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, 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. 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 twelve seasons and inspired the spin-off shows RuPaul's Drag U, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 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 four consecutive Emmys 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 and 2019, 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. 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.

Format

RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered in 2009 as a replacement for Rick and Steve. Casting calls are announced online, where prospective 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.
RuPaul plays several roles in the show: host, coach, and judge. USA Todays Lifeline explains: "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." RuPaul's Drag Race uses progressive elimination to reduce the number of drag queens in the competition from the initial field of fifteen contestants down to the final three or four, who will compete in the final challenge. In seasons 1–3 the contestants were narrowed down to a final two, with a winner being selected in the final episode. Each episode follows a format consisting of a mini challenge, a main challenge, a runway walk, the judging panel, a lip sync battle, and the elimination of a contestant. There have been some exceptions to episodes, including double-eliminations, no-eliminations, a disqualification of a contestant, and the removal of a contestant due to an injury.

Mini challenges

In mini challenges, each contestant is asked to perform a different task with varying requirements and time limitations. Certain mini challenges are repeated from season to season. For instance, the first mini challenge of the first six seasons is a photo shoot with the photographer Mike Ruiz that includes a special twist. Another recurring mini challenge is dedicated to "reading," a drag term for making insulting observations about one's peers for comedic effect. The winner of a mini challenge is sometimes rewarded with an advantage in the main challenge. Though most episodes have a mini challenge, select episodes do not.

Maxi challenges

The requirements of the maxi challenge vary across each episode, and can be individual or group challenges, and initially grant immunity to the winner in the next challenge. However, as of season 6, immunity is no longer granted to challenge winners. The winner of the maxi challenge also receives a special prize for their win. In the past, challenge winners have been rewarded with custom designer clothing, vacations, cruises, and quality cosmetic items. The final maxi challenge of every season up to season 8 involved the contestants starring in a RuPaul music video.
The goal of each maxi challenge involves a new theme and outcome. Contestants are often asked to design and construct a custom outfit, sometimes incorporating unconventional materials. Other challenges focus on the contestants' ability to present themselves on camera, perform with music, or perform humorously. Some challenges became a tradition across seasons, such as the "Snatch Game", a ball or a makeover, in which the contestants create drag personas for other people.

Runways

The contestants walk down a runway presenting outfits. If the maxi challenge involves the creation of an outfit, that outfit is presented to the judges in the runway. Otherwise, a theme is assigned and the contestants must put together a look that fits the theme, which is presented to the judges. The runway looks and presentation are judged along with the maxi challenge performance.

Judging

A panel of judges cast opinions about the challenge performances and runway looks, first to the contestants onstage, and then again with them offstage.
Beginning with the seventh season, Michelle Visage, Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley are the staple judges alongside RuPaul. Visage joined the show at the beginning of season three, while Mathews and Kressley joined at the beginning of season seven, and each joins RuPaul and Visage on alternate episodes. Past fixtures on the panel include Merle Ginsberg, who was a regular judge in the first two seasons, and Santino Rice, who held his position from the first season until the conclusion of the sixth. Until season eight, Rice was the only person, apart from RuPaul, to take part in every season of the show, serving as a main judge for seasons one through six, the first season of All Stars, and guest judging for season seven. In certain instances, Rice was absent and replacement judging was provided by make-up artist Billy Brasfield, Mike Ruiz, Jeffrey Moran, or Lucian Piane. However, due to Brasfield's numerous appearances in seasons three and four, including appearing in the Reunited episodes in both seasons, Rice and Billy B are considered to have been alternates for the same seat at the judges table throughout the two seasons.
Prior to the grand finale, the three main judges are joined by celebrity guest judges each week. Guest judges have included Pam Tillis, Paula Abdul, Pamela Anderson, Eve, Ariana Grande, Audra McDonald, Miley Cyrus, Troye Sivan, Neil Patrick Harris, Kathy Griffin, Debbie Harry, Debbie Reynolds, Khloé Kardashian, Kat Dennings, La Toya Jackson, Adam Lambert, Amber Riley, Demi Lovato, Bob Mackie, Rose McGowan, Olivia Newton-John, Tamar Braxton, Rebecca Romijn, Chanel Iman, Gigi Hadid, Kate Upton, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Lizzo, Dan Savage, John Waters, Michelle Williams, Candis Cayne, Martha Wash, Natalie Cole, Dita Von Teese, Niecy Nash, Vanessa Williams, Paulina Porizkova, Wilmer Valderrama, The Pointer Sisters, Trina, Leah Remini, The B-52's, Jordin Sparks, Mel B, Emma Bunton, Kesha, Shania Twain, Graham Norton, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Halsey, Adam Rippon, Gus Kenworthy, Cara Delevingne, Katherine Langford, Miles Heizer, Elvira, and Tiffany Pollard.
The judges each provide their opinion on the contestants' performances in the main challenge and on the runway before RuPaul announces which queen is the winner of the challenge and which two had the weakest performances.

Lip sync

The contestants selected as the bottom two must "lip sync for their lives" to a previously assigned song in a final attempt to impress RuPaul. After the lip sync, RuPaul decides which contestant won the lip sync and is safe, while the one who lost the lip sync is eliminated. Two contestants in the show run have been eliminated without going through a lip sync: Willam Belli for breaking the competition rules, and Eureka O'Hara due to an injury. In both cases, the bottom two contestants performed the lip sync, but neither of them were eliminated. The only instance with more than two contestants lip syncing "for their lives" was in season 11, where an entire six-person team was up for elimination after losing a challenge. Ultimately though, only one contestant, Honey Davenport, was eliminated.
From Season 9 on, the final contestants are also made to "lip sync for the crown". RuPaul describes the qualities the contestants must have to be crowned the winner of the show as "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, the acronym of which is CUNT. On the of All Stars, "synergy" was added to provide an explanation behind the contestants being sorted into teams.

''Untucked''

The first season of Drag Race was accompanied by a seven-episode web series, titled Under the Hood of RuPaul's Drag Race. LOGOonline published a webisode of Under the Hood after each episode of Drag Race. In this companion series, RuPaul presents a documentary of contestants' conversation in the green room, replays pertinent moments from Drag Race, and airs deleted footage.
In the second season of Drag Race in 2010, Logo reformatted Under the Hood, increased its production budget, moved it from the web to television, and re-titled it to . Logo broadcast an episode of Untucked after each episode of Drag Race. Untucked replaces the basic green room of Under the Hood with two decorated rooms that were until season six sponsored by Absolut Vodka and Interior Illusions, Inc.: the Interior Illusions Lounge and the Gold Bar. FormDecor sponsored the Lounge for season six. These two backstage areas allow for separate group conversations.
At the start of the seventh season of the Drag Race, Untucked reverted to a webseries, as part of the World of Wonder YouTube page. Instead of two decorated rooms, Untucked was moved back to the one room, an empty backstage space that connects to the main stage and work room, with couches for contestants to chat on. The newly renovated version also follows contestants following their elimination from the show, documenting them packing their belongings and leaving the set. The webseries format continued for the eighth and ninth season. For the show's tenth season, Untucked returned to television, where it airs on VH1 during the 30 minute time slot after the 90 minute episode airs.

''Whatcha Packin''

"Whatcha Packin'" is a Drag Race web series that began at the start of the sixth season, and has also included the third, fourth and fifth seasons of All Stars. It features main stage judge Michelle Visage interviewing the most recently eliminated queen about their run on the show, as well as showcasing outfits that they had brought but did not have the opportunity to wear.

''The Pit Stop''

Since the eighth season, every episode of Drag Race has been followed by a 5 to 10-minute long aftershow called The Pit Stop. It involves a host and guest, typically past competitors of Drag Race, discussing the recently aired episode. The Pit Stop for the eighth season of Drag Race was hosted by YouTuber Kingsley. Seasons 9 and 10 and All Stars season two were hosted by Raja, with Bob the Drag Queen filling in for the ninth and tenth-season finales. The third season of All Stars was hosted by previous All Stars winner Alaska Thunderfuck. The fourth season of All Stars was hosted by All Stars season three winner, Trixie Mattel, with Manila Luzon subbing in for her in the finale episode. Luzon also hosted the Pit Stop for season eleven. The host for season twelve and current host for All Stars 5 is season eight winner Bob the Drag Queen.

Series overview

Season 1 (2009)

The first season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered in the United States on February 2, 2009, on Logo.
Nine contestants were selected to compete in the running of becoming "America's Next Drag Superstar." The winner of the first season won a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics, was featured on the cover of Paper Magazine, was featured in an LA Eyeworks campaign, joined the Absolut Pride tour, and won a cash prize of $20,000. One of the nine contestants to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race was determined by an audience vote via the show's official website. The results were announced in early September 2008. The contestant to win this honor was Nina Flowers from Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "Cover Girl" from RuPaul's album Champion.
The winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race was BeBe Zahara Benet, with Nina Flowers winning Miss Congeniality.
In late 2013, Logo re-aired the first season, which was titled RuPaul's Drag Race: The Lost Season Ru-Vealed, and featured commentary from RuPaul.

Season 2 (2010)

For season two, the number of contestants was increased from nine to twelve, and the prizes were slightly modified: 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 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 of the season, Shangela Laquifa Wadley. The theme song playing during the runway and the end credits each episode is "Jealous of My Boogie" from RuPaul's album Champion. Each week's episode is followed by a behind-the-scenes show, RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked.
The winner of the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Tyra Sanchez, with Pandora Boxx winning Miss Congeniality.
On December 6, 2011, Amazon.com released this season on DVD via their CreateSpace program.

Season 3 (2011)

This season had Michelle Visage replacing Merle Ginsberg on the judging panel and Billy Brasfield, Mike Ruiz, and Jeffrey Moran 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. The theme song playing during the runway each episode was changed to "Champion" while the song playing during the credits is "Main Event", both from RuPaul's album Champion. 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 third season of RuPaul's Drag Race 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 (2012)

The fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 30, 2012, with cast members announced November 13, 2011.
The winner of season four 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, Santino Rice and Billy B, shared the same seat at the judges table alternatively, with Brasfield filling in for Rice when needed. Both judges appeared side by side in the audience during the "Reunited" episode.
The winner of the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Sharon Needles, with Latrice Royale winning Miss Congeniality.
The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "Glamazon" and the song played during the credits was "The Beginning", both from RuPaul's album Glamazon.

Season 5 (2013)

The fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 28, 2013, with a 90-minute premiere episode. It had the most contestants since the inaugural season of the show with a total number of fourteen.
Season five's winner walked away with 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. Santino Rice and Michelle Visage were back as judges on the panel. The theme song played during the runway each episode is "I Bring the Beat", while the song playing during the credits is "The Beginning", both songs are from RuPaul's album Glamazon.
The winner of the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Jinkx Monsoon, with Ivy Winters winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 6 (2014)

The sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing February 24, 2014.
Like the fifth season, this season featured fourteen 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.
Santino Rice and Michelle Visage are back as judges at the panel. Two new pit crew members, Miles Moody and Simon Sherry-Wood, joined Jason Carter and Shawn Morales. The winner of this season won a prize package that included a supply from Colorevolution Cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. This was the first season where Absolut Vodka and Interior Illusions, Inc. were not sponsors for the show, more specifically for the Untucked episodes. The Interior Illusions Lounge is now known as the Silver Lounge or FormDecor Lounge. The theme song played during the runway segment each episode was "Sissy That Walk" while the song playing during the credits is "Dance With U", both from the album Born Naked.
The winner of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Bianca Del Rio, with BenDeLaCreme winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 7 (2015)

The seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 2, 2015.
Returning judges included RuPaul and Michelle Visage, while the space previously occupied by Santino 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. Shawn Morales, a member of the Pit Crew since the third season and Simon Sherry-Wood, a member in the sixth season, did not appear this season and were replaced by Bryce Eilenberg.
Like the previous two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season 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% increase from the previous season. On March 20, 2015, it was announced that LogoTV had given the series an early renewal for an eighth season.
The winner of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Violet Chachki, with Katya winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 8 (2016)

The eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 7, 2016, with cast members announced during the 2016 New Now Next Honors on February 1, 2016.
Michelle Visage returned as a main judge, while Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews returned as rotating main judges.
The first episode celebrated the 100th taping of the show, and the 100th drag queen to enter the work room. Similar to the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season featured 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 the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Bob the Drag Queen, with Cynthia Lee Fontaine winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 9 (2017)

The ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 24, 2017, with cast members being announced on February 2, 2017.
Michelle Visage returned as a main judge, while Carson Kressley and Ross 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 series' eighth season. The ninth season featured a top four in the finale episode, as opposed to the top three, which was previously established in the fourth season. This season featured a twist in the finale called "Lipsync for the Crown" where there will be two rounds of lipsyncs and the winner of both lipsyncs will move ahead to the final lipsync and who ever wins the final lipsync will be declared as the winner.
The winner of the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Sasha Velour, with Valentina winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 10 (2018)

The tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 22, 2018.
Michelle Visage returned as a main judge, while Carson Kressley and Ross 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. The tenth season of Drag Race premiered; alongside the televised return of Untucked. The tenth season featured a top four in the finale episode, as opposed to the top three, which was previously established in the fourth season.
The winner of the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Aquaria, with Monét X Change winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 11 (2019)

The eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing February 28, 2019. This season has a record-breaking fifteen contestants total, whereas previous seasons typically stuck to fourteen contestants consistently.
Michelle Visage returned as a main judge, while Carson Kressley and Ross 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 return of Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, who was first eliminated in the tenth season. The eleventh season featured a top four in the finale episode, as opposed to the top three, which was previously established in the fourth season. As with the previous season, each week's episode was followed by an episode of the televised return of RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked.
The winner of the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Yvie Oddly, with Nina West winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 12 (2020)

On January 22, 2019, casting for the twelfth season 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. The twelfth season includes celebrity judges such as Nicki Minaj, Normani, Whoopi Goldberg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chaka Khan, Robyn, Leslie Jones, Jeff Goldblum, Daisy Ridley, Thandie Newton, Olivia Munn, Rachel Bloom, Daniel Franzese, Jonathan Bennett and Winnie Harlow. 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 the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Jaida Essence Hall, with Heidi N Closet winning Miss Congeniality. This is also, coincidentally, the first season with both an African-American winner and African-American Miss Congeniality.

Season 13 (2021)

On December 2, 2019, casting for the thirteenth season was announced via YouTube and Twitter. The casting call closed on January 24, 2020.

Contestants

Specials

''RuPaul's Drag Race: Green Screen Christmas'' (2015)

On December 13, 2015, Logo aired a seasonal themed episode of RuPaul's Drag Race. The non-competitive special episode 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 RuPaul's 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. In the same announcement, the eight contestants confirmed to be competing were 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 RuPaul's Drag Race titled RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race was scheduled to air for four weeks beginning on April 24, 2020. The four-part event series will feature a trio of celebrities opening up their hearts and minds to the transformative power of drag. After getting some help from beloved past contestants — deemed "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 celebrity contestants will compete in fan-favorite challenges and step onto the runway in their new looks with one of that week’s three celebrity contestants will win the title of “America’s Next Celebrity Drag Race Superstar” and prize money for a charity of their choice.

''RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue'' (2020)

On July 22, 2020, it was announced that a docu-series titled will premiere on August 21, 2020.

Music

Most of the music used in the series comes from RuPaul's albums, with the exception of songs used during the lip sync portion of the show and original music challenges.

Music videos

During seasons 1–8, the top queens must lip sync to and sometimes record a verse for a new RuPaul music video. From season 9 and All Stars 2 onward, the finale music video was replaced by the queens recording new verses to a RuPaul song and perform it with full choreography on the main stage.
Occasionally throughout the show, and in every season finale from season 9 onward, the cast will be challenged to write their own original verses to new or existing RuPaul songs.
In addition to the original music challenges, sometimes the contestants will be challenged to lip sync or sing live to a new original song. For seasons 7 and 8, the top 3 queens each had songs specifically written for them to lip-sync on the finale. Some of these have been released as singles, and an album was released containing some of songs written by Lucian Piane entitled RuPaul's Drag Race: The Rusical on April 22, 2016.
Every season, a new song is played as the queens present their looks on the main stage runway. When RuPaul walks down the runway, the song played in every season is "CoverGirl" from Champion
RuPaul confirmed via Twitter that an album, in which each contestant from season six covered a song from his catalog, would be released. The album, titled, was released on January 28, 2014.
Similar to season six, each of the seventh season's contestants covered a song that was previously recorded by RuPaul. The album is titled and was released on February 3, 2015. The album also features the single "New York City Beat", a song by RuPaul featuring Michelle Visage.

Spin-offs

;RuPaul's Drag U
;RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
;The Switch Drag Race
;Drag Race Thailand
;Dancing Queen
;RuPaul's Drag Race UK
;RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race
;Canada's Drag Race
;Drag Race Holland
On July 26, 2020, it was announced that a Dutch version of Drag Race would premiere later in the year. The series will debut on Videoland in The Netherlands, and air on WOW Presents Plus internationally.
;Drag Race Australia
On August 26, 2019 an Australian version of the show was announced to be in production, though no further information regarding hosting or air date has been announced.
;Brazilian localization
;Feature film

Home media

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

Critical reception

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.
Early seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race were criticized for appearing to favor 'glamorous' drag queens over comedic or camp queens. For example, Popbytes commented Drag Race has been accused numerous times of keeping some of the more unpleasant but 'fishy' queens in the competition for the sake of drama. However, Common Sense Media commented, "RuPaul's Drag Race combines the fashion design drama of Project Runway with the modeling excitement of America's Next Top Model to create an entertainingly voyeuristic glimpse into the performance art world of drag queens. There's plenty of over-the-top stuff, but rather than simply treating drag performers as people to be laughed at and/or scorned, the show also focuses on the hard work and talent that goes into drag performances."

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, from season five, became the first contestant to come out as a trans woman during the competition. Peppermint, from 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. There are also a number of past contestants who identify as non-binary, genderqueer or genderfluid, including Jinkx Monsoon, Courtney Act, Violet Chachki, Aja, Valentina, Adore Delano, Sasha Velour, Honey Mahogany, Bob The Drag Queen, and Gigi Goode.
In March 2014, Drag Race sparked controversy over the use of the term "shemale" in the season six 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!"
Host 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 on Drag Race. RuPaul compared transgender drag performers to doping athletes on his Twitter, and has since apologized. Season nine winner, Sasha Velour, expressed her disagreement via Twitter, stating "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".

Broadcast