RuPaul's Drag Race

***RuPaul's Drag Race*** is an American reality competition television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV. The show documents RuPaul in his search for "America's next drag superstar." RuPaul plays the roles of host, mentor, and source of inspiration for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. *RuPaul's Drag Race* employs a panel of judges who critique contestants' 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

Casting calls are announced online, where prospective contestants submit audition tapes in hopes of being cast. All contestants selected must be 21 years of age or older at the time of taping. They may be any sexual orientation, although most contestants to date have been gay men. Transgender women are eligible, and have become more common as seasons have progressed.

*RuPaul's Drag Race* uses progressive elimination to reduce the number of drag queens in the competition from the initial field of fourteen contestants (the maximum a season has started with) down to the final three, who will compete in the final challenge. Each episode (with the exception of the casting special, "recap" episode, and reunion special) follows a format consisting of a mini challenge, a main challenge, a runway walk (where the contestants model fashion on a runway, usually with a theme based on the main challenge), the judging panel, and the elimination of a contestant. There have been some exceptions to episodes, including double-elimination episodes, no-elimination episodes, and the disqualification of contestants.

### **Mini challenges**

In the mini challenge, each contestant is asked to perform a different task with varying requirements and time limitations. Certain mini challenges are repeated from season to season. Another recurring mini challenge is dedicated to "reading," which is a drag term for making insulting observations about one's peers for comic effect. The winner of a mini challenge is sometimes rewarded with some kind of advantage in the main challenge. Though most episodes have a mini challenge, select episodes do not and progress straight to the main challenge.

### **Main challenges**

The requirements of the main challenge vary across each episode, and can be individual or group challenges, and initially grant immunity to the winner in the next challenge (until RuPaul announces the discontinuation of that policy mid-season). The winner of the main challenge also receives a "special" prize for their win. In the past, challenge winners have been rewarded with prizes including custom designer clothing, vacations, cruises, and quality cosmetic items.

The goal of each main challenge involves a new theme and outcome. Contestants are often asked to design and construct a custom outfit, sometimes incorporating unconventional materials. Other challenges focus on the contestants' ability to present themselves on camera, perform with music, or perform humorously. Some challenges become a tradition across seasons. For instance, "Snatch Game" is a challenge where the contestants re-enact *Match Game:* the contestants impersonate celebrities of their own choosing, RuPaul stands in as host, and two celebrity guests stand in as *Match Game* contestants.

### ***Judging***

Judges of *RuPaul's Drag Race*
 RuPaul

Prior to the grande finale, the three main judges are joined by two celebrity guest judges each week.

### ***Prizes***

Each season, the winner of *RuPaul's Drag Race* receives a selection of prizes, these prizes have increased in value each season as the show has become more popular and received a bigger budget. The prizes won for every season were:

#### **Season 1:**

* 100.000 dollars
* A one-year supply of *Anastasia Beverly Hills* cosmetics

## Contestants

     The contestant was voted as *Miss Congeniality* by the viewers.
     The contestant was disqualified from the competition.
     The contestant was eliminated in a double-elimination.
     The contestant was eliminated earlier in the competition but returned and advanced.