Category is RuPaul's Drag Race.
After completely missing the initial craze for RuPaul's Drag Race because it premiered on a channel I didn't have, Hulu let me stream seasons 3-9. I have been binge-watching for almost a month.
This show is sickening.
The diverse cast of drag queens brings beauty, comedy, and creativity to every episode. RuPaul's Ru-isms and Michelle Visage's Jersey-style quips were always unexpected and treasured. The skits interpreting everything from Shakespeare's classics, lawyer shows, and children's television were not something I ever thought I'd see but were everything I needed to see.
Frankly, there are so many things to rave about when it comes to RuPaul's Drag Race that I could write countless blog posts on the show, each from a different angle. The social impact the show has had on the gay and queer community by creating a safe space filled with love and acceptance. Its effect on pop culture by introducing the drag subculture into mainstream media, making it more accepted by the masses as performance art. The show has impacted language by developing a vocabulary that integrates into everyday vernacular.
I don't doubt that a show featuring gay men dressing up as hyper-feminine and sexualized versions of women has some naysayers fighting against it, but it is entirely undeserved. Behind the voluptuous padding, the expert tucks, the big hair, and the dramatic editing, there are real people who use drag as a healing form of expression. Each queen has a unique perspective on the art of drag – is it fishiness like Courtney Act and Kenya Michaels or a fully realized character like Jinx Monsoon or Sasha Velour? Regardless of their form of drag, body type, or complexion, each person is instantly accepted and defined as a fierce queen with charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.
Unlike other competition shows focused on fashion and beauty, RuPaul's Drag Race doesn't take itself too seriously and aims to uplift its contestants without tearing them down first. More importantly, it uses silly scenarios to prepare the contestants for success outside the competition. They work with directors, photographers, and producers while learning and conceptualizing commercials, comedy skits, music videos, and magazines. Although some challenges make zero sense and are purely for laughs, others force the queens to break out of their comfort zones and work on skills that will help advance their careers.
Ultimately RuPaul's Drag Race promotes love, acceptance, and diversity in a way that oozes comedy. The quotable challenges and contestants make Drag Race an internet sensation. Quotes like "reading is fundamental," "everyone loves puppets," "don't f**k it up," and "hello, hello, hello" are Drag Race classics. From the start, they have taken advantage of Twitter by hashtagging every challenge. The combination of love, laughs, beauty, and instant recognition make RuPaul's Drag Race a must-see.
So sissy that walk all the way to Hulu to watch RuPaul's Drag Race. And remember, "if you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else."