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Honey, not everything is as glamorous as it seems on the main stage! Join us as we count down the most shocking production secrets and dark truths behind "RuPaul's Drag Race" that may change the way you see the beloved reality competition forever. Which revelation surprises you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:00Because you know what's cuter than hate? Love. Everybody say hate. Nope, that's not it.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo. And today, we're counting down our picks for the production secrets that
00:09make you look at RuPaul's Drag Race in a new light. Ever since I got here, I've been lying
00:13to myself and to other people. I'm a transgender woman. The only way I'm going to be able to give
00:19100% if I come clean. Number 30. RuPaul has never had another drag queen on the judges panel.
00:26Silence! I've made my decision. Bring back my girls?
00:35One thing fans of the international spinoffs might notice is that former Drag Race contestants are
00:39often hosting the show. Even more notable is that other former contestants are asked to guest judge.
00:44Many other franchises have given their cast a chance to be critiqued by artists who understand
00:49what it's like to go through the show's meat grinder.
00:51Mikayla, you were just sex on a stick. It was really alluring, inviting. You knew how to pull
00:58the viewer in.
00:59The closest they've come is when some queens, such as Alyssa Edwards, have been asked back
01:03to coach certain portions of a challenge. Whether it's ego or something else entirely,
01:08the American series has never had a former contestant join Ru on the panel.
01:12Number 29. Queens are credited as themselves rather than performers.
01:16Romy, you'll get yourself banished if you hang with that fluse. I'm sorry, I need to relax.
01:24Mercutia, what's going on?
01:26I'm not really experienced in acting. I'm just giving it the best.
01:29Girl, you are a drag queen. You are experienced in acting.
01:32There's a tricky little condition in every Drag Race contestant's contract that ultimately makes
01:36a huge difference. Despite the various talents they're asked to showcase,
01:40queens are only credited as themselves instead of performers.
01:44Category is Luxe Queen, Luxe Queen, Luxe Queen. Category is Townie Country, Townie Country.
01:52Category is C-NBC.
01:56This is standard reality TV practice. To credit them as actors, makeup artists, hairstylists,
02:01writers, or any other talent they demonstrate on the series would open the show up to a multitude
02:06of problems. It might require every contestant to be a member of the respective craft
02:10union, which is both difficult and expensive. And that would also require them to be paid
02:15like union members.
02:16So that means the crew will split a tip of $2,500
02:26in exchange for time they will never, ever get back.
02:33Number 28. Some songwrites are pulled before the show.
02:37Navigating copyright law is a special kind of headache.
02:41Lip sync for your life songs were especially hard for the show to come by in its early years.
02:54The show's profile was not yet what it now is, and there was less incentive to allow the use
02:59of certain songs. However, this has even affected the queens directly, arguably to the point of
03:04getting them eliminated from the competition. All Stars 2 competitor Coco Montrese was originally
03:09planning a Janet Jackson tribute, one of her specialties, for the season's talent show premiere
03:14challenge. The show was unable to get the rights, leaving her to use a backup.
03:18I decided to step out of my box just to show a different side of myself.
03:22I hope it pays off for me this time.
03:24This less-than-inspired classic Hollywood dance routine contributed to her elimination at the end
03:29of the episode.
03:30Wow, I'm the first to be sent away by a friend and not Ru. It's very disappointing, but all the
03:39stars don't give up.
03:40Number 27. UK queens initially couldn't win prize money
03:44Ahead of the season 6 premiere of Drag Race's British spinoff, the news broke that the contestants
03:48would be competing for prize money for the very first time.
03:51For the first time in Drag Race UK herstory, the winner will take home a cash prize of £25,000.
04:03Due to the show's airing on the BBC, there were no sponsors or adverts, so they couldn't win any
04:09money like their American counterparts. Instead, they won points in the form of Rue Peter badges
04:13and a production deal with Drag Race production company World of Wonder.
04:17At the grand finale, the winner will be crowned the UK's first Drag Race superstar, and then
04:22she'll be whisked off to Hollywood to star in her very own digital series, produced by the hit-making
04:29team that created RuPaul's Drag Race.
04:32However, queens were still expected to make magic happen with no financial benefit outside of exposure.
04:38This practice changed in the sixth season, when a £25,000 cash prize was added to the winning pot.
04:45£25,000.
04:47Yeah, it changes everything completely.
04:49Now that there's a cash prize, baby, it's on.
04:51There's absolutely no way that I can't win that.
04:53Yeah, it's made the stakes just that much more real.
04:58Number 26.
04:59Runways and live challenges are filmed twice.
05:02When it comes to the main stage, there is a lot of production trickery afoot.
05:06Runways and live challenges like the Rusical are filmed twice.
05:09Oh, welcome aboard. Welcome aboard. I'm Miss Valerie Valentine. I'm your economist slash court
05:14student. You could call me a flight attendant, but I don't care for that word, attendant,
05:18because it makes it sound like I'm going to wait on somebody. I'm not.
05:20In some ways, it is a necessary measure, as it gives editors more options for the final cut of
05:25each episode. However, it also means that moments can be strategically plucked to support the narrative
05:31as to who wins and who goes home.
05:33Max's was cool.
05:34Yeah, and people didn't ever get that the first time she walked, it bled.
05:39It bled in real time.
05:40It bled in real time, but I can't believe they didn't use that clip.
05:43Yeah, she walked, and the first time she walks, it bleeds down the dress.
05:46If a queen makes a mistake in either take, the editors can choose whether or not to include it.
05:51Yes, it is a story measure, but it's also fair to say that it gives them the power to amplify
05:56some contestants' flaws while hiding the flaws of another based on what fits the desired storyline.
06:01Whoa, she fell.
06:05And she fell hard, bitch.
06:07Number 25.
06:08Queens of color are mistreated by fans.
06:11In 2020, several black drag race alums released a PSA that directly addressed the perceived
06:16racism of the show's fan base.
06:18We need to collectively stop the threats, stop the racism that is affecting this community.
06:24So make a pledge to be better and treat us like the human beings that we are.
06:28Pledge to spread joy and kindness to all of us.
06:32Queens like Bob the Drag Queen, The Vixen, Heidi in Closet, and Latrice Royale are just
06:37a few of the former contestants who have shared their experiences with racist fans.
06:41I gotta tell y'all, drag race fandom, y'all are racist.
06:45Like, y'all are crazy.
06:46The stuff y'all be saying to the black girls, and I can't even imagine what you're saying
06:49to the Asian girls and the Latino girls.
06:51While it's probably fair to say that every queen on the show has had more than an acceptable
06:55amount of toxic interactions with fans, the numbers do not lie.
06:59As early as 2018, reports indicated that the Instagram followings for queens of color were
07:04significantly lower than their white counterparts.
07:07For me and Spice started doing drag on social media.
07:10We have accumulated 7 million followers on TikTok.
07:13Did any of y'all recognize us from TikTok?
07:15I did, yeah.
07:17No.
07:17No.
07:18Number 24.
07:19The fans can be vicious.
07:20We get it.
07:21It's easy to be nasty behind the comfort of your computer screen.
07:24Anonymous hate is so in right now.
07:27But maybe try this.
07:28Next time you feel like you want to be gutted, rotted, a Gila monster, a beast, maybe don't.
07:34A chance to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race can win a talented drag queen a whole new audience.
07:39It can also leave them vulnerable to a rabid and often abusive fan base.
07:43That has only been mentioned on the show a few times.
07:46Most notably, when the behavior of Valentina's fans became a talking point of the Season 9
07:50reunion.
07:51I don't approve that, and I hope you guys know that.
07:53But you never told them.
07:55I called you.
07:56I FaceTimed you in tears because of people telling me I should go kill myself because
08:01I'm so ugly and so fat, and I should have volunteered to eliminate myself over your elimination.
08:06Many queens have spoken about the effect the audience has had on them and their colleagues.
08:10From constant critiques from fans who think they're on the judging panel to literal
08:14death threats, the Drag Race queens have had to bear the brunt of some truly repugnant behavior.
08:19Coming back to All-Stars, I just thought it was going to be somewhat easier because I
08:23know everything, but I feel like kind of second-guessing myself because I didn't get the love for my
08:29season.
08:30Like, you can relate to this, and I've just been working so hard to show that I am this
08:35sickening entertainer that I see in my head.
08:38Number 23.
08:39Courtney Act knew she wasn't winning.
08:41The season 6 finalist received a rude awakening at the pre-taped live finale.
08:45To reduce the instance of spoilers, the show pre-tapes several possible endings to keep the
08:50winner a secret even to the attending audience.
08:52America's next drag superstar is...
09:01Bianca Del Rio!
09:03Bianca Del Rio, Adore Delano, and Courtney Act each filmed their own crowning as the season's
09:08winner. Then, a break in protocol saw Bianca and Adore filming a tie.
09:13Courtney was left completely out.
09:15You know about the gag, though.
09:16That they filmed Bianca and Adore doing a tie.
09:19And I was just like...
09:21They didn't film a Courtney ending at all?
09:22They filmed a Courtney ending, but they filmed everybody winning, and then they filmed Adore
09:27and Bianca tie.
09:27The writing seemed to be on the wall that Courtney's solo crowning was a formality.
09:31She was not even in the conversation to win despite making it to the finals.
09:36Even the real winner, Bianca, called out how shady it was.
09:39In that moment, I was kind of lost, and in my brain I'm going,
09:42how could they do this to Courtney?
09:43What the f*** is going on?
09:44What are we going to do about the money?
09:45Are we splitting $100,000?
09:47Number 22.
09:48RuPaul's initial stance on trans contestants.
09:51Kylie Sonique Love was the show's first trans contestant.
09:54However, she came out at the reunion once the second season was finished.
09:58I'm a woman.
09:59I'm not a boy who dresses up.
10:03I feel like the only thing I've ever done right was go to a doctor and start transitioning.
10:10I've never been more happier in my entire life.
10:13Other queens, such as Monica Beverly Hills and Peppermint, were out during their time on the show.
10:17However, the host himself was not always open to trans contestants.
10:22As a community, this fight is not over.
10:24And we have to keep fighting.
10:25And there's so much work we still have to do.
10:28And if we don't respect our elders and understand what they went through,
10:32we are not going to be able to push forward as a community at all.
10:34RuPaul landed in hot water when he admitted that he didn't think trans women should be allowed to participate on
10:40the show,
10:40likening it to taking performance-enhancing drugs.
10:43He actually apologized for his comments and even reversed course on them.
10:46I think it was me seeing Kylie win All-Star 6, and I was like, oh, shit, like, that could
10:53be me.
10:54Yeah.
10:55It clicked in my head, and I said, oh, my God, I'm a drag artist.
10:59I'm a drag queen.
11:00Yes.
11:00This is why I'm here.
11:01Number 21.
11:02Queens have been completely edited out of a season.
11:05Hope you save room for dessert, because I brought pie.
11:10I'm Sherry Pye, and I am the queen of camp.
11:14Drag Race contestants are often relatively unknown before the show.
11:18That spotlight can bring the skeletons out of the closet.
11:21When season 12 premiered, contestant Sherry Pye was revealed to be a serial abuser who catfished several actors.
11:27As the show aired, Sherry was notably absent from many segments.
11:31This was especially notable because she ended up being a finalist.
11:34So open up, get ready for a mother-tucking show.
11:38I'm fully baked, and I'm ready to feed you to your blow.
11:42You think you know me, but you don't know me.
11:46An even more extreme example was on Drag Race UK season 5.
11:49A contestant was disqualified while the season was filming and was entirely scrubbed from the edits, as if she wasn't
11:55even there.
11:56I told you when I see you, it's on site, bitch.
11:59Well, I know this one.
12:03Number 20.
12:04Tyra's Continued Vitriol
12:06What about me?
12:07What about Tyra?
12:12Snap out of it!
12:13Turns out there is such a thing as a sore winner.
12:16Despite being one of the first champions of the franchise, King Tyra, formerly known as Tyra Sanchez,
12:21has dedicated much of his post-show experience to psychologically tormenting those who still enjoy it.
12:26If you took what I said and that affected you or that you're related to that, then yes, I was
12:31talking to you.
12:31You were the person that I was talking to.
12:33For everyone else, it was a kiki.
12:35From making cruel jokes about fellow former contestants passing away to telling fans to take their own lives,
12:41he aims his sights at anyone that he feels crosses him.
12:44He has even spread false rumors about Morgan McMichaels dying, and posted what many believe was a threat against DragCon.
12:53Though many try to ignore him, he keeps popping back up,
12:57leading to several people demanding the crown and title be stripped from him.
13:01Number 19.
13:02Queens can't appear on another show for a year after the season airs.
13:05I'm just gonna say nine words.
13:08I swear to God that I am a faithful.
13:20With the resurgence of competition-based series starring iconic former reality stars,
13:24you may have wondered why you don't see many recent queens participating.
13:28It may seem like they just aren't interested, but judging by the season eight contract,
13:32they aren't allowed to appear in another televised show for a full year after their last filmed episode airs.
13:38Thank you, Aja.
13:39It's a pleasure.
13:39You don't love me.
13:42I'm gonna make you love me.
13:44In fact, it may be one of the few times that being an early out is truly beneficial.
13:49There's a chance the standards may have become more lenient in the past few years,
13:53but it may be why you have to wait a little while longer to see your favorite appear in House
13:57of Villains.
13:58Let me tell you something about me, baby.
14:00I've done competitions twice before, and I've been the runner-up twice.
14:04So if you bitches thought that just because you got in a little clique in a group,
14:07y'all gonna get somewhere far, let me tell you, you are highly mistaken.
14:10Number 18.
14:11Confessionals are filmed the morning of that week's episode.
14:14Sure, be brutally honest.
14:16I kind of was thinking that you would turn out something that we hadn't seen.
14:23Not today, Satan.
14:24Not today.
14:25One of the most popular segments of many reality TV shows is The Confessional,
14:29a sacred place where contestants can tell the audience their thoughts on anything that happens during filming.
14:34Thanks to queens like Jan and Brooklyn Heights,
14:36we've been given more insight into how Drag Race navigates.
14:39I believe normally we started filming around 9 or 10 a.m.,
14:43and you're leaving the hotel to go and film sometimes at like 6 or 7 a.m.
14:48and to film your confessionals, and then once you're there, you wait around.
14:52The former revealed that the interviews are filmed each morning before the episode itself is recorded,
14:57with some exceptions in the case of unexpected drama occurring.
15:00This method makes it easier for editors to choose what clips to include after the challenge has already been filmed.
15:05To keep things consistent, they even have everyone dress in the same outfit every day.
15:10A far cry from the standards on the earlier seasons.
15:13She's very, like, poppy and, like, fashion-forward.
15:16She loves accessories, and she likes glitter, because it's wicked sparkly.
15:20I'm not nervous.
15:21I'll read a bitch.
15:22I will read you to filth.
15:25Number 17.
15:26Queens can't sue if they contract a disease on set.
15:29Come on, season six!
15:31Let's get 60!
15:32It's important to cover your bases legally, but some might find this strange.
15:37In the aforementioned contract, there are several release statements that the contestants sign off on.
15:41One stated that Queens assume any and all risks of working in close quarters with others,
15:46whether it's in a general sense or a more intimate manner.
15:49What this means is that should a participant come down with something,
15:53whether it's merely a cold or something much more serious,
15:55the responsibility lies with them, and they can't sue the show itself.
15:59V-5-Fo-Fum!
16:02Order in the fairytale court!
16:05Do you swear to tell the tea?
16:07The whole tea!
16:09And nothing but the tea!
16:11So help your mother goose!
16:12With that in mind, it suddenly makes even more sense
16:15why there were so many necessary precautions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
16:19Category is...
16:20Precaution.
16:21I felt really, really safe on the set.
16:24The drag race team went above and beyond with making sure everything was done correct.
16:29Temperature check when you come on the set.
16:32Number 16.
16:32The Intense Audition Process
16:34My entire audition was filmed in my bedroom, lip syncs and all.
16:39Really?
16:40Yes.
16:40I had all of New York City holding my goddamn phone trying to...
16:44If there's one thing Rue has made clear,
16:46it's that she expects the best, including at the audition.
16:50Some former contestants have been quite forthcoming
16:52about the stringent requirements when submitting a tape.
16:55According to Season 11 runner-up Brooklyn Heights,
16:58potential participants need to present two lip-sync performances,
17:01multiple options for Snatch Game,
17:03an interview out of drag,
17:04acting challenges,
17:05and even a look made from unconventional materials.
17:08The hardest part for me going into it
17:10was just not knowing what to expect every day
17:12and not being able to prepare myself.
17:14I like preparation and I like schedules
17:17and I like knowing things.
17:18The hardest part?
17:19Having to fit it all into a 20-minute span.
17:21It's strenuous,
17:22but it makes those who do make it seem all the more impressive.
17:26Some have even posted their own auditions over the years,
17:29showing the fans exactly what it takes to make it on.
17:31But I work here in New York City and perform five nights a week.
17:34Actually, the only hardships I've ever faced was
17:36razor burn,
17:38my wig not gluing,
17:39and not knowing words to a song.
17:40Number 15.
17:41Rue doesn't interact with queens.
17:43You think we saw her at all?
17:46Harsh treatment or merely a reality of the genre?
17:49We'll let you decide.
17:50Though RuPaul does have several moments
17:52where he appears to genuinely connect with a contestant,
17:55when the cameras are off,
17:56it's a whole different story.
17:58Reportedly,
17:59the host keeps the queens at arm's length
18:01when they aren't filming
18:01and hardly speaks to them at all.
18:03Who did RuPaul talk to the most off-camera?
18:06Nobody.
18:07Nobody?
18:09This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
18:11Most likely,
18:12at the end of a long day of shooting,
18:13he just wants to detach and relax.
18:15Do you two have banter prepared?
18:20What's your chemistry like?
18:22However,
18:23it does undeniably keep a wall up between him
18:26and those competing for the crown,
18:27which may be exactly as intended.
18:30So imagine you're a first time walking the runway,
18:32and they go,
18:32all right, it's you, go, Trixie.
18:33And you hear RuPaul go,
18:34next up, Trixie Mattel, whatever.
18:36You turn the corner,
18:37and the lights are on,
18:37and there's RuPaul and the judges,
18:39and the runway,
18:40and you've never seen it before.
18:41And it's so scary.
18:42Number 14.
18:44Queens can be sued for $2 million
18:46for breaking confidentiality.
18:49Sitting on a secret.
18:52Promise that we'll keep it,
18:54and we won't tell no one.
18:57An unfortunate reality of the fandom at large
19:00is that spoilers are rampant.
19:01Everything from who the contestants are
19:03to their placement is leaked.
19:05In an attempt to quell this,
19:07producers include a clause in the contract
19:09that prevents those competing
19:10from discussing anything about their season in detail.
19:13While this doesn't stop information
19:15from being released altogether,
19:16it at least stops most of it at the source.
19:19They took us off the plane and blindfolded us
19:21and got us here to the hotel
19:23so nobody would know where the girls are.
19:25Should a participant circumvent
19:27this non-disclosure agreement,
19:28then they could get taken to court
19:30to the tune of $2 million.
19:32The stipulation covers everything
19:33from a queen's statements on social media
19:35to their appearances across various media
19:37once the show has started airing,
19:39making it clear why some choose
19:41to be as vague as possible.
19:42Number 13.
19:43Nothing you say matters unless that camera is rolling.
19:54And that broke my spirit.
19:58As stated earlier,
19:59RuPaul isn't exactly known
20:00for having a warm off-camera rapport.
20:02If a queen tries to get too close,
20:04disaster may follow.
20:06During a break from filming an episode for season seven,
20:08Pearl told the host how much she enjoyed working with her
20:11and how honored she felt.
20:12The camera went down for a moment
20:14and I turned to RuPaul and I said,
20:16oh my God,
20:17like I just want to say thank you so much.
20:19Like it is such an honor to be here,
20:21such a pleasure to meet you,
20:22you have no idea.
20:23Ru's response?
20:24To say that nothing she said mattered
20:26unless the camera was on.
20:28It was an unexpectedly harsh response,
20:30even if there was a grain of truth to it.
20:32In a genre like this,
20:33being genuine doesn't get you far
20:35unless it's broadcast for everyone to see.
20:37Well, I'm hoping it will light a fire under your ass.
20:49So there's something on my face.
20:51Unfortunately,
20:52that lesson seems to have come
20:53at the price of a permanent split
20:54between Ru and Pearl,
20:56and there's no telling if they'll ever mend it.
20:58Number 12.
20:59Queens get only a few weeks to prepare.
21:01We were told,
21:03with a little bit of information we were given,
21:05wear something that you wouldn't be upset
21:07if it got ruined.
21:08That was it.
21:08So that's why I'm wearing this little random dress
21:11that I wore 15 times on the show,
21:13because I didn't have much time to pack up and go do it.
21:16Imagine this.
21:17After preparing your audition tape and waiting,
21:19you finally learn that you've made the cut.
21:21After the initial excitement,
21:23you need to prepare.
21:24And unfortunately, you don't get much time.
21:26With just a few weeks to get all your looks
21:28for runways, mini challenges,
21:30and whatever else ready,
21:31it suddenly becomes much more daunting.
21:33Even beyond outfits,
21:35some need time to learn how to sew,
21:36act, dance, or perform any other skill
21:39Rue has them show off.
21:40Even packing is a logistical nightmare,
21:42with contestants having a five-bag limit
21:45that's easily exceeded with hair,
21:46shoes, and makeup alone.
21:48I can't imagine the weight of your suitcases.
21:50Yeah, it was definitely a struggle.
21:52Like, when I was packing for Drag Race,
21:54you know, we only get a certain amount of luggage.
21:55So I actually was wearing that hat on the plane.
21:58Stop it.
21:58Some queens have reported
22:00having even less time before filming,
22:02a testament to how dedicated they are
22:04to their craft and the program.
22:05How quick was the turnaround
22:07of, like, filming season 17,
22:09going into All-Stars 10?
22:11Like, how much time did you have to prepare?
22:13What was that like for you?
22:14It was, like, four to five days
22:16that I had to prepare
22:17for, like, the first bit of the competition.
22:20What?
22:20Oh, yeah.
22:21Number 11.
22:21Some queens pay thousands for their runways.
22:24I have a person I'll go to for, like, evening gowns,
22:26or, like, if I want to be more street-wear,
22:28more fashionable,
22:29I have certain people I use,
22:30but I definitely have to commission people
22:32because I don't like sewing.
22:35No wonder the queens are hungry
22:36for that $200,000 cash prize.
22:38With the time to prepare being so limited,
22:41those that can't or don't want to craft
22:42every single look
22:43instead turn to friends or designers for help.
22:46The contestants have been increasingly candid
22:48about what it costs
22:49to finance their time on the show,
22:51with several spending at least four figures.
22:53Others have resorted to more desperate measures
22:55to ensure they can have the best runways,
22:57from personal loans to taking out a second mortgage.
23:00I took a second mortgage out of my house
23:02to gag you on these runways, baby,
23:04so, like, I'm still fighting with my husband for that.
23:07Others rely on the generosity of family and friends.
23:09With so much importance being placed on fashion
23:12and expectations creeping higher and higher
23:14with each passing season,
23:15we can only wonder when the bubble will finally pop.
23:18Literally, my life and my funds and my financial future,
23:21I put it on the line because this is so important.
23:23I spent more coming into this competition
23:25than I did as a down payment on my house.
23:26Number 10.
23:27Queens are isolated from each other.
23:29With the metal detector.
23:31It's mainly just to make sure
23:32you don't have a cell phone hidden anywhere.
23:35Oh, okay.
23:36Well, then I should bend over all the way.
23:38Yeah, please.
23:39Many may wonder how the drag race producers
23:42are always able to capture
23:43the riveting interactions between the queens.
23:46Well, for one,
23:47contestants are reportedly isolated from each other
23:49when they're outside the workroom.
23:51You are sequestered into this room
23:53until further notice.
23:54I just love it.
23:55It's like a prison.
23:57It's said that the queens are housed
23:59in separate hotel rooms
24:00and prevented from interacting with one another
24:02when the cameras aren't rolling.
24:04In order to ensure strict adherence to this rule,
24:07the producers apparently place tape over their doors
24:09to know if anyone snuck out.
24:11Even more,
24:12the contestants are completely cut off
24:14from the outside world,
24:15with no phones to contact their loved ones.
24:17Your new form of communication
24:19is going to be via post-it note.
24:21You have to pass a note under the door, okay?
24:25Now you know why they get so excited
24:27to see their family videos.
24:29Number nine.
24:30Seasons are filmed in roughly four weeks.
24:33If you give me a minute of your time,
24:35I hope to make a dress that's blind.
24:37It takes anywhere from 12 to 14 weeks
24:40for a regular season of Drag Race to air in full.
24:43But that doesn't mean the show is filmed
24:44in the same amount of time.
24:46Although each episode is regarded as a new week,
24:49in reality,
24:50they're shot over a much shorter period.
24:52You've got 20 minutes to get into quick baby drag.
24:56Go!
24:57It's been widely reported
24:58that each season of Drag Race wraps up
25:00after roughly four weeks,
25:01with the average episode
25:03taking about two to three days to film.
25:05This would mean that the queens
25:06only have hours to sew and design exquisite dresses,
25:10come up with hilarious commercials,
25:11and write sickening verses.
25:13Boy, it really do take nerve.
25:18Number eight.
25:19RuPaul's Bad Memory
25:21It's time to play the game
25:22that's sweeping the nation.
25:24Name!
25:25Ever that!
25:25Queen!
25:26They got it!
25:27Anyone who's a fan of Drag Race
25:28can attest to the fact
25:29that RuPaul has a pretty remarkable
25:31recollection of pop culture moments.
25:33So it's quite surprising,
25:34and maybe a little shady,
25:36that Mother's memory becomes a little faulty
25:38when it comes to her own children.
25:40I'm trying.
25:40I'm trying to hit my thing.
25:42I don't have my glasses on.
25:44RuPaul has been captured multiple times
25:46forgetting the names of past Drag Race contestants.
25:49Sure, there have been a gajillion seasons at this point,
25:52and about a dozen times that number of queens,
25:54but the least Mama Ru can do
25:56is remember the winner's names, right?
25:58Well, wrong, apparently.
25:59Fans were stunned when RuPaul seemingly forgot
26:02that of the queen of all queens at DragCon 2022.
26:06I told, um, um, this one right here,
26:09because your name is...
26:10Jinx.
26:13Hey, come on.
26:15Seattle.
26:16Seattle.
26:16Number seven.
26:17Multiple crownings are filmed.
26:19Well, this is it.
26:21The final lap.
26:22The grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.
26:26In the early seasons of Drag Race,
26:28the finale in Crowning of the Winner
26:30was shot in a studio months before airing.
26:32However, after the season three winner was leaked
26:35by internet blogger Perez Hilton,
26:37producers of the show decided to alter the format.
26:40It's okay to think outside of the box
26:42and think greater than what you know.
26:44These days, a live grand finale
26:45is filmed in front of an audience
26:47only a few weeks before it actually airs.
26:50In order to prevent spoilers,
26:52the producers film multiple endings,
26:54with each finalist being announced as the winner.
26:56RuPaul then picks the actual champion afterwards,
26:59which is only revealed when the episode airs.
27:02Hence, the winning queen gets to find out
27:04they've won at the same time as the viewers.
27:06Now, prance, my queen, prance.
27:14Number six.
27:15Merle Ginsberg is replaced by Michelle Visage.
27:27RuPaul and Michelle Visage
27:28have been squirrel friends for decades.
27:30The two reportedly first met in the late 80s
27:32and have worked closely together ever since.
27:35We've obviously talked about you
27:37because you're such an important part of her life.
27:39Yes.
27:40And when you're not threatened...
27:46Although Visage is now a staple on Drag Race,
27:49she was noticeably absent from the judging panel
27:51during the first two seasons of the show.
27:53According to the multi-talented entertainer,
27:56she was contacted by RuPaul to be a judge
27:58right from the start.
27:59However, at the time,
28:01Visage had just signed a five-year contract
28:03with CBS Radio and wasn't permitted
28:05by her boss to appear on Drag Race.
28:07After going over her boss's head
28:09to the VP of CBS Radio,
28:11she was given the go-ahead
28:12and replaced Merle Ginsberg
28:13from the third season onwards.
28:15My co-host for over a hundred episodes
28:18of the RuPaul talk show.
28:20Couldn't keep us apart.
28:22Number five.
28:23The strange connection with Charles Manson.
28:26Act as if your life depended on it
28:29because, well, it does.
28:34RuPaul's Drag Race is a reality series
28:36centered around drag queens
28:38competing for the ultimate prize.
28:40So what in the world would such a show
28:41have in common with the cult leader
28:43and serial killer Charles Manson?
28:45I just wanted to be a star any way I got it.
28:48I said if I didn't become a star by 35,
28:50I was just going to become a serial killer.
28:52Well, you can relax a bit.
28:54Manson has never been a guest judge
28:56on any of the episodes.
28:57However, some seasons of Drag Race
28:59have been filmed on soundstages in Simi Valley.
29:02Situated within Ventura County, California,
29:05the valley was reportedly once home
29:06to the Manson family
29:07and was the location
29:09of some of their despicable crimes.
29:11When asked about the connection
29:12in a Vanity Fair interview,
29:14Lama Ru said, quote,
29:15we've come to cleanse the whole area
29:17of its checkered past.
29:18Tonight, they're ready to slay the runway
29:21in their best drag.
29:23Number four.
29:24You've got She-Mail.
29:25No ma'am, no ham, no Pam,
29:26no cauliflower, no cornbread,
29:27no green beans.
29:28RuPaul has come under fire in the past
29:30for some statements that have been viewed
29:32by many as transphobic.
29:33In the formative years of Drag Race,
29:36episodes began with a pre-recorded video
29:38from RuPaul that opened with the line,
29:40Ooh, girl, you got She-Mail.
29:44Regardless of the intentions behind this,
29:46the term was clearly a pun
29:48on the transphobic slur She-Mail.
29:50After a controversial season six episode
29:52in which the slur was used in a mini challenge,
29:54the show was called out for the lack of oversight.
29:57As a result, the mini challenge
29:58was removed from the episode,
30:00and the opening line of the pre-recorded video
30:02was changed to the less controversial,
30:04Sheena already in her hair harses.
30:08And of course, I've, you know,
30:11taken that to the bank.
30:13Number three.
30:15Grueling production hours.
30:16Our poison bit is going on a long time.
30:23Roxy and I are sort of standing there like...
30:26Anyone who's worked on a film or TV show
30:29will not hesitate to let you know
30:30that production hours can be long.
30:32And while that's arguably harder
30:34for the technical crew on an average set,
30:36you have to take into consideration
30:38that the Drag Race queens need to be in full drag
30:40for the better part of the episode.
30:42Oh, God!
30:44There's nothing more sad
30:46than the tears of a drag queen.
30:48According to some sources,
30:50a production day typically takes around 11 or 12 hours.
30:53This means that queens have to be tucked,
30:55wearing heels, hair, and makeup,
30:57and be fully dressed for practically half a day.
31:00It's pretty understandable now
31:02why they're quick to take off as much as possible
31:04as soon as they hit the workroom for Untucked.
31:07Bye, lady!
31:08Bye, Chila Rivera!
31:12You better wear this out if you're in the body.
31:13Oh, you know it!
31:14Number two.
31:15Production manipulations.
31:17Hi, I'm Trixie Mattel.
31:18I'm 27 years old,
31:19and I'm from sunny West Hollywood.
31:21And some people might say I'm fake,
31:23but those people are alcoholics.
31:24Since its premiere,
31:26RuPaul's Drag Race has been widely celebrated
31:28as a cornerstone of queer representation.
31:30But at its most basic,
31:32it is still a reality TV show,
31:34a genre that is apparently notorious
31:36for being heavily manipulated.
31:38Drag Race seems to be no exception.
31:40Blame it on the edit.
31:41Blame it on the edit.
31:43She won't have.
31:43Blame it on the edit.
31:45Blame it on the edit.
31:46Edit.
31:47Reports have long made it online
31:49that the show favors certain queens to win,
31:51and sometimes sets up other contestants to fail,
31:54to the point that they allegedly know beforehand
31:56that they'll be going home.
31:57While there may be no way of confirming this,
32:00fans have pointed out
32:01the perceived unfair treatment of Max
32:03and the unfavorable edit given to Jeremy Carey,
32:05formerly known as Fifi O'Hara, as indicators.
32:08After my season,
32:09a lot of people had this perception of me,
32:11so it was hard to get bookings.
32:12People genuinely thought I would come
32:14and, like, cuss them out.
32:15So it took a lot of work
32:16to show people that I'm professional.
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32:38Oh, you so would.
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32:45Number 1.
32:46Willem's Disqualification
32:48In the history of Drag Race,
32:50there have been quite a few shocking eliminations.
32:53What the hell is happening?
32:55One of the very first in that category
32:57was the disqualification
32:58of Season 4 contestant Willem.
33:00After winning the Frenemies episode
33:02alongside Latrice Royale,
33:04Willem was sent home
33:05for reportedly breaking the rules.
33:07Your actions have consequences
33:09and I'm afraid you leave me no choice.
33:13Willem, I have to ask you
33:14to leave the competition immediately.
33:18It was later revealed
33:19that Willem had received unauthorized visits
33:21from her partner during filming,
33:23which constituted a breach of contract.
33:25Although, the Queen has maintained
33:27that there was another more shady reason
33:29for her disqualification.
33:30Since her exit,
33:31Willem has consistently spilled
33:33behind-the-scenes tea about the show,
33:35including claims that the queens
33:36were not properly fed
33:38and the presence of safety hazards on set.
33:41They were giving us like literally
33:43$75 for 12 people to eat.
33:44That makes like $6.75 per person
33:47or something at like 10.30 at night.
33:49They didn't know our names.
33:50They called Latrice La-something.
33:51Which of the above is the most shocking
33:53and which do you think is maybe not so bad?
33:55Let us know in the comments.
33:56Let us know in the comments.
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