Photo from RuPaul's Drag Race
Photograph by Miles Aldridge for TIME

RuPaul

Founder

RuPaul's Drag Race

POSITION

Founder

COMPANY

RuPaul's Drag Race

COUNTRY

USA

AGE

63 years

Website

RuPaul Official Website

Est. Net Worth

$16 Million Celebrity Net Worth

SCENE

Social

SOCIAL

Instagram

Twitter

What makes RuPaul a Global Shaker?

RuPaul Andre Charles is an American drag queen, actor, model, singer, songwriter, and television personality.

RuPaul was once quoted as saying “drag will never be mainstream,” but it is through his incredible career as the world’s most famous drag queen that those who perform the craft now have the opportunity for real visibility.

His show, the wildly popular RuPaul’s Drag Race is widely watched by the LGBTQ+ community and cis-gendered people alike and has given a platform to those who have dedicated their lives to drag.

The show which has been running since 2009 for 11 seasons to date, has earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards, in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Born and raised in San Diego, RuPaul later moved to Atlanta to study performing arts. He settled in New York City where he became a popular fixture on the nightclub scene. He achieved international fame as a drag queen with the release of his debut single, “Supermodel (You Better Work)”, which was included on his debut studio album Supermodel of the World (1993).

In 1994, he became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics, raising money for the Mac AIDS Fund and becoming the first drag queen to land a major cosmetics campaign.

RuPaul has made multiple cameo appearances in popular movies and TV shows including the popular Comedy Central series, Broad City and has written three books Lettin’ It All Hang Out (1995), Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (2010), and GuRu(2018).

RuPaul is known for his indifference toward the gender-specific pronouns. In his autobiography, he stated,”You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don’t care! Just as long as you call me.” RuPaul has also played men in a number of roles and makes public appearances both in and out of drag.

In June 2019, his daytime talk show RuPaul premiered.

Tags: LGBTQ+

Last updated: June 28, 2019