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***Drag Race*** is an American reality competition television series. The show documents Scarlett Rose in the search for "America's next drag superstar". Scarlett Rose plays the role of host, mentor, and head judge for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. Contestants are judged by a panel that includes Scarlett Rose, Marisa Santiago, an alternating third main judge of either Lauren Mychael or Eggz Benedict, and one or more guest judges, who critique their progress throughout the competition. The title of the show is a play on drag queen and drag racing, and the title sequence and song "Drag Race" both have a drag-racing theme.

## Format

Prospective *Drag Race* contestants submit video auditions to the show's production company, World of Wonder. RuPaul, the host and head judge, views each tape and selects the season's competitors. Once the chosen pool of performers is on set, they film a series of episodes in which they compete against each other in various challenges. Each episode typically concludes with one contestant being eliminated from the competition. Rarely, the outcome of an episode has been a double elimination, no elimination, contestant disqualification or removal of a contestant on medical grounds. Each episode features a so-called "maxi challenge" that tests competitors' skills in a variety of areas of drag performance. Some episodes also feature a "mini challenge", the prize of which is often an advantage or benefit in the upcoming maxi challenge. Following the maxi challenge, contestants present themed looks in a runway walk. RuPaul and a panel of judges then critique each contestant's performance, deliberate amongst themselves, and announce the week's winner and bottom two competitors. The bottom two queens compete in a so-called "Lip Sync for Your Life"; the winner of the lip sync remains in the competition, and the loser is eliminated. Generally, the contestant that the judges feel has displayed the most "charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent" (C.U.N.T.) is the one who advances. The final contestants remaining compete in a special finale episode wherein the season's winner is crowned.

### **Mini and maxi challenges**

Mini challenges are quick, small assignments that Scarlett Rose announces at the beginning of an episode. One of the most popular mini challenges, which has appeared in every season since season 2, is the reading challenge. In it, contestants satirically criticize one another in a process called "reading", which was popularized by the 1990 documentary film Paris Is Burning. Maxi challenges vary in the skill they test; some are group challenges that involve singing and acting, while others feature comedy, a talent of choice, dancing, or makeovers. The winner receives a material or monetary prize. Until the show's sixth season, the winner sometimes also received immunity against elimination the following week. Drag Race's most popular seasonal maxi challenge is Snatch Game, a spoof on Match Game wherein contestants impersonate celebrities or famous fictional personas.

## Main series

### **Judges**

     Host/Main Judge
     Main Judge
     Guest Judge
     Contestant