RuPaul doesn’t think drag can ever be mainstream by design (Picture: BBC)
RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a ratings smash, won Emmys and attracted global superstars like Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Christina Aguilera as guest judges.
But despite the show pretty much taking over the world, its host, RuPaul Charles, doesn’t think drag will ever really be mainstream.
Mama Ru appears on the cover of Vanity Fair’s January 2020 issue – you better werk – and inside the magazine, RuPaul discussed how drag has filtered into the mainstream, but only to a point.
The 59-year-old said: ‘A superficial aspect of drag is mainstream. Like, the “Ooh, girl” or “Hey girlfriend!” or “Yaaas.” That’s mainstream culture.
You better work! (Picture: Annie Leibovitz/Vanity Fair)
‘But true drag really will never be mainstream. Because true drag has to do with seeing that this world is an illusion, and that everything that you say you are and everything it says that you are on your driver’s license, it’s all an illusion.
‘Most people will never in their lives understand what that is. Because they don’t have the operating system to understand that duality.’
He then referenced the scene in The Matrix, in which people are living their lives in pods, but dreaming of a different reality.
The Supermodel singer said: ‘I think most people have the ability to understand that but dare not go there. Because then they would be forced to deconstruct their whole belief system and build another one.
RuPaul has achieved huge success with the franchise (Picture: BBC / World of Wonder / Guy Levy)
‘Building a new belief system and then maintaining it is a tall order. A lot of times it means you have to leave your family and friends behind. Because they’re not gonna get it.’
RuPaul’s Drag Race has had 11 series plus four all-star seasons in the States, and its first UK series has been a huge success.
Ru herself, plus right-hand woman Michelle Visage, hosted the BBC Three spin-off, with Alan Carr and Graham Norton acting as rotating judges and stars including Jade Thirlwall, Geri Horner and Twiggy gracing the panel.
The grand finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is on tonight, with The Vivienne, Baga Chipz and Divina Di Campo competing to be named the first UK Drag Race superstar.
RuPaul’s full interview is available in Vanity Fair.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK concludes tonight at 8pm on BBC Three.
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The RuPaul team wouldn’t have had to look far for female and non-binary drag queens who could have taken part in the series (Picture: BBC)
Hardcore fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race look back at the first US season with a combination of fondness and bewilderment.
Sure, it was campy and charming, but it was also in definite need of a few improvements. Even the camera work was blurred by a layer of steam (it was filmed in a bathhouse), a fact often referenced by fans and even the show with in jokes about the so-called ‘season one filter’.
The first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, the British version of the show,will likely be remembered similarly – not due to a lack of budget or polish, but because a few key issues are still stopping the show from becoming the progressive powerhouse it could be.
Ever since the show announced its debut cast, fans have taken to social media to criticise the lack of diversity in the line-up – not only the fact that there’s only two queens of colour among the cast, but also the lack of variation in their aesthetic.
The UK’s drag scene stretches back to the early days of Shakespearean theatre and pantomime, but clubs across the country are now brimming with fresh, innovative talent whose looks and routines take a rhinestone-studded axe to the gender binary. It seems there’s still no room for acts like these on Drag Race UK.
Last week, this was particularly stark as the remaining queens were tasked with giving their sisters and mothers a glamorous drag makeover. It was the first time that women – aside from the few trans queens featured in the US seasons, almost all of whom came out as trans midway through their seasons – had been recognised by the show as drag queens.
It was a heartwarming challenge, but one which stuck to the route of conventional drag, and even highlighted the often overlooked fact that gay men can be misogynistic, as Baga Chipz made disrespectful comments about his mum which rubbed the workroom (and the internet) the wrong way.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The RuPaul team wouldn’t have had to look far for female and non-binary drag queens who could have taken part in the series.
Non-binary queen Victoria Sin found huge success in London but now tours the world creating high-concept, high-glamour performance art; Lacey Lou andAmber Cadaverous have made a name for themselves in Birmingham; the likes ofTeTe Bang,Venus Dimilo and Ms Kevin LeGrand and countless others are also creating drag magic which challenges our ideas of gender.
They’re all disproving the myth – reinforced byRuPaul’s notorious interview with The Guardian – that drag is the exclusive domain of cisgender men.
Despite this lack of inclusivity, the show’s first season has undeniably spotlighted some of the brilliance of British drag: its niche cultural references, penchant for piss-taking, and crude sense of humour amongst them.
But aside from pulling out some incredible, avant garde looks for select runways (the Vivienne’s ‘rainy day eleganza’ andSum Ting Wong’s iconic postage stamp moment), none of the queens have deviated too heavily from the polished, hyper-glamorous norm that the US franchise holds as its gold standard.
When they do – for example, when The Vivienne donned pirate boots forher brilliant Pete Burns tribute – they were met with skepticism from the judges.
Again, this refusal to embrace more radical drag sets the show back. Artists likeCheddar Gorgeous andCharity Kase, whose looks are more ‘creature’ than ‘queen’, have injected experimentalism into the UK scene; other drag stars likeChina andLewis G Burton similarly push drag beyond the boundaries of gender, creating visual performance art that would guarantee some seriously gag-worthy moments.
None of this is to say that Drag Race UK isn’t entertaining or necessary – the first season has exceeded many fans’ expectations, my own included.
Its combination of quick wit, filthy humour and emotional backstories resonates with audiences worldwide, and the sprinkling of British references will expose talented UK queens to a global audience.
But the lack of a diverse cast – acknowledged by contestants andMichelle Visage herself – and a commitment to old-fashioned, binary drag means that what we’re seeing is more of the same, rather than a step forward.
These could be minor issues waiting to be resolved, or they could be a sign that this is as progressive as Drag Race will ever get. But for some fans who adore the show and want to see it pushed to the next level, they’re small but fixable flaws.
When the show returns for its second season in 2020, it could make a statement by embracing more experimental artists, and at least acknowledging that its definition of drag is limited by modern standards. The show has already achieved the once-unthinkable, by bringing the subversive artform to the mainstream.
Now, it’s time to push things further by fully representing the true, boundary-pushing brilliance of the UK’s drag scene.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has crowned The Vivienne has the show’s very first drag race superstar.
The Liverpudlian queen beat out Divina DiCampo and Baga Chipz to the top spot after eight weeks of acting, shade and a whole lot of sequins to come out on top.
The final three were put through their paces in the last mega challenge, which saw them learn dance routines from Strictly’s AJ Pritchard and Love Island brother Curtis Pritchard, as well as appear on RuPaul and Michelle Visage’s podcast, What’s The Tee?
Finally they had to come up with their own lyrics to RuPaul’s Rock It [To The Moon].
Speaking after being given the crown, The Vivienne, real name James Lee Williams, put on her Donald Trump voice one last time and said: ‘It’s been absolutely great. It’s been tremendous. Thank you!’
They later told the confessional: ‘I’m made up! I’ve just won the first ever season of Drag Race UK!
‘And that crown is gorgeous,’ she laughed. ‘You’ll see me there washing the dishes in it!’
Baga Chipz was the first of the three to be eliminated, leaving Divina and Baga in the top two to lip-sync for the crown to, amazingly, I’m Your Man by Wham!
The Vivienne and Divina shared a hug (Picture: BBC)
‘The Vivienne has it all, she can serve a look, deliver a line, she is without doubt a terrific drag queen, drag act,’ Graham Norton said in the final deliberations.
Alan Carr agreed and said: She’s got that trademark wit. When she was Trump, oh my God, it was the best Trump I’ve ever seen. It was a comedy masterclass.’
Then RuPaul herself declared: ‘The Viv is a perfect example of a 21st century British Queen. I think she is a great representative of what this competition can turn out.’
Ru Paul was on hand to crown the queen (Picture: BBC)
During the chat with Ru and Michelle on the podcast, The Vivienne opened up about his past struggles with party drug ketamine, revealing a four-year spiral ended in him moving to Spain and getting sober.
‘I struggled with addiction, and I’m two years clean now. It was breakfast, dinner and tea. I could have three bags of it just putting my face on,’ he explained.
‘I just had to stop, it was a case of doctors telling me I was going to be dead by the time I was 30. I was getting evicted from apartments.
‘I was on good money, I was in drag six nights a week, but I was living like a poor person.’
Now happily sober and engaged, The Vivienne said that they hoped to help others in the gay community who struggle with drug addiction.
As the winner of the show, The Vivienne has been given an all expenses paid trip to Los Angeles, creating her own YouTube series with production company, World of Wonder.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is available now on BBC iPlayer.
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The Vivienne had a hand in Cheryl’s glorious Essex girl outfit (Picture: BBC)
Warning: spoilers ahead for the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
The Vivienne had her fair share of run-ins with the other queens as she battled to be crowned winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
But it turns out she had some pretty sweet moments that we never got to see.
The Drag Race UK winner has revealed she was the one to suggest that Cheryl Hole stick a piece of toilet paper to her heel while emulating the stereotypical Essex girl on the runway.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk after the final, The Vivienne claimed that she helped out the queens a lot, but none of it made it into the edit.
The Vivienne was apparently behind this detail (Picture: BBC)
The 27-year-old said: ‘If you say something bitchy, you said something bitchy and that’s what’s going to be on TV. But we didn’t get to see the softer side of me. I did so much for the other queens that never got shown or even mentioned by the other queens, but hey-ho… I’m gonna say it. On episode one, when Cheryl got all the praise for putting the toilet roll on her shoe as the Essex girl, I told her to do that before she went out on the runway.
‘I styled Blu’s hair, I styled Cheryl’s hair, I gave Crystal the big orbs for the sewing challenge. I did so much which never got shown, which was a shame, but at least I kind of came round on the last few episodes and showed I’m not a complete cold-hearted b****.’
But unlike many queens before her, Viv isn’t blaming the edit for her portrayal.
Bow down (Picture: BBC)
The Scouser said: ‘I’d never say blame the edit. I said everything I said. Sometimes a couple of laughs or winks were cut off things I said which maybe changed it a little bit, but we’re drag queens for god’s sake. And I think compared to the US show, we were very tame, we were nice.’
And as multiple endings are filmed for the final, to avoid the result being leaked, she found out she had won along with the rest of us.
She said: ‘No, I didn’t know until we sat down and watched it. It was me, Divina and Baga watching it with Alan [Carr], Michelle [Visage] and family. Once you see that reaction clip, it’s pretty evident that we didn’t have a clue.’
While the US series offers a $100,000 cash prize, The Vivienne has won the chance to create her own digital series in Hollywood.
When asked if she’s a bit disappointed that she’s not £100k richer, Viv laughed: ‘I mean, of course. But you know, we’ll make that in a couple of months. It’s all about the opportunities afterwards.
‘It would have been nice to hit Vivienne Westwood this morning, but never mind.’
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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She almost walked out on week two (Picture: Leigh Keily)
Divina DiCampo has revealed how Michelle Visage almost made her quit RuPaul’s Drag Race after the judges tore her make-up and outfit to shreds.
The runner-up explained the reason why she was crying so much in week two – and that TV bosses didn’t show the real reason of why she was visibly upset.
She also told how the audience didn’t see parts of the show and revealed how it made her look like a ‘crazy person’ – which made her question her position in the competition.
‘Week two where I’m crying,’ she began.
‘I nearly left that week, I nearly went home. I just thought I don’t need to put myself through this, I already have a good career, I already have a really good fanbase.
‘What you didn’t get to see was when Michelle [Visage] said to Scaredy Kat, “Are we always going to see this make-up on you?” she then said, “Because you have these incredible make-up artists around you, why don’t you ask Blu [Hydrangea] or Cheryl [Hole] or Crystal for some advice?”
The final three were put through their paces in the last mega challenge, which saw them learn dance routines from Strictly’s AJ Pritchard and Love Island brother Curtis Pritchard, as well as appear on RuPaul and Michelle Visage’s podcast, What’s The Tee?
Finally they had to come up with their own lyrics to RuPaul’s Rock It [To The Moon].
The Vivienne and Divina shared a hug (Picture: BBC)
‘The Vivienne has it all, she can serve a look, deliver a line, she is without doubt a terrific drag queen, drag act,’ Graham Norton said in the final deliberations.
Alan Carr agreed and said: She’s got that trademark wit. When she was Trump, oh my God, it was the best Trump I’ve ever seen. It was a comedy masterclass.’
Then RuPaul herself declared: ‘The Viv is a perfect example of a 21st century British Queen. I think she is a great representative of what this competition can turn out.’
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is available now on BBC iPlayer.
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The Liverpudlian queen was named Britain’s first ever Drag Race superstar after pipping fellow finalists Divina de Campo and Baga Chipz to the post as she slayed the group performance of Rock It (To the Moon) and stunned in an incredible pale pink gown on the runway.
But while Thursday night proved to be the night that the viewers found out that The Vivienne won the show, it was also the queens’ first time hearing the news too, as Drag Race films winning sequences for all the final competitors to avoid the result leaking.
Appearing alongside her fellow finalists at a viewing party hosted by Michelle Visage, Viv looked majestic in a high necked black gown encrusted with hundreds of glittering stones.
With her hair in a glamorous blond up do, the 27-year-old queen looked every inch the champion as she chatted with a friend in the smoking area.
The queen beat competitors Divina and Baga to the crown (Picture: MJ-Pictures.com)
Keeping her heels on on the streets outside, The Vivienne lifted her train as she walked across the rain soaked road – a task we hope she’ll never have to do again now that she’s been named the UK’s Drag Race superstar.
Surely one of the Brit Crew can carry it around for her, right?
A worthy winner (Picture: MJ-Pictures.com)
As the winner of the show, The Vivienne has been given an all expenses paid trip to Los Angeles, creating her own YouTube series with production company, World of Wonder.
But it seems like the queen has already got off to a good start after bagging her own comedy series alongside fellow finalist Baga.
The pair will be reprising their hilarious Snatch Game performances (that earned them a double win) as Donald Trump and Margaret Thatcher in Morning T&T, a new series for World of Wonder’s streaming service WOW Presents Plus.
Congrats, gals!
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Obviously, with all the drama of the series, that was going to be one active group chat – and now Divina DiCampo has revealed that one of the stars already couldn’t stand the constant notifications.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Divina revealed: ‘Scaredy [Kat]’s already left the WhatsApp group.
‘I keep checking in with her, it’s not that she isn’t contactable to people, but there is so many messages to trawl through.’
We get it Scaredy! We love ourselves the odd mute every now and again to have a breather, especially when there’s so much going on.
And let’s be honest, all the queens’ lives have well and truly exploded over the past few weeks, as UK drag cemented itself as a force to be reckoned with across the world.
The queens have all bonded after the experience of Drag Race UK (Picture: PA)
So how’s series runner-up Divina handling the group?
‘I’m like your mum on Facebook, she doesn’t post anything but she’s always watching and doing a little like here and there,’ she laughed.
Divina, Baga Chipz and The Vivienne went tooth and nail to the final, pulling out all the stops in the multi-layered challenge for the last round.
The final three were put through their paces in the last mega challenge, which saw them learn dance routines from Strictly’s AJ Pritchard and Love Island brother Curtis Pritchard, as well as appear on RuPaul and Michelle Visage’s podcast, What’s The Tee?
She also told how the audience didn’t see parts of the show and revealed how it made her look like a ‘crazy person’ – which made her question her position in the competition.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is available now in full on BBC iPlayer.
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Iain Armitage hung out with RuPaul while in the UK (Picture: rupaulofficial; Iain Armitage/Instagram)
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK had an unexpected visitor in the shape of Young Sheldon himself, Iain Armitage.
The 11-year-old actor, who has taken over from Ian Parsons as the current reigning Sheldon Cooper on TV, paid a visit to the Drag Race UK set while over in the British Isles.
Beaming from ear-to-ear, the young star, who also appeared in Big Little Lies, managed to grab a coveted selfie from Mama Ru herself, before getting up on the judges table.
In another photo shared by Ru, Iain was seen cosying up to Michelle Visage and Ru as if he was about to tell someone to sashay away.
Even RuPaul seemed excited, with the Supermodel Of The World sharing a photo of the group and declaring: ‘BRILLIANT Iain Armitage visited the set of #DragRaceUK with his family!’
‘Love you, Ru!! Loved visiting you on the set of #dragraceuk,’ Iain added alongside the selfie.
Iain is currently starring in Big Bang Theory spin-off Young Sheldon, where he plays the titular character and his life with his big family in the south.
The pair beamed for a BTS snap (Picture: Iain Armitage/Instagram)
Already renewed for season four, the show has been suffering falling ratings in the wake of the Big Bang Theory earlier this year.
Renewed for a fourth season, creator Chuck Lorre joked that he ‘wanted Russia’s help’ to get the numbers up.
Bizarrely, it actually seemed to work for a little bit.
Young Sheldon is keeping the genius alive after Big Bang Theory ended (Picture: Channel 4)
However, the show was also fined a staggering $272,000 in September for ‘breaking broadcasting rules’ for using a noise that sounded the presidential alert tone.
Meanwhile, Drag Race has been going from strength-to-strength, with a second season of UK’s Drag Race commissioned, as well as another series of US All Stars and normal series.
Is there going to be an appearance from the Big Bang Theory spin-off star in the future?
Surely anything can happen in 2020…
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Throwing a string of questions to industry honchos about who the masterminds behind the screen are, the publication came up with a long list of TV stars, seeing Phoebe take the top spot.
BBC’s Director of Content, Charlotte Moore said of the 34-year-old: ‘She has taken the world by storm with her breathtakingly original creations [Fleabag and Killing Eve] and is an utterly unique writer and performer.
‘[Her] emotional honesty and mischievous wit constantly surprises and captures the zeitgeist, and leaves the audience only craving more. I can’t wait to see what she’s done to 007!’
The star’s popular series Fleabag was honoured at the Emmys, with it taking home the accolade for Best Comedy Series, with Phoebe winning Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
She topped the Radio Times’ TV 100 list (Picture: WireImage)
Harry Bradbeer was named Outstanding Director for a Comedy series.
‘This is just getting ridiculous,’ the writer laughed as she collected her third award of the evening: ‘Fleabag started as a one-woman show at Edinburgh Festival in 2014 and the journey has been absolutely mental to get here.’
According to Variety, sources claim the deal is worth around $20 million a year (£16 million), however Phoebe’s reps have since told Metro.co.uk: ‘Variety is speculating based on unknown sources and unverified information.
Rylan came in third place (Picture: Getty Images)
RuPaul rounded up the top 10 (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We will not confirm any financial elements of the deal.’
While Phoebe reigned supreme in the TV 100 list, she was closely followed by Line Of Duty star Stephen Graham, with Rylan Clark-Neal falling in third place.
Jodie Comer scored eighth place while RuPaul rounded off the top 10.
Controller BBC Three, Fiona Campbell said of the Drag Race legend: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has been an unequivocal hit for BBC Three. It reached young audiences and, with over 10 million requests on iPlayer, is our most popular entertainment show since we went online.
‘There was big pressure and a lot of responsibility on our shoulders to deliver something special but Mama Ru, the guest judges and our first UK queens served us some truly spectacular TV moments.
‘Series two arrives next year with, of course, more Ru Peter badges to be won and a new crown to be claimed – we’re already gagged for the next instalment.’
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Vild Med Dans, the Danish version of Strictly Come Dancing, has crowned its first ever same-sex couple as the winner of the series because two men dancing together is actually not the end of the world.
At a time where the UK version of the series can’t even have a stunning one-off performance from the pros without getting a couple of hundred complaints, Denmark showed the world how it was done.
Vild Med Dans, translated to Wild With Dance, saw actor Jakob Fauerby partner up with pro performer Silas Holst, becoming the one to beat quickly against their other competitors.
Last week, the winner was announced, and Jakob thanked fans for taking that leap with them.
‘We’ve won Vild med Dans 2019!,’ he said. ‘It’s totally crazy and absolutely amazing. Thank you so much to all of you for your wonderful messages and great support over the last 12 weeks.
‘I am so proud that my daughter, her big brother, and all other little boys and girls can go out into the world and love them the way they want and dance with whomever they want.’
‘[Silas] you are the bravest man,’ he continued. ‘Thank you for getting me out into the deepest water. It was worth it.’
Jakob Fauerby and Silas Holst earned a gamechanging win (Picture: EPA)
Speaking to Danish site BT before their win, Jakob said: ‘I’m proud if I can help a young man or woman out there who feels recognised.’
‘We’re just one couple out of 160 in 16 years,’ she said. ‘So for me, if a young boy, boy, girl, or trans person has the opportunity to see that positive representation as part of a TV show.
Because apparently writing into a complaints site is apparently easier than pressing a singular button on a remote to change the channel.
The series is also yet to have a same-sex couple compete in the competition, despite protests from stars including Dr Ranj in 2017 who volunteered to see it happen.
It’s caused a huge debate across the dancing world about the need for male/female partnerships, and while they’ve been talking about it, ITV rivals Dancing On Ice swooped in and beat them with the first same-sex pairing on their competition in H from Steps and Matt Evers.
But the allies on the show are determined to fight back against any hate – and on top of Graziano and Johannes remaining defiant, the series itself has ramped up the camp to 11.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 7.20pm on BBC One.
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RuPaul’s brand new series AJ And The Queen has dropped its trailer – and get ready to get your cameo-spotting reading glasses on, Drag Race fans.
Mother arrives in the first look at the show, where RuPaul becomes Robert – who by night goes by the name Ruby Red, and is one of the most fabulous drag queens in town.
Saving up $100,000 to achieve his dream of opening his own club, his life comes tumbling down when his lover leaves him, stealing the cash in the process.
Broke and with nowhere to go, all Robert has left is an RV and a dream, and so takes off on the road to try and get his money back.
With more than a few familiar faces along the way from the days of Drag Race gone by, including Katya, Latrice Royale, Trinity The Tuck and Valentina, her cross country adventure soon hits a snag.
A 10-year-old snag, more specifically, called AJ.
There’s a couple of outfits that are very Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Picture: Netflix)
AJ and Robert become unlikely buds (Picture: Netflix)
After AJ’s mother hits rock bottom, AJ decides to stowaway in Robert’s van, and then blackmails Robert into taking them to Texas.
The pair soon form a bond as they learn about loves, lives and complications from one side of the States to the next.
Plus a hell of a lot of drag knowledge, including boob bibs, wigs and without doubt, tucking.
Throw in some fabulous costumes, a touch of razzle dazzle, and more costume changes than you can shake a stick at, and you’ve got yourself a series we’re already gagging to see.
AJ And The Queen launches 10 January on Netflix.
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The RuPaul’s Drag Race judge was a contestant on this year’s series, being partnered with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.
However, after being ‘snubbed’ from the tour, the 51-year-old revealed the winner on her Instagram account, but she has since deleted the post.
‘Michelle leaked the result on purpose after she was snubbed from the Strictly tour,’ a source revealed to The Sun.
Fans also flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the spoiler alert.
Michelle Visage was slammed by Strictly fans for voguing (Picture: BBC)
One tweeted: ‘Can’t believe I was trying to avoid the strictly Christmas special spoilers until it airs for the winner to be leaked on Michelle’s insta story, wow I actually CBA.’
It is the fact Michelle Visage leaked it out of bitterness that gets me #NastyLady
‘I’ll tell you what happened, it’s not risky or scandalous,’ Michelle said, speaking at the Thread Talks event at Samsung KX. ‘I said yes [to the tour] but I have RuPaul’s Drag Con is there any way I could miss the matinees?
‘They were like you have to do all of them and I was like, okay do you want me to see if I can move it? They said yes, so I moved it.’
Michelle continued: ‘I got out of it because at one point. I was going to do the tour and not Drag Con, and at that point, they were like, “Oh I’m sorry, we’re going to pass”. So I cleared my schedule and they passed on me.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.
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We need to paint with all the colours of the queer community (Picture: Francesca Forristal/Dragprov)
There is no doubt: drag is sinking its six-inch heels into the mainstream.
And when people hear ‘drag’, they often think of RuPaul’s Drag Race or Danny La Rue. They think catty, bawdy and totally gorgeous, or shouts of ‘Yaas queen!’
Yes, that is a type of drag – much like rom-coms are a type of film – but the UK drag scene is much more than the shiny veneer of Drag Race.
We have kings, non-binary performers, bearded queens, femme-queens (also known as cisgender women, or a woman who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth) and everything in between… like me.
I’m a drag king and a performer who plays with masculinity on stage, using make up and illusion to mess with gender. We’re often labelled as ‘the opposite of drag queens’ but really, there is no ‘opposite’ about it. There are cis women, trans men and non-binary drag kings.
How do drag kings do it? Well, drag makeup is called ‘painting’ for a reason. Thick layers of foundation create a blank canvas on which to ‘paint’.
I carve out ‘masculine’ features, contouring angular jawlines, thicker eyebrows, gaunt, high cheekbones rather than the oval, softer shapes of a ‘stereotypical’ cis woman. I apply layers of mascara and thin fibres on my upper lip for a moustache, then dapple a beard of black, brown, and white on my jawline.
Any gender can do drag (Picture: Francesca Forristal/Dragprov)
I also bind my breasts down with sports tape… not too tight, or breathing can be tricky! Glamorous, huh?
Any gender can do drag yet even within drag communities there’s still the unhelpful misconception that drag kings are less skilled, less polished and less ‘fun’.
Kings might be a newer phenomenon but shows like Kings of Colour, Non-Binary Cabaret or Boi-Box will prove this is ridiculous. Cis women grow up being told they’re not funny, and this gendered preconception sadly transfers onto drag kings too.
Worse still, kings get paid less. They’re rarely booked by corporate or high-profile events who want glamourous queens ‘like the ones on Drag Race’. The gender pay gap has followed us, even when we dress as dudes… ironic.
There is no doubt that RuPaul has boosted drag’s overall popularity: according to Eventbrite, the number of drag events in the UK have soared almost 800 per cent since 2015 and 1,100 per cent globally. Yet many British performers worry this will only widen the gap between mainstream queens and everyone else.
RuPaul only allows queens on his show. No kings or femme-queens. Imagine The Great British Bake Off, but only with cisgender men.
Dragging us into the mainstream has given visibility and acceptance to many LGBTQ+ people. As a next step, we need to paint with all the colours of the queer community.
Parents worry about ‘exposing’ their children to drag but the rise of family-friendly drag shows and Drag Story Time in schools – which brings drag queens into educational environments – prove that exploring gender does not have to be rude or sexualised.
We all need drag (Picture: Francesca Forristal/Dragprov)
In my own show, Dragprov, we improvise songs, raps and skits from audience suggestions. No swearing. No sex. Just comedy, music and lots of sass.
Drag is feminism in its purest form; challenging unfair societal expectations of both men and women. Kings don’t have to be hyper-masculine, with contoured six-packs and monochrome suits.
My character, Christian Adore, is camp, glittery and emotional. He has long, dark eyelashes and far too many feelings. He also struggles with entitlement and societal expectations to be ‘manly’ and ‘strong’.
Why? Because drag isn’t a parody of gender – it shatters gender. It makes us question why someone ‘manly’ can’t embrace sparkly suits, or a ‘woman’ can’t be a seven-foot-tall glamazon, and it is rapidly moving beyond the binary between ‘queens’ and ‘kings’.
These larger-than-life personalities are starting to explore more subtle forms of internalised sexism and homophobia. Hang-ups that even the most ‘woke’ people have.
We all need drag. It’s flamboyant, it’s playful and it helps us discuss constraints that affect us all.
You don’t have to be LGBTQ+ to enjoy it but drag is most powerful when it gives a voice (lip-syncing or otherwise) to the silenced.
Netflix is truly spoiling us, as they kick 2020 off in style – with a bunch of thrilling new content hitting the streaming service in January.
Yes, that’s right – a whole host of exciting new series, movies and upcoming seasons to some Netflix originals will be available to stream very soon to keep us all occupied – and possibly distracted.
So binge-watchers unite – as some firm favourites are planning to make a comeback with all new seasons, such as Sex Education and The Chilling Aventures Of Sabrina.
And we’ll also wave goodbye to original series BoJack Horseman and The Ranch – with both shows finally coming to an end after their sixth and eighth seasons, respectively.
If that wasn’t enough – you can also expect to see some new Netflix original movies and docuseries too.
Here are all of the Netflix originals that are coming your way in January 2020…
Netflix Original Series
Messiah (to be released 1 January 2020)
Mehdi Dehbi stars as Al-Massih (Picture: Netflix)
The upcoming thriller series stars Mehdi Dehbi as Al-Massih, a man who claims to be the eschatological return of Isa (Jesus) or the Mahdi. As CIA officer Eva Geller (Michelle Monaghan) begins to investigate his origins, she aims to discover whether he is who he says he is, or if he is a con artist attempting to dismantle the world’s geopolitical order.
AJ And The Queen (to be released 10 January 2020)
Ru-Paul stars in and created this series (Picture: Netflix)
Created by RuPaul, the comedy series sees drag queen Ruby Red (RuPaul) travel across America in a rundown van alongside sidekick AJ (Izzy Gaspersz) – a recently orphaned 11-year-old stowaway.
Grace And Frankie: Season 6 (to be released 15 January 2020)
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin return (Picture: Netflix)
Starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, this comedy returns for a brand new season. The series focuses on two unlikely friends brought together after their husbands announce they love each other and are set to marry. With the show now in its sixth season, who knows what shenanigans Grace (Jane) and Frankie (Lily) will end up getting themselves into?
Sex Education: Season 2 (to be released 17 January 2020)
The British comedy has become a hit with viewers (Picture: Netflix)
The hit British teen comedy-drama took us all by storm with its first season back in January 2019 – and now its back again for round two. Season two sees Otis (Asa Butterfield) who attempts to progress things further with girlfriend Ola (Patricia Allison), owing to his newfound sexual urges, while also dealing with his strained relationship with Maeve (Emma Mackey). And on top of that – Moordale Secondary School has been hit by a Chlamydia outbreak!
BoJack Horseman: Season 6 (Part 2) (to be released 21 January 2020)
BoJack spent some time in rehab in part one of this season (Picture: Netflix)
The final season of the acclaimed adult animation is drawing to a close, with the second part of the season hitting the streaming service this month. In the first part, we saw BoJack spend some time in rehab, following on from events in the previous season where he nearly strangled his co-star and girlfriend Gina to death on the set of his show Philbert. Part two will see the horse finally suffer the consequences of his terrible actions.
The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina: Season 3 (to be released 24 January 2020)
Sabrina is back for a third spooky season of the horror series (Picture: Netflix)
Following on from the events from the previous season, Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) sets out on a mission with her friends from the so-called Fright Club – Harvey (Ross Lynch), Rosalind (Jaz Sinclair) and Theo (Lachlan Watson) – to free her boyfriend, Nick (Gavin Leatherwood), who has sacrificed his soul to the Dark Lord in Hell.
The Ranch: Season 4 (Part 2) (to be released 24 January 2020)
The Ranch fans want to know who the shooter is (Picture: Netflix)
Starring Ashton Kutcher and Sam Elliott, The Ranch is back for part two of its fourth and final season. At the conclusion of part one, we saw Nick (Josh Burrow), who is an old ex of Mary (Megyn Price), return to town – with a gunshot lighting up the screen before the credits began to roll. It is not known who the shooter is yet – although Colt (Ashton), Beau (Sam) and Luke (Dax Shepard) were on their way to Nick’s trailer, so are all possible suspects.
Netflix Original Movies
Tyler Perry’s A Fall From Grace (to be released 17 January 2020)
A Fall From Grace focuses on Grace Walters (Crystal Fox), who after being convinced by her best friend Sarah (Phylicia Rashad), finds herself falling for a dangerous new man (Mechad Brooks) – however, her new husband soon takes over her life, and her sanity. Tyler Perry, who has both penned and directed the movie, also stars in an undisclosed role.
Uncut Gems (to be released 31 January 2020)
Adam is playing a more dramatic role in Uncut Gems (Picture: A24)
Starring Adam Sandler, the film sees the actor take on a more dramatic role in comparison to the comedic nature of his past movies. Adam stars as Howard Ratner, a man who embarks on an affair with his mistress Julia (Julia Fox) – while still married to wife Dinah (Idina Menzel). The film also is set to be released to cinemas later this month and has already received rave reviews from critics.
Netflix Original Docuseries
Sex, Explained (to be released 2 January 2020)
This docuseries, which is narrated by singer Janelle Monae, is set to be a pretty wild one, as it takes the viewer on a journey about the ins and outs of sex.
Cheer (to be released 8 January 2020)
Cheer takes a look at the competitive cheerleaders of Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas (Picture: Netflix)
Hosted by Monica Aldama, Cheer takes a look at the competitive cheerleaders of Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. Viewers will witness the cheerleaders face injuries, sacrifices and triumphs as they prepare for a final competition at the National Championship in this six-part series.
And that’s everything coming to Netflix in January – and with so much to pick and choose from, there is something for everyone.
So binge-watchers, you better get those dates in your diaries.
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The show, simply titled RuPaul, appeared on seven Fox stations over the summer.
During its brief run, the RuPaul’s Drag Race icon invited guests such as Ricki Lake, Adam Lambert and Iggy Azalea onto his sofa. However, the show will not see a full series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
It was produced by World of Wonder, also responsible for RPDR, and Warner Media’s Telepictures.
Frankly, we’re amazed showbiz veteran Ru found the time to fit in the creation of a talk show in the first place.
As well as RuPaul’s Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, the drag queen extraordinaire brought his unique brand of entertainment TV to the UK last year with the first RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
They all have new seasons in the pipeline, and although transmission dates have yet to be announced, fans are expecting all three in 2020.
Ru’s in a scene from upcoming TV show AJ and the Queen (Picture: Netflix)
The comedy focuses on traveling drag queen Ruby, as she performs her way across America with an unlikely companion: 11-year-old orphan AJ.
Speaking about his performance in the show to Vogue last year, Ru said: ‘In my career, I’ve been able to show certain angles. I’ve been able to paint on a face and edit what I presented. I thought by doing this acting project, I would be exposing myself to the world: the raw, unfiltered self.
‘But what I found out yesterday was that I was exposing myself to myself. I got to see the parts of me that even I didn’t allow myself to recognize or acknowledge. I had thought, I’m going to be naked to the world. No, I was naked to myself.’
We can’t wait to see it!
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RuPaul has established himself as a Jack (and Jill) of all trades in the entertainment industry but is upping their game in new Netflix series, AJ and The Queen.
Joining forces with Sex And The City creator Michael Patrick King, RuPaul helped create as well as stars in the new series, which sees a drag queen and a 10-year-old head off across state lines to a beauty pageant in the back of a trusty RV.
Robert (Ru), who by night goes as fabulous drag queen Ruby Red, burns all their bridges in their regular performance spot in New York as they prepare to start a new life with her own rival bar set up alongside her boyfriend (Josh Segarra).
However, it turns out that he was a grifter, and deliberately targeted her alongside wannabe mobster Lady Danger (Tia Carrere) – with nothing left to do, she’s forced to hit the road again… and discovers she’s got a stowaway in her cross-country performance scheduled in the form of troubled neighbourhood kid, AJ (Izzy G).
Threatening to claim Robert had been touching her if she doesn’t take her to Texas (ew.) to be with her grandfather, AJ and Robert head off on a trip of self-discovery as they learn about each other in the process.
Izzy G is definitely an actress in the making, and she deals with what she’s given well, but my God, they didn’t half make AJ insufferable at times as she kicks and screams and demands from Robert to a ridiculous degree- and he just takes it. She’s entitled in a way that’s unnecessary, and the fact that Robert wants to keep helping her is baffling at times.
Robert and AJ form an unlikely bond as they set off across the country (Picture: Netflix)
Hector (or whatever his name is, depending on his target) is just as bad, and at times literally tears up hotel rooms out of frustrations as he chases the pair down, and makes you wonder how he managed to hide that side of him from Robert for so long.
Seriously, there is so much yelling in this film and we don’t understand why.
The story is meant to be one of seeing the good in people no matter their circumstance, and that Robert can’t help but be attracted to damaged people, but at times he actually comes off as a bit of a doormat, just letting people treat him badly and actually encouraging their negative actions.
Then at another point he’s offered a truly nice person and the sexual chemistry is off the charts, but they’re still hung up on the ex who is literally trying to get him killed. It’s baffling.
He has some form of conscience with the help of best friend Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley) who helps him via phone calls along the way. He’s fabulous, even if he is blind and should be clinically dead for a diabetic who eats that many cakes and donuts.
For the Drag Race fans though, familiar faces crop up throughout the trip, and they often provide the comic relief and heart of the show, as they interact and teach AJ, and Robert, lessons in a variety of ways.
At my count, there were 27 – including star turns from Latrice Royale as a hustler/drag royalty of Jackson, Chad Michaels (complete with her impeccable Cher illusion) and Trinity The Tuck as the queen to beat at the final pageant.
Prepare to catch all the Drag Race cameos in the series (Picture: Netflix)
There is also more than one nod to the film that made this show exist in the first place – Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – including several costume moments and pieces.
We also need to take a moment to nod at Zaldy, who mostly made all the fabulous pieces that Ru/Ruby wears throughout the series run – which in themselves deserve an acting credit because seriously… they’re fabulous.
Particular nod to the Chandelier outfit that has Ru swinging in the air literally like a chandelier singing Sia.
Honestly do you want to get camper? Fine – have Ru fronting a gender-swap version of Grease in a trailer park dressed as Sandy, or her appearance as Judy Garland running through the hospital.
Notable Moments:
All. The. Costumes. All. The Fabulousness.
What do we have to do to be part of the Latrice/Monique girl gang?
The Grease tribute is everything we needed to see on screen.
Robert’s potential new Jackson love interest is bae and we refuse to hear otherwise.
Verdict:
This RuPaul dramedy may be a little more style over substance and at times a little ridiculous, but there is something about it you can’t help but love by the end.
As should’ve been expected, it’s really Ru’s show, but a couple of script choices let the side down – most noticably the yelling, and the seeming miss of common sense to call someone for help which, to be fair, would’ve stopped the concept dead in its tracks.
Michael-Leon Wooley is the other MVP of the show, but the ‘I’m blind and can’t see people behind me’ schtick is a bit that gets played maybe one too many times.
But you have to kind of take the show for what it is. Pretty camp – which for all intents and purposes, means full of colour, full of life, and just a little bit silly.
Whether the show returns is yet to be seen, but it’s not particularly necessary.
AJ And The Queen is available now on Netflix.
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‘I think it would only add to the quality of drag that we are seeing, the quality of drama and excitement that we get.
Sasha Velour is creating her own show that has lots of ‘women drag artists’ (Picture: Santiago Felipe/FilmMagic)
‘But there is always going to be criticism of something that has that much success and that much attention.
‘There are other solutions than to endlessly criticise something that has a positive difference.’
She continued: ‘I believe there should be women represented in drag, so I am creating my own show that has lots of women drag artists, but I try to see the many positives.’
During Sasha’s season, Drag Race was applauded for featuring its first openly-transgender woman, Peppermint.
How RuPaul caused an uproar after saying they would ‘probably not’ allow someone who has made their transition public to compete on the show.
Sasha went on to explain that she felt ‘pressured to be funny’.
She added: ‘I feel pressured to feel funny, all I want to do is go on a rant that makes no sense.
‘My thing for 2020 is to keep things short and make them funny.’
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DragCon organisers have spoken out after upset fans branded the bash a shambles (Picture: Getty)
DragCon UK organisers have spoken out after upset fans branded the event a ‘shambles’ on social media, as they were ‘left to queue for hours’.
Ticket holders flocked to Twitter to blast the bash – being held at Olympia in London – claiming they were left outside, unable to get in.
A spokesperson for the event – which RuPaul and the Drag Race UK gang attended – has now explained they were forced to briefly halt the queues for health and safety purposes.
A statement shared with Metro.co.uk read: ‘Health and Safety officers had advised us to temporarily halt the queue entrances today for an hour due to clogging of the aisles and from there on out – we got everyone in as fast as possible under H&S’s watch.
‘We have met with the venue, security and H&S for tomorrow’s event and are confident that the same issues won’t arise. Thank you and we appreciate you.’
They also offered up information for those who wanted to get their money back, adding: ‘If your ticket wasn’t scanned and you would like to return you are welcome to use your ticket to come tomorrow.
Drag con is an absolute joke, queues been grid locked for hours and tbeheinit letting anyone in. Ridiculous considering I've spent over £100 on tickets alone #DragConUK#dragcon
‘If you can’t make tomorrow, refunds will be honoured – please emailhelp@rupaulsdragcon.com for further assistance.’
The statement comes after upset fans shared their experiences on social media, complaining of the queues.
‘#dragcon what a let down! We booked tickets 4 months ago we queued for 2 and a half hours and didn’t get in,’ one posted. ‘Thankfully we’re still having an amazing time cos we’re with friends but seriously!?
Fans were left upset at the queues (Picture: PA)
‘Standing out in the cold with hundreds of others. Not letting anyone in. Absolute shambles #dragcon,’ another said.
However, others seemed to have a blast at the first day of the event.
‘I know drag con has its faults, but damn I have had an amazing day today!!! @BluHydrangea_I as my absolute highlight though. Thank you for making today so special #dragcon,’ a follower celebrated.
While a Twitter user commented: ‘RuPauls DragCon UK day 1. Honestly one of the best days of my life and they are just as amazing in person as they are on TV!’
And a fan added: ‘Fabulous day at #DragCon. However my feet are killing me!’
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Is Denise Welch trying to keep Matt Healy’s (rumoured) relationship with FKA twigs top secret and shielded from the press?
We ask because RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s Vinegar Strokes shared an Instagram picture of himself with his arm around Loose Women legend Denise, her actor father Vin Welch, The 1975’s Matt Healy, and singer FKA twigs at RuPaul’s DragCon UK 2020.
Yet the very same image also surfaced on Denise’s Instagram page, but FKA twigs had been bizarrely cropped out. Denise tagged her son and Vinegar Strokes in the post, along with the caption: ‘Best time ever.’
Meanwhile, Vinegar Strokes had shared the caption: ‘So wonderful to meet the gorgeous @denise_welch, @fkatwigs, @trumanblack and their fabulous family backstage at #DragConUK today.’
Even though Denise excluded FKA twigs from her social media images, the pair were reportedly ‘getting along great’, according to source speaking to E! Online. The reported couple were also supporting Denise who was hosting part of the event.
‘Matt Healy and FKA twigs were smiling and holding hands while having a great time walking around and watching the shows together.
‘It definitely appeared like the two are more than just friends. The two kept a pretty low profile, attending the event in support of Matt’s mum Denise Welch, who was the emcee for one of the events. Denise and FKA twigs were getting along great. They were very comfortable around each other.’
The British musicians seemingly spent Christmas Eve together too, after the pair were pictured standing next to each other in a photo by singer and songwriter Jennie Vee.
‘Beautiful Christmas Eve Dinner with our musical friends thank you,’ Jennie captioned the photo.
The coolest couple in the world (Picture: Instagram/thejennievee)
An employee of a Lush store in London took a photo with Matt on another occasion and FKA twigs, 31, is seen browsing products in the background.
FKA twigs – real name Tahliah Barnett – was previously in a high-profile relationship with actor Robert Pattinson. They became engaged in 2015, before calling it off two years later.
Meanwhile, it’s the first time Matt has been romantically-linked to someone following the end of his four-year relationship with model Gabriella Brooks last August. She’s now dating actor Liam Hemsworth and was recently introduced to his parents.
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As RuPaul himself says, to become a drag superstar, you have to have charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.
It’s a mantra that’s run through Drag Race itself, from its eleven seasons in the US to its inaugural one in the UK last year.
Attending the second day of the first-ever RuPaul’s Drag Con UK, Metro.co.uk made it our mission to find out what it actually takes to make it in the cut-throat, high-camp world of drag straight from the horse’s mouth with some of our favourite castmembers and contestants from over the years.
Queens from both the UK and across the pond had gathered to greet fans of the groundbreaking reality show, and whether they came first or last in their respective seasons, they all know what it takes to make it – so how can you do it yourself?
‘Is that a loaded question?’ asked Vinegar Strokes, one of the highlights of last year’s first UK Drag Race series. ‘It’s me! I’m the one! F*ck the Vivienne!’
In all seriousness, however, she continued: ‘Whether you come first, second or third you have to be someone who is so sure of their own brand and what they put out into the world.
‘You’re on a platform now where kids are going to watch [you perform]…what you’re doing needs to help someone else.’
Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne certainly had what it takes to become a Drag Superstar (Picture: Getty)
Standout season 10 star Miz Cracker thinks being a superstar takes that little bit of ‘magic’ but points out even the brightest stars to emerge from the series like Bianca Del Rio and Adore Delano don’t share any noticeable similarities.
‘It’s a mystery!’ she cackled. ‘If you look at all the mega-stats of drag, they’re completely different. If you look at Bianca and Adore, they’re polar opposites. I guess it must be magic. Drag magic.’
Season two stalwart Morgan McMichaels, who also appeared in All-Stars season three also thinks that, well, anyone can be a drag superstar – they just have to try it first.
‘Get in drag, period,’ she told us. ‘Like Ru says, we’re all born naked and the rest is drag. The minute you get in drag you become a superstar.’
And in lieu of RuPaul, we went straight to the head honcho of all things Drag Race, World of Wonder co-founder Fenton Bailey, for the definitive answer from the man who helped oversee every iteration of Drag Race possible.
Miz Cracker puts it down to ‘drag magic’ (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, of course!’ he shared. ‘I’ve yet to run into any two drag queens who are alike. They’re all completely unique.
‘And I think there’s no one thing that makes a superstar. They’re all different. They’re snowflakes – each and everyone is different!’
And having attended Drag Con – we’re wont to agree with this statement. From all the queens we know and love from their time on the show, or queens like Trixie Mattel and Katya who have gone on to become viral, social media superstars…every drag superstar is made of different stuff.
Baga Chipz became a true superstar after her Drag Race tenure (Picture; Getty)
One of the most heartwarming parts of the day was also seeing the future superstars of drag strutting their stuff along the pink carpet, especially those young kids being supported by their parents as they lived their best life.
Summing the day up perfectly, UK Drag Race standout Crystal said: ‘The best thing is all the queer and weird kids who are here.
‘It’s so inspiring and they’re parents have brought them here and they’re so excited like figuring out who they are. If I had a heart, it would touch it.’
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 1 is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
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