape and selects the season’s competitors. Once the chosen pool of performers is on set, they film a series of episodes, each one typically concluding with the removal of one contestant from the competition. Rarely, the outcome of an episode has been a double elimination, no elimination, contestant disqualification or removal of a contestant on medical grounds. Each episode features a so-called maxi challenge that tests competitors’ skills in a variety of areas of drag performance. Some episodes also feature a mini challenge, the prize of which is often an advantage or benefit in the upcoming maxi challenge. Following the maxi challenge, contestants present themed looks in a runway walk. RuPaul and a panel of judges then critique each contestant’s performance, deliberate amongst themselves, and announce the week’s winner and bottom two competitors. The bottom two queens compete in a so-called Lip Sync for Your Life; the winner of the lip sync remains in the competition, and the loser is eliminated. Generally, the contestant that the judges feel has displayed the most “charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent” (C.U.N.T.) is the one who advances. The final three or four contestants remaining compete in a special finale episode wherein the season’s winner is crowned. In early seasons, the finale was pre-recorded in the studio with no audience. More recently, the finale has taken the form of a lip sync tournament before a live audience. The season 12 finale was filmed remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mini and maxi challenges

Mini challenges are quick, small assignments that RuPaul announces at the beginning of an episode. One of the most popular mini challenges, which recurs from season to season, is the library challenge. In it, contestants satirically criticize one another in a process called “reading”, which was popularized by the film Paris Is Burning. Maxi challenges vary in the skill they test; some are group challenges that involve singing and acting, while others feature comedy, a talent of choice, dancing, or makeovers. The winner receives a material or monetary prize. Through the show’s fifth season, the winner also received immunity against elimination the following week. Drag Races most popular seasonal maxi challenge is Snatch Game, a spoof on Match Game wherein contestants impersonate celebrities or famous fictional personas.

Judging

Current judges RuPaul (top left), Michelle Visage (top right), Ross Mathews (bottom left), and Carson Kressley (bottom right)

RuPaul has been the series’ head judge since its premiere. For the first two seasons, Merle Ginsberg joined him on the panel; she was replaced in season 3 by longtime friend of RuPaul and co-host of The RuPaul Show Michelle Visage. Santino Rice served as a judge from season 1 through season 6. From season 7 onward, Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley have occupied Rice’s former seat. New York City makeup artist Billy B held a regular judging spot in the third and fourth seasons when Rice was absent. Most weeks, one or two celebrity guest judges join the panel.

Judges on RuPaul’s Drag Race
Judge Season
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
RuPaul Main
Merle Ginsberg Main Guest
Santino Rice Main Guest
Michelle Visage Main
Billy B Main
Ross Mathews Guest Main
Carson Kressley Main

Companion series

The first season of Drag Race was accompanied by a seven-episode web series titled Under the Hood of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which Logo TV made available for streaming on its website. The series featured behind-the-scenes and deleted footage from the taping of the main show. From season 2 onward, a companion show called RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, which has the same premise, has aired instead. Untucked largely focuses on conversations and drama that occur between contestants backstage while the judges deliberate on each episode’s results. In most seasons, it has aired on TV following the main show, but it was available only online for season 7 through season 9. A number of smaller web series also accompany each episode of Drag RaceWhatcha Packin, which began at the start of the sixth season, features Michelle Visage interviewing the most recently eliminated queen about their run on the show and showcasing runway outfits they had brought but did not have the opportunity to wear. Since season 8, a five- to 15-minute aftershow called The Pit Stop has also been produced. It involves a host and guest, typically past competitors of Drag Race, discussing the recently aired episode. Each season’s host (or hosts) are different; to date, these have included the YouTuber Kingsley, Raja Gemini, Bob the Drag Queen, Alaska Thunderfuck, Trixie Mattel and Manila Luzon.

Series overview

RuPaul’s Drag Race series overview
Season Premiere Date Finale Date Winner Runner(s)-up Miss Congeniality Winner’s 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 and scepter from Fierce Drag Jewels
8 March 7, 2016 May 16, 2016 Bob the Drag Queen Kim Chi
Naomi Smalls
Cynthia Lee Fontaine
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
10 March 22, 2018 June 28, 2018 Aquaria Eureka O’Hara
Kameron Michaels
Monét X Change
  • $100,000
  • A one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics
  • A crown and scepter from Fierce Drag Jewels
11 February 28, 2019 May 30, 2019 Yvie Oddly Brooke Lynn Hytes Nina West
12 February 28, 2020 May 29, 2020 Jaida Essence Hall Crystal Methyd
Gigi Goode
Heidi N Closet
13 January 1, 2021 TBA TBD TBD TBD

Seasons 1–8 (2009–2016): Logo TV

BeBe Zahara Benet (top left), Tyra Sanchez (top right), Raja (bottom left), and Sharon Needles (bottom right), the winners of seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

Season 1 premiered in the U.S. on February 2, 2009, on Logo TV. Nine contestants competed to become “America’s Next Drag Superstar”. The winner won a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics, was featured on the cover of Paper and in an LA Eyeworks campaign, joined the Absolut Pride tour, and won a cash prize of $20,000. One of the nine, Nina Flowers, was determined by an audience vote via the show’s official website. The winner of season 1 was BeBe Zahara Benet, with Nina Flowers winning Miss Congeniality. In late 2013, Logo re-aired the season as RuPaul’s Drag Race: The Lost Season Ru-Vealed, featuring commentary from RuPaul.

For season 2 (2010), 12 contestants competed for 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 in 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, Shangela. Each week’s episode is followed by a behind-the-scenes show, RuPaul’s Drag Race Untucked. The winner of season 2 was Tyra Sanchez, with Pandora Boxx winning Miss Congeniality. On December 6, 2011, Amazon.com released season 2 on DVD via the CreateSpace program.

Season 3 (2011) had Michelle Visage replacing Merle Ginsberg on the judging panel as well as Billy Brasfield (commonly known as Billy B), Mike Ruiz, and Jeffrey Moran (courtesy of Absolut Vodka) filling in for Santino Rice’s absence during several episodes. Due to Billy B’s continued appearances, he and Rice are considered to have been alternate judges for the same seat on judges panel. 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. 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 season 3 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 began airing on January 30, 2012, with cast members announced November 13, 2011. The winner headlined Logo’s Drag Race Tour featuring Absolut Vodka, won 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 previous season, Rice and Billy B (Billy Brasfield), shared the same seat at the judges table alternatively, with Brasfield filling in for Rice when needed. The winner of season 4 was Sharon Needles, with Latrice Royale winning Miss Congeniality.

Jinkx Monsoon (top left), Bianca Del Rio (top right), Violet Chachki (bottom left), and Bob The Drag Queen (bottom right), the winners of seasons 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively.

Season 5 began airing on January 28, 2013, with a 90-minute premiere episode. Fourteen contestants competed for 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. Rice and Visage were back as judges on the panel. The winner of season 5 was Jinkx Monsoon, with Ivy Winters winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 6 began airing February 24, 2014. Like season 5, season 6 saw 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 in each group compete against one another before being united as one group in the third episode. Rice and Visage returned as judges at the panel. Two new pit crew members, Miles Moody and Simon Sherry-Wood, joined Carter and Morales. The winner won a prize package that included a supply from Colorevolution Cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The winner of season 6 was Bianca Del Rio, with BenDeLaCreme winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 7 began airing on March 2, 2015. Returning judges included RuPaul and Visage, while the space previously occupied by 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. Morales and Simon Sherry-Wood did not appear this season and were replaced by Bryce Eilenberg. Like the previous two seasons, this one featured fourteen 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 percent increase from the previous season. On March 20, 2015, it was announced that Logo had given the series an early renewal for an eighth season. The winner of season 7 was Violet Chachki, with Katya winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 8 on began airing on March 7, 2016, with cast members announced during the NewNowNext Honors on February 1, 2016. Visage returned as a main judge, while Kressley and Mathews returned as rotating main judges. The first episode celebrated the 100th taping of the show, and the 100th drag queen to compete. Similar to season 2, this season had twelve 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 season 8 was Bob the Drag Queen, with Cynthia Lee Fontaine winning Miss Congeniality.

Seasons 9–13 (2017–present): VH1

Season 9 began airing on March 24, 2017 on VH1, with cast members being announced on February 2, 2017. Visage returned as a main judge, while Kressley and Mathews returned as rotating main judges. This season features fourteen 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 season 8. Season 9 featured a top four in the finale episode, as opposed to the top three, which was previously established in season 4. The winner of season 9 was Sasha Velour, with Valentina winning Miss Congeniality.

Sasha Velour (left), Aquaria (middle), Yvie Oddly (right), the winners of seasons 9, 10, 11, respectively.

Season 10 began airing on March 22, 2018. Visage returned as a main judge, while Kressley and Mathews returned as rotating main judges. This season features thirteen new contestants, and one returning contestant, 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. Eureka O’Hara, who was removed from the ninth season due to an injury, returned to the show after she accepted an open invitation. Season 10 premiered alongside the televised return of Untucked. The tenth season featured a top four following the previous season’s finale format. The winner of season 10 was Aquaria, with Monét X Change winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 11 began airing February 28, 2019. This season had fifteen contestants, whereas previous seasons typically had fourteen contestants. Visage returned as a main judge, while Kressley and Mathews returned as rotating main judges. This season features fourteen new contestants, and one returning contestant, 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. This season saw the return of Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, who was the first contestant eliminated in season 10. Season 11 again featured a top four in the finale. As with season 10, each week’s episode was followed by an episode of the televised return of RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked. The winner of season 11 was Yvie Oddly, with Nina West winning Miss Congeniality.

On January 22, 2019, casting for season 12 (2020) was announced via YouTube and Twitter and was closed on March 1, 2019. On August 19, 2019, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a twelfth season. The season began airing on February 28, 2020. This is the first and only season to have the reunion and finale recorded virtually from the contestants’ homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner of season 12 was Jaida Essence Hall, with Heidi N Closet winning Miss Congeniality.

On December 2, 2019, casting for the thirteenth season was announced via YouTube and Twitter. The casting call closed on January 24, 2020. On August 20, 2020, it was announced the thirteenth season had been ordered by VH1. Season 13 began airing on January 1, 2021.

Casting for season 14 began on November 23, 2020.

Contestants

More than 150 contestants have competed on the U.S. version of the show.

Specials

  • RuPaul’s Drag Race: Green Screen Christmas (2015): On December 13, 2015, Logo aired a seasonal themed episode of Drag Race. The non-competitive special was released in conjunction with RuPaul’s holiday album Slay Belles and featured music videos for songs from the album. The cast included RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Siedah Garrett, and Todrick Hall, and former contestants Alyssa Edwards, Laganja Estranja, Latrice Royale, Raja, and Shangela.
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular (2018): On November 1, 2018, VH1 announced a seasonal themed special episode of Drag Race scheduled to air on December 7, 2018. The special saw eight former contestants compete for the title of “America’s first Drag Race Christmas Queen”. Competitors included Eureka O’Hara, Jasmine Masters, Kim Chi, Latrice Royale, Mayhem Miller, Shangela, Sonique, and Trixie Mattel.
  • RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2020): On April 10, 2020, VH1 announced a celebrity edition of Drag Race scheduled to air for four weeks beginning on April 24, 2020. The series featured a trio of celebrities receiving makeovers from former contestants. After receiving help from “Queen Supremes” Alyssa Edwards, Asia O’Hara, Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, Nina West, Trinity the Tuck, Trixie Mattel and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, the celebrities competed in fan-favorite challenges and on the runway to be named “America’s Next Celebrity Drag Race Superstar” and prize money for choice charities.
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race: Vegas Revue (2020): On July 22, 2020, it was announced that a docu-series would premiere on August 21, 2020.
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race: Corona Can’t Keep a Good Queen Down (2021): On February 26, 2021, the one hour special aired on VH1 in between episodes 8 and 9 of Season 13 and detailed the contestants’ journeys with filming the season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Spin-offs

  • RuPaul’s Drag U (2010–2012): 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”.
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (2012–present): Past contestants return and 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.
  • Dancing Queen (2018): In April 2013, RuPaul confirmed that he planned to executive-produce a spin-off of Drag Race that stars season five and All Stars season two 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.
  • RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2020): Drag Race alumni give celebrities drag makeovers and compete for the title of “America’s Next Celebrity Drag Superstar”.
  • Feature film: 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.”

International versions

  • The Switch Drag Race (2015–present): This licensed glocalization of Drag Race 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. Similar to Drag RaceThe Switch requires contestants to lip-sync, dance, and perform impersonations.
  • Drag Race Thailand (2018–present): In October 2017, Kantana Group 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 U.S. 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 Asia.
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (2019–present): 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. On December 5, 2018, it was announced that the British version of RuPaul’s Drag Race would be an eight-part series filmed in London based on local drag queens and would air on BBC Three in 2019. Visage confirmed via social media that she would appear as a judge. RuPaul announced there will be a challenge inspired by Meghan Markle.The first confirmed celebrity judge was Game of Thrones actor, Maisie Williams.
  • Canada’s Drag Race (2020): On June 27, 2019, OutTV and Bell Media’s streaming service Crave announced that they had co-commissioned a Canadian version of Drag Race. Rights to the series, as well as the U.S. and British versions, will be shared by OutTV and Crave. Additionally, season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes was confirmed as one of the judges, becoming the first Drag Race contestant to serve as a permanent judge. The show premiered on July 2, 2020.
  • Drag Race Holland (2020): A Dutch version of Drag Race was announced on July 26, 2020. The series debuted on Videoland in The Netherlands, and aired on WOW Presents Plus internationally. The show is hosted by Fred van Leer and premiered September 18, 2020.
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under (2021): On August 26, 2019 an Australian version was announced to be in production and said to air in 2020, but was likely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming began in Auckland, New Zealand in January 2021.
  • Drag Race España (2021): On November 16, 2020, Atresmedia announced that they would produce a Spanish version of Drag Race together with Buendía Estudios after reaching an agreement with Passion Distribution in favour of World of Wonder. The series will debut on Atresmedia’s pay streaming service ATRESplayer Premium in 2021. It will be hosted by Supremme de Luxe.
  • Brazilian localization: In August 2017, a Brazilian version of the show was announced. It was scheduled to air in late 2018; however, nothing has been released since the original announcement.

Home media

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

Full seasons of shows in the Drag Race franchise are available to stream on WOW Presents Plus in over 200 territories. The show is also currently available on the following streaming platforms:

  • United States — Amazon Prime Video (seasons 1–5; Untucked seasons 1–5), Hulu (seasons 1–6; All Stars 1–2; Untucked seasons 1–3 & 5–6); CBS All Access (seasons 1–10, All Stars 1–4), WOW Presents Plus (all episodes of UK, Canada, and Holland, Untucked seasons 6–8, Thailand season 2)
  • Canada — Netflix (seasons 1–11, All Stars 4, Untucked season 11), Crave (all seasons, All Stars 1–5, UK series 1, Canada season 1), WOW Presents Plus (seasons 1–10, Untucked seasons 1–10, All Stars 1–4)
  • UK & Ireland — Netlflix (all seasons, Untucked seasons 11–12, All Stars 4 & 5, Celebrity season 1), BBC iPlayer (UK series 1; Canada season 1), WOW Presents Plus (seasons 1–10, Untucked seasons 1–10, all episodes of All Stars and Holland)
  • Australia — Stan (all seasons of original, All Stars, Untucked, UK, Canada and Thailand Season 2)), WOW Presents Plus (UK series 1, Canada season 1)

Awards and nominations

RuPaul’s Drag Race has been nominated for thirty-nine Emmy Awards, and won nineteen. It has also been nominated for nine Reality Television Awards, winning three, and nominated for six NewNowNext Awards, winning three.

Critical reception

Season Critical response
Rotten Tomatoes
1 71% (7 reviews)
2 N/A
3 N/A
4 67% (6 reviews)
5 80% (5 reviews)
6 N/A
7 60% (5 reviews)
8 100% (6 reviews)
9 100% (11 reviews)
10 82% (11 reviews)
11 89% (9 reviews)
12 100% (8 reviews)

Thrillist called Drag Race “the closest gay culture gets to a sports league.”  In 2019, the TV series was ranked 93rd on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.

Relationship with trans community

Performers of any sexual orientation and gender identity are eligible to audition, although most contestants to date have been gay men. Transgender competitors have become more common as seasons have progressed; Sonique, a season two contestant, became the first openly trans contestant when she came out as a woman during the reunion special. Monica Beverly Hillz (season 5) became the first contestant to come out as a trans woman during the competition. Peppermint (season 9) is the first contestant who was out as a trans woman prior to the airing of her season. Other trans contestants came out as women after their elimination, including Carmen Carrera, Kenya Michaels, Stacy Layne Matthews, Jiggly Caliente and Gia Gunn. Additionally, Gottmik (season 13) was the first and currently only openly transgender male and AFAB contestant in the franchise’s history.

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 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!” 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. He compared transgender drag performers to doping athletes on his Twitter, and has since apologized. Sasha Velour (season 9) disagreed, tweeting “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”.

For the first twelve seasons, RuPaul would say, “Gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best woman win,” before the contestants’ runway looks for the episode were shown. When season 13 introduced the show’s first ever transgender male contestant, Gottmik, RuPaul’s catchphrase was changed in order to promote inclusivity: “Racers, start your engines, and may the best drag queen win.”

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 on demand service Stan will fast track season 9 (including Untucked). As of 2020, Stan streams all seasons since Season 1, as well as Untucked, All Stars, All Stars Untucked, Canada’s Drag Race, Secret Celebrity, Drag Race UK and Season 2 of Drag Race Thailand.
  • 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. Beginning with season 12, OutTV has shared its first-run rights to the main series (but not Untucked) with the more widely subscribed Crave streaming service, with episodes available on Crave shortly after they premiere on OutTV, in connection with Crave and OutTV’s co-production of Canada’s Drag Race. Past seasons are also available on Netflix in Canada, with each season released there shortly before the next season begins.
  • 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. All seasons of the show has been made available on Netflix since October 2018
  • Indonesia: In Indonesia, season 1 to season 13 of the programme were available on Netflix, alongside the Christmas spectacular; As of the release of All Stars, only season 4 and 5 is available. Netflix also aired Untucked season 10 episodes one day after they air in the USA.
  • 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 season 3.
  • Israel: Yes has broadcast all seasons and Untucked episodes. Seasons 1–12, All Stars seasons 4-5 and Untucked seasons 11-12 are also available on Netflix.