# RuPaul's Drag Race RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition show that pits drag queens against each other for the title of "America's next drag superstar," hosted and judged by RuPaul Charles. Since debuting in 2009, the show grew from a niche Logo cable series into a mainstream cultural force whose catchphrases, GIFs, and lip-sync moments spawned a huge online meme ecosystem. ## Origin The first episode of RuPaul's Drag Race aired on Logo on February 2nd, 2009, running for nine episodes in its debut season[2]. Fans nicknamed it "The Lost Season" because the run was long unavailable online or on DVD; Logo re-aired it in 2013 with pop-up commentary from RuPaul and cast[2]. A behind-the-scenes companion series, Untucked!, premiered alongside the main show as a recap format built around dressing-room confessionals[2]. RuPaul, born RuPaul Charles, pitched the concept a decade before the 2018 Guardian profile and was turned down by every network but Logo[1]. The show grew into Logo's highest-rated program, and on March 1st, 2017 it was announced that season nine would move to VH1 with encore airings on Logo[2]. - **Platform:** Logo TV (broadcast) / Twitter and Tumblr (meme spread) - **Creator:** RuPaul Charles (show host and executive producer) - **Date:** 2009 ## Overview RuPaul's Drag Race pastiches America's Next Top Model, mashing a talent contest with reality-TV confessionals, and each week a dozen or so drag queens compete in themed challenges before the bottom two "lip-sync for their lives" to a pop anthem[1]. RuPaul judges alongside guest panelists ranging from Lady Gaga to La Toya Jackson, scoring runway looks against the acronym Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent[1]. The Guardian called it "the most radical show on TV," arguing the queens' emotional openness breaks the usual reality-TV rulebook by favoring camaraderie over catfights[1]. The show is the primary meme engine for modern drag culture online, feeding a steady supply of reaction GIFs, catchphrases ("sashay away," "shantay you stay," "the library is open") and screencaps that circulate well beyond drag fandom. The /r/rupaulsdragrace subreddit, launched in November 2011, grew past 145,000 subscribers within seven years and works as a clearing house for episode reactions, edits and in-jokes[2]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is RuPaul's Drag Race? It is an American reality competition series in which drag queens compete in weekly challenges and lip-sync battles to be named "America's next drag superstar," hosted and judged by RuPaul Charles[1]. ### Where did RuPaul's Drag Race come from? The show premiered on the LGBTQ-focused cable network Logo on February 2nd, 2009 after RuPaul pitched it to every major network and was turned down by all except Logo[1][2]. ### What does RuPaul's Drag Race mean? The show's format frames drag as a fierce professional competition rated on Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent, and the phrase is used online as shorthand for the wider drag fandom and its GIFs and catchphrases[1]. ### How do you use RuPaul's Drag Race online? Fans typically share reaction GIFs of judgings and lip-syncs, quote catchphrases like "sashay away," and gather in spaces like the /r/rupaulsdragrace subreddit, which passed 145,000 subscribers within seven years of its 2011 launch[2]. ### Is RuPaul's Drag Race still popular? Yes, it moved from Logo to VH1 in 2017 for its ninth season and grew a large social footprint, with the official Twitter account past 736,000 followers and Facebook past 2 million likes by 2018[2]. ## References 1. [https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/mar/03/rupaul-drag-race-big-f-you-to-male-dominated-culture?CMP=share_btn_tw]() 2. [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/rupauls-drag-race]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/rupauls-drag-race Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library