RuPaul's Drag Race
Encyclopedia
RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality television
series produced by World of Wonder for Logo
. RuPaul
plays host, mentor and inspiration for this series, which details RuPaul's search for "America's next drag superstar."
The show was greenlit in May 2008, according to a press release by MTV Networks. It premiered in the U.S. on February 2, 2009 on Logo
. It premiered in Canada on the MuchMore network on Sunday, February 15, 2009. The show also airs at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the VH1
network, but due to contractual obligations with Logo, this is not being promoted.
The show was marked as the most watched series on Logo in its first season, and it became the most streamed series ever on LogoTV.com during its second. The title of the show is a play on drag queen
and drag racing
, with the title sequence and theme song "Covergirl (Put the Bass in Your Walk)" both having a drag racing theme. Both the contestants and fans are affectionately referred to as "Racers."
The series was renewed for a fourth season on April 18, 2011, along with its companion series Untucked; both are scheduled to be broadcast in January 2012.
All contestants selected must be 21 years of age or older at the time of taping. All contestants must be biological men. While sexual orientation is not important, to date, all contestants have been gay men. Transitioned women, faux queens, and drag kings are ineligible. Season 2 contestant Sonique is the series' only transgender contestant. Sonique had entered the contest as a biological male and begun a transitioning into a female after her elimination.
Each episode has followed a format consisting of a mini challenge, a main challenge, and a runway walk (the theme of which is based on the main challenge). A winner for each episode is then determined based on how well the contestants do on the runway and the main challenge. The lowest and the second lowest are put on the chopping block for elimination. The bottom two must "lip sync for their lives" as they perform for RuPaul and the other judges. RuPaul alone ultimately decides who stays and who leaves. Each season ends with a reunion show.
RuPaul plays dual roles in the show. USA Todays Lifeline describes as follows: "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." In an episode of The Insider
, RuPaul describes the series: "you have to remember... we're queens. So, there's gonna be drama. Lots of it!"
RuPaul also describes what qualities the contestants must have to be crowned winner of the show. "We're really looking for 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. RuPaul adds:
"Tell Tyra
[Banks] that the Queen has returned, and while you’re at it have Heidi
[Klum] clear the runway. I’m going to pump some ‘realness’ into reality. To be a winner on this show the contestants need to be a fashion designer, an American Idol
, and a top model all rolled up into one. And they definitely have to be smarter than a fifth grader.”
As of Season 3, fashion designer Santino Rice
and Radio/TV host Michelle Visage
are the staple judges alongside RuPaul. The two are joined by a celebrity guest judge and an extra-special guest judge each week. Fashion journalist Merle Ginsberg is a former judge.
One of the contestants of each season to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race was determined by an audience vote via the show's official website, with the exception of season three.
Essentially, Champion is the series soundtrack, but an EP
album called Drag Race, was also released to iTunes
and other digital markets. Composed of remixes from RuPaul's Champion
album, it also serves as a soundtrack.
Supermodel - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Victoria "porkchop" Parker (Eliminated) and Akasha
Episode 2 (Girl Group Challenge)
We Break The Dawn - Michelle Williams
Bottom Two:
Tammie Brown (Eliminated) and Akasha
Episode 3 (Queen Of All Media)
The Greatest Love Of All - Whitney Houston
Bottom Two:
Akasha (Eliminated) and Shannel
Episode 4 (MAC/Viva Glam Challenge)
Would I Lie To You - The Eurythmics
Bottom Two:
Jade(Eliminated) and Rebecca Glasscock
Episode 5 (Drag School Of Charm)
Stronger - Britney Spears
Bottom Two:
Ongina(Eliminated) and Bebe Zahara Benet
Episode 6 (Absolut Drag Ball)
Shackles - Mary Mary
Bottom Two:
Shannel(Eliminated) and Rebecca Glasscock
Episode 7 (Extra Special Edition)
Recap of the current season. No elimination.
Episode 8 (Grand Finale)
Cover Girl (Put The Bass In Your Walk) - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Rebecca Glasscock(Eliminated) Nina Flowers (Eliminated)
Cover Girl (Put The Bass In Your Walk) - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Shangela(Eliminated) and Sahara Davenport
Episode 2 (Starrbootylicious)
My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It) - En Vogue
Bottom Two:
Nicole Paige Brooks(Eliminated) and Raven
Episode 3 (Country Queens)
I Hear You Knockin - Wynonna Judd
Bottom Two:
Mystique(Eliminated) and Raven
Episode 4 (The Snatch Game)
Two Of Hearts - Stacy Q
Bottom Two:
Sonique(Eliminated) and Morgan McMichaels
Episode 5 (Here Comes The Bride)
Carry On - Martha Wash
Bottom Two:
Morgan McMichaels(Eliminated) and Sahara Davenport
Episode 6 (Rocker Chicks)
Black Velvet - Alanna Myles
Bottom Two:
Sahara Davenport(Eliminated) and Jujubee
Episode 7 (Once Upon A Queen)
He's The Greatest Dancer - Sister Sledge
Bottom Two:
Jessica Wild(Eliminated) and Tatiana
Episode 8 (Golden Gals)
Shake Your Love - Debbie Gibson
Bottom Two:
Pandora Boxx(Eliminated) and Jujubee
Episode 9 (The Diva Awards)
Something He Can Feel - Aretha Franklin
Bottom Two:
Tatiana(Eliminated) and Jujubee
Episode 10 (Extra Special Edition)
Recap of the current season. No elimination.
Episode 11 (The Grand Finale)
Jealous Of My Boogie (Gomi & RasJek Edit) - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Raven(Eliminated) and Jujubee(Eliminated)
queens. For example, Entertainment Weekly
cited the elimination of comedienne and eventual season two fan favorite Pandora Boxx
as the season's most controversial. In response, RuPaul has said, "What we're looking for is someone who can really follow in my footsteps: Someone who can be hired by a company to represent their product, someone who can put together a sentence on television and present themselves in the most incredible way."
Fans have also accused RuPaul of racism or having a preference for African-American queens. The Seasons 1 & 2 winners were both African-American. However, in Season 3, all of the African-American contestants were eliminated long before the show reached the final three. RuPaul has also been criticized for cronyism. Season 3 winner Raja is said to have personally known RuPaul prior to being cast on the show.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series produced by World of Wonder for Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
. RuPaul
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...
plays host, mentor and inspiration for this series, which details RuPaul's search for "America's next drag superstar."
The show was greenlit in May 2008, according to a press release by MTV Networks. It premiered in the U.S. on February 2, 2009 on Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
. It premiered in Canada on the MuchMore network on Sunday, February 15, 2009. The show also airs at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
network, but due to contractual obligations with Logo, this is not being promoted.
The show was marked as the most watched series on Logo in its first season, and it became the most streamed series ever on LogoTV.com during its second. The title of the show is a play on drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
and drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
, with the title sequence and theme song "Covergirl (Put the Bass in Your Walk)" both having a drag racing theme. Both the contestants and fans are affectionately referred to as "Racers."
The series was renewed for a fourth season on April 18, 2011, along with its companion series Untucked; both are scheduled to be broadcast in January 2012.
Format
Casting calls are announced through the internet, where perspective 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. All contestants must be biological men. While sexual orientation is not important, to date, all contestants have been gay men. Transitioned women, faux queens, and drag kings are ineligible. Season 2 contestant Sonique is the series' only transgender contestant. Sonique had entered the contest as a biological male and begun a transitioning into a female after her elimination.
Each episode has followed a format consisting of a mini challenge, a main challenge, and a runway walk (the theme of which is based on the main challenge). A winner for each episode is then determined based on how well the contestants do on the runway and the main challenge. The lowest and the second lowest are put on the chopping block for elimination. The bottom two must "lip sync for their lives" as they perform for RuPaul and the other judges. RuPaul alone ultimately decides who stays and who leaves. Each season ends with a reunion show.
RuPaul plays dual roles in the show. USA Todays Lifeline describes as follows: "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." In an episode of The Insider
The Insider (TV series)
The Insider is an American tabloid television news program covering events and celebrities. It debuted on September 13, 2004 as a spinoff of Entertainment Tonight and started as a popular segment that took viewers "behind closed doors" and gave them "inside" information...
, RuPaul describes the series: "you have to remember... we're queens. So, there's gonna be drama. Lots of it!"
RuPaul also describes what qualities the contestants must have to be crowned winner of the show. "We're really looking for 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. RuPaul adds:
"Tell Tyra
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
[Banks] that the Queen has returned, and while you’re at it have Heidi
Heidi Klum
Heidi Samuel , better known by her birth name Heidi Klum, is a German model, actress, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and occasional singer. In 2008 she became an American citizen while maintaining her native German citizenship...
[Klum] clear the runway. I’m going to pump some ‘realness’ into reality. To be a winner on this show the contestants need to be a fashion designer, an American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, and a top model all rolled up into one. And they definitely have to be smarter than a fifth grader.”
As of Season 3, fashion designer Santino Rice
Santino Rice
Santino Quinto Rice is an American fashion designer and television personality. He is best known for his appearances on the reality television programs Project Runway, RuPaul's Drag Race, and On the Road with Austin and Santino.-Early life:Rice was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri...
and Radio/TV host Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage is a singer and TV/radio host.-Career:Michelle was discovered in 1989 when she was asked to join Seduction, an R&B and dance vocal trio assembled by Robert Clivilles and David Cole of C&C Music Factory fame...
are the staple judges alongside RuPaul. The two are joined by a celebrity guest judge and an extra-special guest judge each week. Fashion journalist Merle Ginsberg is a former judge.
One of the contestants of each season to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race was determined by an audience vote via the show's official website, with the exception of season three.
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
Since Season 2, a behind the scenes show, called RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, airs directly after each Drag Race episode in a half hour format. RuPaul, the man, serves as host, and narrates through voice overs. The majority of the show depicts what happens in the Interior Illusions Lounge and bar backstage where the contestants wait while the judges are deliberating. On occasion, scenes that didn't make it into the main episode are shown as exclusive unaired footage. Previously, for the first season, a behind the scenes series called Under the Hood was availiable online on the Logo website.Seasons
| Season | Premiere | Finale | Winner | Runner-up | Number of contestants | Number of episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season One | February 2, 2009 | March 23, 2009 | BeBe Zahara Benet BeBe Zahara Benet Nea Marshall Kudi , better known as BeBe Zahara Benet, is a former male model, a drag queen from Cameroon and winner of the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" from the first season of the popular reality television series RuPaul's Drag Race.-Biography:Kudi's first experience with drag was at... (Nea Marshall Kudi) |
Nina Flowers Nina Flowers Jorge Luis Flores Sánchez , better known as Nina Flowers, is a Puerto Rican drag queen, DJ, activist, professional make-up artist, and reality television personality who has been performing since 1993.- Biography :... (Jorge Flores) |
9 | 9 |
| Season Two | February 1, 2010 | April 26, 2010 | Tyra Sanchez (James Ross) | Raven Raven (drag queen) Raven is an American drag queen and reality television personality from Riverside, California. He is best known as a contestant on second season of RuPaul's Drag Race... (David Petruschin) |
12 | 12 |
| Season Three RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3) RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 is the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which began airing on January 24, 2011. Thirteen drag queens compete for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a headlining spot on the Absolut Tour, a lifetime supply of Kryolan makeup and a $75,000 cash prize.This... |
January 24, 2011 | May 2, 2011 | Raja Sutan Amrull Sutan Amrull , known also as Raja and Raja Gemini, is an American make-up artist and drag performer. He is best known for his work on the reality television show America's Next Top Model, serving as the show's make-up artist for nine cycles... (Sutan Amrull) |
Manila Luzon Manila Luzon Manila Luzon is a Filipino American drag queen and reality television personality from New York City. He is best known as the runner-up of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. His drag name is a play on words of the capital city and the largest island of the Philippines, where his mother was... (Karl Westerberg) |
13 | 16 |
| Season Four RuPaul's Drag Race (season 4) RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 is the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which begins airing in January 2012. The cast members of season four were announced November 13, 2011... |
January 2012 | TBA | TBA | TBA | 13 | 18 |
Music
Almost all music used comes from RuPaul's albums. More specifically, RuPaul's recent albums, Champion and Glamazon.Seasons 1 and 2
The Drag Race theme, as well as the song "Cover Girl (Put the Bass in Your Walk)" both appear on RuPaul's 2009 album Champion. In addition, a new mix of "Cover Girl" featuring a rap by contestant BeBe (which was the focus of an episode of the show) was included on the RuPaul single "Jealous of My Boogie".Essentially, Champion is the series soundtrack, but an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
album called Drag Race, was also released to iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and other digital markets. Composed of remixes from RuPaul's Champion
Champion (RuPaul album)
Champion is the fourth studio album from singer and drag queen RuPaul. It was released on iTunes February 24, 2009. The album is a mix of dance, electro pop, R&B, and hip-hop...
album, it also serves as a soundtrack.
- Main Event (Matt Pop 80's Tribute) (4:16)
- Let's Turn the Night (Matt Moss' Vidon Remix) (5:11)
- Never Go Home Again (Moss Moss' Vidon Remix) (3:20)
- J.O.M.B.2.0. [Jealous of My Boogie] (RevoLucian's Redux) (3:35) - featuring Tilly KeyTilly KeyTilly Key is an R&B/pop singer from the Island of Corsica. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.-History:Tilly Key was born Latissia Pizano in Bastia, Corsica, March 1, 1984. Her real name is Latissia Pizano....
- Destiny is Mine (Matt Moss' Vidon Remix) (3:35)
- Hit the Floor (Matt Moss' Vidon Remix) (3:20)
- Champion (DJ BunJoe's Olympic Mix) (3:42)
- LadyBoy (DJ BunJoe's BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
Booty Mix) (3:08) - Main Event (Joe Carrano's TKOTKO-In game, music and film:* Three Kingdoms Online, a browser based strategy game* "TKO" , an episode of Babylon 5* "T.K.O. ", a song from Elvis Costello's Punch the Clock album* "TKO", a song from Le Tigre's This Island...
Mix) (3:41) - Let's Turn the Night (Matt Pop Bootleg Mix) 6:43)
- Never Go Home Again (Matt Pop AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
Jam) (4:01) - Main Event (Matt Pop 80's Tribute Extended) (8:37)
- Cover Girl (Matuchi's Taterz Deep Edit) (4:49)
- Main Event (Chris Thomas' Hi-NRGHi-NRGHi-NRG describes a form of high-tempo disco music as well as a genre of electronic dance music originating in the United States during the late 1970s...
Mix) (5:07)
Season 3
The song, Champion (DJ BunJoe's Olympic Mix) was used during the show and was the basis for the final video challenge. After the closing of the third season, the album, Glamazon was released through iTunes. Songs from that album were used in the season were:- Superstar
- Glamazon
- The Beginning
"Lip Sync for your life" song list
Another set of songs that are featured on the show are the lip sync battle songs. A majority of the songs are 80's songs of various genres. However, some of the songs are contemporary. Often, if a guest judge is a singer, one of their songs is used for the lip sync.Season 1
Episode 1 (Drag On A Dime)Supermodel - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Victoria "porkchop" Parker (Eliminated) and Akasha
Episode 2 (Girl Group Challenge)
We Break The Dawn - Michelle Williams
Bottom Two:
Tammie Brown (Eliminated) and Akasha
Episode 3 (Queen Of All Media)
The Greatest Love Of All - Whitney Houston
Bottom Two:
Akasha (Eliminated) and Shannel
Episode 4 (MAC/Viva Glam Challenge)
Would I Lie To You - The Eurythmics
Bottom Two:
Jade(Eliminated) and Rebecca Glasscock
Episode 5 (Drag School Of Charm)
Stronger - Britney Spears
Bottom Two:
Ongina(Eliminated) and Bebe Zahara Benet
Episode 6 (Absolut Drag Ball)
Shackles - Mary Mary
Bottom Two:
Shannel(Eliminated) and Rebecca Glasscock
Episode 7 (Extra Special Edition)
Recap of the current season. No elimination.
Episode 8 (Grand Finale)
Cover Girl (Put The Bass In Your Walk) - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Rebecca Glasscock(Eliminated) Nina Flowers (Eliminated)
Season Two
Episode 1 (Gone With The Window)Cover Girl (Put The Bass In Your Walk) - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Shangela(Eliminated) and Sahara Davenport
Episode 2 (Starrbootylicious)
My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It) - En Vogue
Bottom Two:
Nicole Paige Brooks(Eliminated) and Raven
Episode 3 (Country Queens)
I Hear You Knockin - Wynonna Judd
Bottom Two:
Mystique(Eliminated) and Raven
Episode 4 (The Snatch Game)
Two Of Hearts - Stacy Q
Bottom Two:
Sonique(Eliminated) and Morgan McMichaels
Episode 5 (Here Comes The Bride)
Carry On - Martha Wash
Bottom Two:
Morgan McMichaels(Eliminated) and Sahara Davenport
Episode 6 (Rocker Chicks)
Black Velvet - Alanna Myles
Bottom Two:
Sahara Davenport(Eliminated) and Jujubee
Episode 7 (Once Upon A Queen)
He's The Greatest Dancer - Sister Sledge
Bottom Two:
Jessica Wild(Eliminated) and Tatiana
Episode 8 (Golden Gals)
Shake Your Love - Debbie Gibson
Bottom Two:
Pandora Boxx(Eliminated) and Jujubee
Episode 9 (The Diva Awards)
Something He Can Feel - Aretha Franklin
Bottom Two:
Tatiana(Eliminated) and Jujubee
Episode 10 (Extra Special Edition)
Recap of the current season. No elimination.
Episode 11 (The Grand Finale)
Jealous Of My Boogie (Gomi & RasJek Edit) - RuPaul
Bottom Two:
Raven(Eliminated) and Jujubee(Eliminated)
Awards & nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | NewNowNext Award | Most Addictive Reality Star — Ongina | |
| 2010 | GLAAD Media Award 21st GLAAD Media Awards The 21st GLAAD Media Awards was the 2010 annual presentation of the media awards presented by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The awards seek to honor films, television shows, musicians and works of journalism that fairly and accurately represent the LGBT community and issues... |
Outstanding Reality Program — RuPaul's Drag Race | |
| NewNowNext Award | Best New Indulgence — RuPaul's Drag Race | ||
| Most Addictive Reality Star — Jujubee Jujubee (drag queen) Jujubee is an American drag queen and reality television personality from Boston, Massachusetts. He is best known as a contestant on Season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race.-RuPaul's Drag Race:... |
|||
| 2011 | NewNowNext Award NewNowNext Awards The first NewNowNext-Awards were held in 2008 by the gay and lesbian-themed network Logo.- 2008 :The nominees were announced by Cazwell and Amanda Lepore. Hosts were Candis Cayne and Colman Domingo... |
Most Addictive Reality Star — Carmen Carrera | |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Reality Series – Competition |
Criticism
RuPaul's Drag Race has been criticized for appearing to favor glamorous drag queens over comedic or campCamp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
queens. For example, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
cited the elimination of comedienne and eventual season two fan favorite Pandora Boxx
Pandora Boxx
Pandora Boxx is an American drag queen, comedian and reality television personality from Rochester, New York. He is best known as a contestant from the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race...
as the season's most controversial. In response, RuPaul has said, "What we're looking for is someone who can really follow in my footsteps: Someone who can be hired by a company to represent their product, someone who can put together a sentence on television and present themselves in the most incredible way."
Fans have also accused RuPaul of racism or having a preference for African-American queens. The Seasons 1 & 2 winners were both African-American. However, in Season 3, all of the African-American contestants were eliminated long before the show reached the final three. RuPaul has also been criticized for cronyism. Season 3 winner Raja is said to have personally known RuPaul prior to being cast on the show.
International airings
- The series airs on OUTtvOUTtvOUTtv is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that airs entertainment and lifestyle programming for LGBT audiences.OUTtv's licensee is OUTtv Network Inc. which is 55.9% owned by Shavick Entertainment, 24.94% owned by Pink Triangle Press, 15% owned by Peace Point Entertainment...
in Canada at the same time as the US airing. MusiquePlusMusiquePlusMusiquePlus is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media operating from Montreal, Quebec.MusiquePlus is devoted to music and music related programming from various genres including pop, rock, RnB and focuses on a younger demographic than its sister station, MusiMax...
is also airing the first two seasons.
- During Summer 2009, TIMMTIMMTIMM is a German language free-to-air cable and satellite service from Germany targeting gay male audiences. It was first launched on November 1, 2008. It was also available over a live stream....
- a gay television channel from Germany - aired the first season every Friday night.
- The first season was also aired in Australia on cable television channel LifeStyle YOULifestyle youLifeStyle You in Australia is a sister channel to The Lifestyle Channel and LifeStyle Food. LifeStyle You is home to personal makeovers, hilarious and honest reality, health, wellness, family and relationship programming.-Programming:*****...
.
- RuPaul's Drag Race has also been aired in Denmark, on the channel TV2-zulu, where the two first seasons have been aired in the time-frame of a couple of weeks, including the "extras" of the show.
- In Summer 2010, the season aired on yes stars Next, an Israeli satellite channel.
- In FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
the programme started airing on TV ViisiTV ViisiTV5 is a Finnish television channel owned and operated by SBS Finland. The channel launched on March 2004 but it was replaced by The Voice TV Finland in November 2004. It started operating again in September 2008 on the same channel as The Voice. It transmitted every day from 6 PM until 1 PM...
as Huippu- drag queen haussa ("Searching for the Top Drag Queen") on Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 20.00.
- In HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
the show aired on FEM3 channel as RuPaul - Drag Queen leszek! ("RuPaul - I'll be Drag Queen!").
- In Latin AmericaLatin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, Season 2 made its premiere in January 2011 on VH1 Latin AmericaVH1 Latin AmericaVH1 Latin America is a music channel from Viacom-owned MTV Networks Latin America. The network was launched in April 2004 exclusively on Cablevisión D.F. in Mexico, and in the rest of the region some months later. The channel targets audience from 19 to 44 years old and plays local and...
and the first season premiered in May 2011.
- Season 1, immediately followed by season 2, started airing in SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on TV11 early 2011.
- In honor of Manila LuzonManila LuzonManila Luzon is a Filipino American drag queen and reality television personality from New York City. He is best known as the runner-up of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. His drag name is a play on words of the capital city and the largest island of the Philippines, where his mother was...
, the Philippines aired season 3 on VelvetVelvet (TV channel)Velvet is a women-targeted general entertainment channel, owned by Creative Programs, Inc., an subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is currently on SkyCable channel 53.-Channel Information:...
every Tuesday at 11pm with RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, airing directly after the show. Sometimes, the show is shown uncensored.
- In Italy, the third season began airing as "America's Next Drag Queen" on FOXlife on July 13th, 2011 at 21.55 with dialogue dubbed in Italian.
Former airing
- The show was also first aired on E4, a UK entertainment channel, in September 2009, with the first episode airing on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at 11:00pm. E4 announced through Twitter that it would no longer air the show.