The Problem With RuPaul
The name RuPaul has become synonymous with Drag since he stepped out of the New York City clubkid scene and onto world stage in the 90's. He’s done it all, from having his own talk show on VH1, a successful music career, roles in pop culture and cult films like “The Brady Bunch,” and “Starrbooty.” He’s had his own perfume line, dolls, even candy bars. To say the man is a branding genius is a gross understatement. Suffice it to say, his most successful venture to date is unquestionably RuPaul’s Drag Race. It began as a little show with a low budget on a niche network you couldn’t even get in the midwest. Over 10 seasons, it grew into a monster hit, a cultural phenom that catapulted Drag into the Mainstream. The trajectory of Drag itself which had, until now, thrived mainly in gay bars around the world, found itself in the laps of 14 year old fangirls and teenage boys putting on mascara for the first time. It’s impact didn’t just shape gay culture, but it reached places that the light of progress had not seen in decades. Suddenly, there were Drag Queen viewing parties in Topeka, Kansas every Thursday. Kids were lining up by the thousands to attend meet-and-greets with Drag Queens that had become bonafide celebrities as soon as they left RuPaul’s stage.
There is no question that Rupaul is a businessman. To date, he is credited with sending over 100 Drag Queens into the stratosphere of stardom. Rupaul’s…
