Homebrew Drag Race Season 1

## **Season 1**

The **first season** of *Homebrew Drag Race*, later referred to as ***The Lost Season***, premiered in the United States on February 2, 2009. Nine contestants were selected to compete in the running of becoming "America's Next Drag Superstar."

The winner of the first season won a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics, was featured in an LA Eyeworks campaign, and won a cash prize of $20,000. The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "It Feels So Good" by Sonique.

The winner of the first season of Homebrew Drag Race was BeBe Zahara Benet, with Nina Flowers placing as runner-up. Ongina became the first ever queen to be nominated as Miss Congeniality.

Due to a low starting budget for the franchise, the entirety of Homebrew Drag Race Season 1 was filmed on a Maris Piper potato. The Werk Room was very small and appeared to be a disused former carwash, and had only three walls. At night, many raccoons broke in seeking shelter.

The judging panel consisted of Harry Beau, a far better judge of character and expertise than any world-renowned Drag Queen. International fashion designer and fashion label extraordinaire Marc Jacobs also judged. The third judging slot was alternated between queer comedy star Wanda Sykes, and gay acting legend George Takei, depending on the task that week. A myriad of high-class guest judges also filled the judging panel week by week.

Contrary to popular belief, Swedish drinks conglomerate Absolut. Vodka were not involved in the production of Homebrew Drag Race Season 1, because a small competition about drag shouldn't be associated with the commercialization of giant companies and the views they control just to bankroll somebody's ego.

Unlike how many fans remember it, there was no immunity mechanism in this series. Queens who won a previous challenge were just as susceptible to elimination for the following week as other queens.

This remains one of the only seasons in Drag Race Herstory that not a single candidate was either cancelled, or made troubling remarks about people of color or transgender individuals.

In 2012, Jade, Nina Flowers, and Tammie Brown returned to compete for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame in the first season of Homebrew Drag Race All Stars. Nina placed 12th, Jade placed 10th, while Tammie placed 7th overall. Ongina and Akashia also returned as Lip-Sync Assassins.

In 2016, Jade and Rebecca Glasscock made an appearance in Homebrew All Stars Season 2 as Lip-Sync Assassins.

In 2018, during the third season of All Stars, it was revealed that BeBe Zahara Benet would be competing as the surprise tenth queen. She placed 3rd overall. Additionally, Rebecca Glasscock once again appeared as a Lip-Sync Assassin this season, as did Tammie Brown.

## Contestants

*(Queens as shown by their order of entry to the Werk Room.)*

█ The contestant won *Homebrew Drag Race*.
█ The contestant was the first runner-up.
█ The contestant was eliminated in 3rd place & did not compete in final lip sync.
█ The contestant won the maxi challenge.
█ The contestant was one of the best but did not win the maxi challenge.
█ The contestant was a member of a winning team but did not win the maxi challenge.
█ The contestant was one of the worst but did not place in the bottom two.
█ The contestant placed in the bottom two but was not eliminated.
█ The contestant placed in the bottom two & was eliminated.
## Episodes

**Entrance Order**

 2
 4
 5
 7
 8
 9

### **Episode 1: "Drag On A Dime"**

*Airdate: February 2, 2009*

*Synopsis: Nine contestants must reinvent their glam drag looks using thrift store clothing and tchotchkes from the 99-cent store. Guest judge Bob Mackie stops by to help Harry Beau weed out the drag queen with the least style.*

* **Guest Judges:** Bob Mackie and Mike Ruiz
* **Mini Challenge:** Do a car wash sexy photo shoot
* **Maxi Challenge:** Design outfits with materials from a Thrift Store
* **Mini Challenge Winner:** Akashia
* **Maxi Challenge Winner:** Nina Flowers
* **Mini Challenge Prize:** Headstart on grabbing materials for the Maxi Challenge.
* **Maxi Challenge Prize:** Five-night stay at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
* **Bottom Two:** Akashia and Victoria Parker
* **Lip Sync Song:** "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne
* **Eliminated:** Victoria "Porkchop" Parker

### **Episode 2: "Girl Group Challenge"**

*Airdate: February 9, 2009*

*Synopsis: Wigs fly when the contestants split up into 2 rival girl groups, something guest judges Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child would know plenty about. Can the girls impress Harry Beau with their lip-synching skills?*

* **Guest Judges:** Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams
* **Mini Challenge:** Trivia challenge on girl groups and female vocalists.
* **Mini Challenge Winners:** Akashia and Ongina
* **Mini Challenge Prize:** Got to select whether Team Kelly or Team Michelle, and select teammates
* **Maxi Challenge:** Destiny's Child girl group battle
* **Maxi Challenge Winner:** Ongina
* **Maxi Challenge Prize:** Vocalist lessons with the guest judges at Hollywood Vocal Studios
* **Bottom Two:** Akashia and Tammie Brown
* **Lip Sync Song:** "Cater 2 U" by Destiny's Child
* **Eliminated:** Tammie Brown

 Hair
 Makeup
 Costume

### **Episode 3: "Queens of All Media"**

*Airdate: February 16, 2009*

*Synopsis: The queens are tested on their multi-media prowess as they show off their talents as newscaster, product spokesperson, and talk show host to Harry Beau and guest judge, the Oprah Winfrey.*

* **Guest Judge:** Oprah Winfrey
* **Maxi Challenge:** Channelling Oprah in various television personality roles
* **Runway Theme:** Dress to Impress
* **Maxi Challenge Winner:** BeBe Zahara Benet
* **Maxi Challenge Prize:** Special guest feature on The Oprah Winfrey Show
* **Bottom Two:** Akashia and Shannel
* **Lip Sync Song:** "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
* **Eliminated:** Shannel

### **Episode 4: "Mega Mac Challenge"**

*Airdate: February 23, 2009*

*Synopsis: The queens make their own Mega Mac palettes, choosing and designing their own twelve shades to fill a palette. Designer and artist duo Isabel and Ruben Toledo join the panel to help judge the girls' drag queen status.*

* **Guest Judges:** Isabel & Ruben Toledo
* **Mini Challenge:** 30 minutes to do partner's makeup.
* **Mini Challenge Winner:** Ongina
* **Mini Challenge Prize:** Double time in the Maxi Challenge
* **Maxi Challenge:** Film a commercial for designed Mega Mac palette in 10 minutes
* **Maxi Challenge Winner:** Ongina
* **Maxi Challenge Prize:** Mega Mac ambassadorship, feature presentation on Mac's website
* **Bottom Two:** Akashia and Rebecca Glasscock
* **Lip Sync Song:** "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics
* **Eliminated:** Akashia

### **Episode 5: "Drag School of Charm"**

*Airdate: March 2, 2009*

*Synopsis: The contestants make over a group of female extreme fighters into their drag daughters. Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, makes a guest appearance to judge the girls' combat prowess.*

* **Guest Judge:** Lucy Lawless
* **Mini Challenge:** Exercise and endurance challenge.
* **Mini Challenge Winner:** Jade
* **Mini Challenge Prize:** Assign the partners for the Maxi Challenge
* **Maxi Challenge:** Makeover a female fighter using MAC Cosmetics, and other supplies.
* **Maxi Challenge Winner:** Nina Flowers
* **Maxi Challenge Prize:** Gift baskets from TIGI Bed Head worth $1,000
* **Bottom Two:** Jade and Rebecca Glasscock
* **Lip Sync Song:** "Stronger" by Britney Spears
* **Eliminated:** Rebecca Glasscock

### **Episode 6: "Cocktail Ball"**

*Airdate: March 9, 2009*

*Synopsis: Harry Beau makes the queens hit the floor in a good old fashioned drag ball inspired by the world's greatest cocktail flavours.*

* **Guest Judges:** Elisabeth Shue
* **Mini Challenge:** "Voguing" dance-off.
* **Mini Challenge Winner:** Nina Flowers
* **Mini Challenge Prize:** Assign the flavors for the Ball
* **Maxi Challenge:** Cocktail Ball
* **Maxi Challenge Winner:** BeBe Zahara Benet
* **Maxi Challenge Prize:** Custom dress from Bob Mackie
* **Bottom Two:** Ongina and Jade
* **Lip Sync Song:** "Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary
* **Eliminated:** Jade

**Cocktail Ball**

 Nina Flowers
 *Jade* | Orange

**Top Three of Season 1**

  Nina Flowers
 Rebecca Glasscock

### **Episode 7: "Grand Finale"**

*Airdate: March 23, 2009*

*Synopsis: The last 3 queens face their final challenge while shooting a custom music video for the next runway theme. The whole family returns to help Harry Beau make the final decision.*

* **Main Challenge:** Recording a verse and filming a song video for the next runway theme.
* **Eliminated:** Ongina
* **Top Two:** BeBe Zahara Benet and Nina Flowers
* **Lip Sync Song:** "Feels So Good" by Sonique
* **Runner-Up:** Nina Flowers
* **Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1: BeBe Zahara Benet**

### **Reunion: "Re-United!"**

*Airdate: March 29, 2009*

*Synopsis: In this reunion special, all nine contestants return to give their take on what happened during the show. Plus, the girls confront the judges...and each other!*

* Discussions: Harry asks Victoria if she enjoyed her short stay and if she felt she could've done well in the later challenges, Tammie discusses her quirkiness, Akashia's anger and tearful exit are touched on, and Jade voices her frustration with Rebecca and her joy in meeting the other girls. Ongina talks about her progression as a drag artist and her controversial outing as an HIV positive person in Episode Four. Shannel's overconfidence and her elimination against Akashia are discussed. The girls talk about Rebecca's fakeness and attitude, causing arguments to ensue. Nina talks about finishing second and says the Oprah challenge was the toughest for her. Nina also says the audience reception for her has been favorable. BeBe talks about winning and the audience reaction in Cameroon. Ru asks BeBe if she was surprised that Ongina made it to the final three and when asked for hands, most queens feel she deserved to. Nina is surprised that Akashia was eliminated over Rebecca and Jade takes the chance for closure by extending an olive branch to Rebecca. Harry gives the girls some viewer questions. Akashia is asked about upgrading her hooker style, Rebecca is asked about the friend she mentioned in the Mega Mac challenge, and Shannel is asked if her wig falling off in the episode three lip sync battle was staged. Ongina is asked about being the only contestant to win a challenge and also lip sync for her life, Nina is asked about what lead her to choose an androgynous drag style, and all of the girls are asked about hiding razor bumps and stubble. Marc, Wanda and George are then brought out to discuss their experiences on the show. Wanda talks about everyone's ideas of femininity and Marc discusses the fashion and his judging style. The girls are then allowed to get into the judges' heads and Shannel says she left the show because Marc made her feel like crap every week. The two argue and Harry intervenes to tell Shannel not to let someone else's opinion get her down. Harry says negativity exists and Tammie argues that they don't need to feed into it, arguing with Harry on the subject. Harry gets upset and takes the girls to task for taking the negativity too hard, telling them they need to build themselves up and not rely on others holding their hands.
* **Miss Congeniality**: Ongina

## Videos

### Lip Sync Performances

"Complicated" - Lip Sync Cut - Homebrew Drag Race Season 1Episode 1 Lip Sync: Akashia vs Victoria "Porkchop" Parker
## Trivia

* Season 1 is the first season...
	+ ... to have a mini challenge (Episode 2).
	+ ... to have a reunion.
	+ ... to have a contestant from Africa (BeBe Zahara Benet).
		- BeBe is also the only winner from Africa.
	+ ... to have a contestant from Puerto Rico (Nina Flowers).
		- Nina is also the first contest to be voted onto the show by fans.
	+ ... to have no contestants from New York.
		- This season is also the only non-international regular season to achieve this feat.
	+ ... to have three queens that have never placed 'Safe,' Akashia, Rebecca Glasscock and Victoria "Porkchop" Parker.
* Season 1 is...
	+ ... the shortest season in series' history, with a total of 7 episodes.
	+ ... the season with the least contestants, with a total of 9 contestants.
	+ ... the only season where a filter was used throughout the entire season.
	+ ... the only season to not feature Snatch Game.
* Coincidentally, the contestants of this season have only returned to All Stars in odd number seasons.
* The lip-sync assassin of Season 1 was Akashia. Akashia eliminated Victoria Parker, Tammie Brown and Shannel.
* This season is tied with Drag Race Holland (Season 1) for the smallest number of individual challenge winners, with only 3 queens in the season (BeBe Zahara Benet, Nina Flowers and Ongina) having won a main challenge.