RuPaul Charles, better known as RuPaul, is an American drag performer, actor, television host, and recording artist. RuPaul is well known for appearing in several films, and being the host and judge for her own popular reality television series RuPaul's Drag Race.
About RuPaul
RuPaul, born RuPaul Charles, was born in San Diego, California on November 17, 1960.
RuPaul is known as the top drag queen in the industry of drag, the supermodel of the world, a fashion icon, singer, songwriter, actress, new shoe designer, and the host/creator of RuPaul's Drag Race.
In the early 1990s, RuPaul worked in the club scenes in Georgia and went by his full birth name. Other than participating in drag performances, RuPaul performed solo and in collaboration with other bands at several New York nightclubs, such as the Pyramid Club. Alongside his best friend/drag queen business partner, Lady Bunny, Ru appeared for many years at the annual Wigstock drag festival and appeared in the documentary Wigstock: The Movie. In the 1990s, RuPaul was known in the UK for his appearances on the series Manhattan Cable, a weekly series produced by World of Wonder, and presented by American Laurie Pike about New York's public-access television system.
RuPaul was most noted for his 1993 single, "SuperModel of the World".
RuPaul's role on RuPaul's Drag Race is to invite a large group of drag queens to compete for the crown of America's Next Drag Superstar.
RuPaul's Runway looks from every season of RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's runway looks from the series
Memorable Quotes
- You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Cathy Lee; I don't care! Just as long as you call me.
- I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven inch heels, four foot wigs, and skintight dresses?
- As the two of us sat watching TV, Kurt Loder popped up on the tube, teasing an MTV News story with footage of me frolicking around a shopping mall in Jersey City. He said "Coming up next, she's er ah he's 6' 4" and supermodel of the world. Me and Mama both looked at each other, and in that moment we simultaneously realized that her prediction, made 32 years prior, had finally come true. I was a star. That was the last time I saw Mama. " - on his mother Ernestine Charles
- I was having breakfast in the Presidential Suite of the Century Plaza Hotel courtesy of the "John & Leeza Show" when the phone rang and it was my manager. He told me that Elton John wanted to include me on his upcoming "Duets" album and was I interested? I said, "Hold on one minute." The size of the suite gave me the opportunity to flail my arms around while running back and forth screaming "Oh my God Elton John! Oh my God, Elton John!" I must have screamed for a good five minutes before I got back on the line and answered nonchalantly, Sure.
- Doing what I do for a living has never been easy. I've had to fight countless battles in this game that the public has no idea ever happened. But, I just pick myself up and carry on, I Carry On.
- I've dedicated my career to fighting the mundane. My hope is that my career will be a shining example to children everywhere that life is more meaningful when you are not afraid to see all colors of the rainbow.
- Remember, this country was founded by a bunch of men wearing wigs.
- I love me some Squarespace
In RuPaul's Drag Race
- Condragulations, you are the winner of this week's challenge
- You're safe.
- I'm sorry my dear, but you're up for elimination.
- The time has come, for you to lipsync, for your life!
- Good luck, and don't f*** it up!
- Shante, you stay
- Sashay away
- You're a winner, baby
- If you can't love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen up in here?
- Hello Hello Hello!
- Silence! I've made my decision. Bring back my girls!
- I've consulted with the judges, but the final decision is mine to make.
- In the great tradition of Paris is Burning, "Get out your Library Cards!"
- Hello, kitty girls!
- She already done had herses!
- Ooh, girl, you've got she-mail!
Season 1
- Cameroon!
- Extravaganza Eleganza!
Season 2
- Tyra Sanchez, the other Tyra!
Season 3
- RAJAAAA!
- Drag is not a contact sport
Season 4
- London, Paris, Milan!
- May I call you Jiggly?
- I'll have a Latrice Royale on the rocks.
- "Alright, I'll see ya lata!"
- "No T, no shade!"
- “Time to push, ladies. PUUUSSH! Because I’m about to crown … moan … America’s Next Drag Superstar.”
- “I get worried when you do that ‘oh it’s going to be fine’ … there have been times when you’ve done that and then uh-uh *mumbles*”
Season 5
- "IVYYYYYY WINTERRRRRRRS!"
Season 6
- "Blame it on Bianca Del Rio."
Season 7
- LaGuardia, Newark, Kennedy.
- Bitches Better Beware – To Kennedy Davenport after Lip Sync with Katya
- "Fu Man Chu Betta Werk"- To Kandy Ho's bearded runway
All Stars 2
- The time has come, for you to lipsync, for your legacy!
- You're a winner, baby
Discography
| Album Title | Release Date | Cover Art |
|---|---|---|
| Supermodel Of The World | June 8, 1993 |  |
| Foxy Lady | October 29, 1996 |  |
| Ho, Ho, Ho | October 28, 1997 |   |
| Red Hot | September 21, 2004 | |
| Champion | February 24, 2009 |   |
| Glamazon | May 3, 2011 |   |
| Born Naked | February 24, 2014 |   |
| Realness | March 2, 2015 |   |
| Slay Belles | October 23, 2015 |   |
| Butch Queen | March 4, 2016 |   |
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Supermodel Of The World
- Supermodel(You Better Work)
- Miss Lady DJ
- Free Your Mind
- Supernatural
- House of Love
- Thinkin' Bout You
- Back to My Roots
- Prisoner of Love
- Stinky Dinky
- All of a Sudden
- Everybody Dance
- A Shade Shady(Now Prance)
Foxy Lady
- Happy
- Party Train
- A Little Bit of Love
- Snapshot
- Foxy Lady
- R.U. Nasty
- Falling
- Dolores
- Work That Body
- Celebrate
- Snatched for the Gods
- If You Were a Woman(And I Was a Man)
Ho, Ho, Ho
- With Bells On
- RuPaul The Red-Nosed Drag Queen
- All I Want For Christmas
- Santa Baby
- All Alone on Christmas
- Christmas Train Medley
- Christmas Nile
- Funky Christmas
- I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus
- Here Comes Santa Claus
- You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
- Hard Candy Christmas
- Celebrate(New Year's Mix)
Red Hot
- Shirley. Q Liqour & Watusi Jenkins
- Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous
- Coming Out Of Hiding
- Shirley Q. Intro
- Are You Man Enough/Orange Wig Skit
- Kinky/Freaky
- Love is Love
- Just A Little In & Out
- Workout/Betta Work Skit
- The Price Of One
- I Need More
- People Are People
- My Love Sees No Color
- Hollywood U.S.A
- Give It One More Try
- Superman
Champion
- Main Event
- Jealous Of My Boogie
- Cover Girl
- Tranny Chaser
- LadyBoy
- Champion
- Never Go Home Again
- Destiny Is Mine
- Let's Turn The Night
- Devil Made Me Do It
- Theme from "Drag Race"
- Throw Ya Hands Up
Glamazon
- The Beginning
- Click Clack(Make Dat Money)
- Glamazon
- I Bring the Beat
- Superstar
- Responsitrannity
- Live Forever
- Get Your Rebel On
- (Here It Comes) Around Again
- If I Dream
Born Naked
- Freaky Money
- Sissy That Walk
- Geronimo
- Dance With U
- Adrenaline
- Can I Get An Amen
- Fly Tonight
- Modern Love
- Let The Music Play
- Born Naked
Realness
- L.A. Rhythm(ft. Michelle Visage & JROB)
- Color Me Love
- I Met Him on the Dance Floor
- I Blame You
- Throw Ya Hands Up (2015)
- This Is a Picnic
- Die Tomorrow
- The Realness
- A Dream You're Having
- L.A. Rhythm(ft. Michelle Visage & Matt Moss
- Born Naked(Stadium Remix)
- Drag Mocks Identity
- Step It Up
- LGBT
- Thorns of a Rose
Drag Name Origin
There is no drag name for this supermodel of the world. RuPaul decided to keep her birth name RuPaul, but without Charles at the end.
Trivia
- RuPaul can be seen in the B-52's video "Love Shack." He was acquainted with the band during his (and their) Atlanta days.
- Other than RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag U, RuPaul hosted his own talk show/ comedy sketch show on VH1
- On the week of Rupaul's 40th birthday in 2000, a replica statue of him was unveiled at Madame Tussaud's wax museum in New York City.
- He was the surprise guest at the VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross in an all star lineup that included Donna Summer, Faith Hill, Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey, performing Ross's hit song I'm Coming Out.
- Made a media comeback in 1996 after the tabloids dubbed him "The Wicked Witch of MTV" following his Milton Berle issue. He appeared in an exuberantly done gown by fashion desinger Bob Mackie at the 1996 VH1 Fashion Awards.
- Ended his affiliation with MTV, shortly after the success of his debut album, which was supported heavily by the network. Due to his departure from the written script during a live telecast of the 1993 Video Music Awards, uttering rude remarks to co-presenter comedian Milton Berle. His representatives later made a public statement that his offense was provoked by Berle's vulgar comments and harassing ways back-stage during the show.
- Scored four #1 singles from his debut album on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts, with Supermodel (You Better Work), A Shade Shadey (Now Prance), Back To My Roots and House Of Love.
- Born at 7:58 PM PST.
- His #1 dance single Supermodel (You Better Work) was covered by 80s dance sensation Taylor Dayne for the Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack in 2003.
- Ranked #85 on E TV's "101 Reasons The 90's Ruled".
- Was voted "Queen of Manhattan 1990" by club owners, promoters and djs at the annual event.
- Has appeared in four films with actress Stockard Channing in Smoke (1995), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), An Unexpected Life (1998) and The Truth About Jane (2000).
- In 2002 he recorded "You're No Lady" a dance-club song with actress Brigitte Nielsen as Gitta
- Featured in Lady Gaga's christmas special 'Lady Gaga and the muppets holiday spectacular' and done a duet of her song Fashion! from ARTPOP.
- Phi Phi O'Hara did not attend the All Stars 2 reunion and as a result RuPaul threw shade at her for her decision during the episode.
- RuPaul got married March of 2017.
Follow RuPaul
- RuPaul's Website
- RuPaul's Facebook
- RuPaul's Twitter
- RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1 Website
- RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 Website
- RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 Website
- RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 Website
- RuPaul's Drag Race Facebook
- RuPaul's Drag Race Twitter