Queens Strut Their Stuff on LOGO’s ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’
I’ve made up my mind and don’t try to stop me. I am going to a better person…Wait, that was wrong…a better looking person. Yes, I am going to do what is necessary to look…presentable. I’ve been inspired. I’ve been transformed. I’ve been renewed.
I’ve been watching LOGO’s RuPaul’s Drag Race (Mondays, 10 p.m. EASTERN/PACIFIC or at rupaulsdragrace.com).
Yes, self-described Supermodel of the World, RuPaul is back and her show is fierce.
RuPaul — Miss RuPaul if you’re nastay — has assembled some of the best drag queens this country has to offer to compete for the ultimate crown, America’s Next Drag Superstar. And if receiving such an illustrious title wasn’t wonderful enough, the winner will also receive a feature photo spread in Paper magazine, a portrait by photographer Greg Gorman to be used in an LA Eyeworks ad campaign, to headline the Absolut Vodka Pride Tour, and $20,000 cash courtesy of MAC cosmetics.
If it’s subtlety what you are looking for, you won’t find it on Drag Race.
Everything is very out in the open from who’s sponsoring what to the enhancements and de-enhancements needed to make those drag queens look drop dead gorgeous.
RuPaul’s Drag Race, which is part America’s Next Top Model and part Project Runway and all campy good-natured fun, gives us the challenges which we have come to expect from a reality competition show but with a twist and a snap.
There was the photo shoot featuring the drag queens and two buff and sexy men literally hosing them down as the ladies gave the camera their best sexay.
And I can’t forget Drag on a Dime, where the sistahs made their own outfits from stuff from the 99 cent and thrift stores. Oh, they also formed two dueling girl groups and competed against each other lip synching Destiny Child songs, Independent Woman and Say My Name. Get this, the name of the winning group was called, “Serving Fish”.
In each challenge, the ladies are judged on charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent. By the way, the winner gets immunity. And the two that end up on the bottom of the wig pile have to “lip synch for their lives” to a predetermined song. Winners of that thrown down get to “shante” (or is it “chante”?) and stay and the loser has to “sashay away.”
Now, the ladies aren’t out there on there own (subtle song reference alert), RuPaul, sans drag, serves as a kind of Tim Gunn, giving them fatherly advice. But instead of telling them to “Make it work”, RuPaul gives this time honored warning: “Don’t fuck it up.”
As for the judges, (which include RuPaul, this time in glorious drag), they are just as funny and outspoken as the fabulous Ms. Ru herself. The two perma-judges are Merle Ginsburg, from I don’t know where but they say she is a fashion journalist, and Project Runway finalist Santino Rice, the long, lanky villainous one that we loved to hate. Each week features guest judges which have included, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child and Bob Mackie, acclaimed designer (Don’t recognized the name? He did all of Cher’s stuff.)
In case you’re wondering, my favorite contestants thus far are the fabulous Shannel, the boyishly adorable Ongina, and the show’s villain/villainisha Akashia.
Favorite Quotes
“Every competition needs a bitch and that bitch is me.” – Akashia
“You brought the muthafucker down..If I didn’t have so much botox, I’d be crying.” – RuPaul
“Hotter than Tyra wearing fat suit in July.” – RuPaul
(To the eliminated contestant, Victoria) “Take what you’ve learned back home and do what you do best –inspire the children.” – RuPaul
RuPaul Getting Her Engine Started on "RuPaul's Drag Race" (photo: LOGO)
Yes, RuPaul, you have inspired me. Now, I’m off to replace my lip balm with lip gloss and my sneakers with stilettos.
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