Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🎨

RuPaul

arts Maturity 7-9 war conflict
This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

RuPaul is a famous star.

RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
He wears bright clothes and makeup. He hosts a fun show on TV. He also sings songs. People all over the world know him.
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
Do you like to dress up?

43 words

RuPaul is a very famous star.

RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
He is a drag queen. This means he wears bright clothes and makeup. He also sings many songs. He even wrote four books.

RuPaul has a big TV show. It is called RuPaul's Drag Race.

Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
On this show, people compete to be a superstar. He is the host and a judge.

He has won many awards. He even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. People all over the world know his name. He is a very important person in art.

97 words

RuPaul is a famous star from the United States.

RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
He is a drag queen. This means he performs in bright clothes and makeup. He is also a singer, a writer, and an actor. He has released fifteen studio albums.
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
RuPaul is well known for his hit song, "Supermodel (You Better Work)." He even worked with MAC Cosmetics. This was the first big makeup campaign for a drag queen.

RuPaul is the host of a big TV show. The show is called RuPaul's Drag Race.

RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
On this show, drag queens compete to be a superstar. He acts as a judge for the contest. The show is a big hit. There are now versions of the show in the UK and Canada.

RuPaul has won many awards. He has won 14 Emmy Awards. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2017, Time magazine named him one of the most influential people in the world. He was born in San Diego, California. His name "Ru" comes from a French word for a food base. He studied the arts in Atlanta, Georgia. He later moved to New York City to perform.

206 words

RuPaul is a famous American performer who has changed the world of entertainment.

RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
He is a drag queen, a singer, an actor, and a writer. Many people call him the "Queen of Drag" because he is so successful. He is also a very important television host and producer. In 2017, Time magazine included him on their list of the most influential people in the world. He has earned many honors, including 14 Primetime Emmy Awards. He even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

RuPaul's work involves many different kinds of art and performance.

Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
He is well known for his music and his television shows. He released the hit dance song "Supermodel (You Better Work)" in 1993. This song became very popular on MTV and radio stations. He also worked as a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics in 1994. This was a big moment because he was the first drag queen to lead a major makeup campaign. He has released fifteen studio albums throughout his long career.

His most famous project is a reality competition show called RuPaul's Drag Race.

RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
This show began in 2009 on the Logo network. On the program, drag queens compete in many challenges to become a superstar. RuPaul acts as the main host and a judge for the contest. The show has been very successful in many different countries. There are now international versions like RuPaul's Drag Race UK and Canada's Drag Race. There are also spin-off shows like RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

RuPaul's journey started in San Diego, California, where he was born in 1960. His parents were from Louisiana, and his name "Ru" comes from the French word "roux." This is a word used for the base of foods like gumbo. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, at age 15 to study performing arts. Later, he moved to New York City to perform in nightclubs. During the 1980s, he worked hard as a musician and a filmmaker. He even appeared as an extra in the music video for "Love Shack" by The B-52s in 1989.

Today, RuPaul's influence can be seen in many places. He has appeared in movies like "The Brady Bunch Movie" and the Netflix series "AJ and the Queen." He has also written four different books for his fans to read. His work connects music, television, and fashion all at once. People all over the world watch his shows and listen to his songs. He continues to be a leading figure in the arts and culture of the United States.

435 words

RuPaul Andre Charles is a multifaceted American performer who has transformed the landscape of modern entertainment.

RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
He works as a drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. Often called the "Queen of Drag," he is recognized as the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States. His influence reached a global scale when Time magazine included him on its 2017 list of the world's most influential people. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous accolades. These include 14 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a Guinness World Records title. In 2018, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his television contributions.

RuPaul's career is built on a foundation of diverse performing arts.

Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
His musical journey gained international momentum in 1993 with his debut single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)." This dance track reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100. It found even greater success on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where it peaked at number 2. His music often blends dance and house styles. He has released a total of fifteen studio albums to date. His songs have been popularized through heavy rotation on MTV and appearances on programs like The Arsenio Hall Show.

One of his most significant professional milestones occurred in 1994. That year, he became the first drag queen to land a major cosmetics campaign as a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics. This role included appearing on various billboards in full drag. During this same period, he released his autobiography, titled "Lettin' It All Hang Out." He also expanded into film, appearing in movies such as "Crooklyn" and "The Brady Bunch Movie." His ability to bridge the gap between underground club culture and mainstream media helped redefine the visibility of drag performers.

In 2009, RuPaul launched a revolutionary reality competition series called "RuPaul's Drag Race."

RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
On this program, drag queens compete in various challenges to be selected as "America's next drag superstar." RuPaul serves as the producer, host, and judge. The show has grown from its original airing on the Logo network into a global franchise. There are now several international variants, including "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" and "Canada's Drag Race." The franchise also includes spin-offs like "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" and "RuPaul's Drag U."

RuPaul's personal history is rooted in San Diego, California, where he was born on November 17, 1960. His parents, Ernestine and Irving Andrew Charles, were both from Louisiana. His first name, "Ru," is derived from the French term "roux," which is the base used for gumbo and other Creole stews. His upbringing was difficult, characterized by poverty and a volatile home environment. After his parents divorced in 1967, he lived with his mother and three sisters. At age 15, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to study the performing arts, a move that set the stage for his future career.

Before achieving global fame, RuPaul worked extensively within the club and underground scenes. During the 1980s, he struggled as a musician and filmmaker, sometimes working at Atlanta's Plaza Theatre. He participated in underground cinema, contributing to the low-budget film "Star Booty." In the early 1990s, he became a fixture in the New York City LGBTQ nightclub scene, performing at venues like the Pyramid Club. He also appeared as an extra in the 1989 music video for "Love Shack" by The B-52s. These early years allowed him to hone the performance skills that would later define his professional persona.

Today, RuPaul's work connects many different fields of culture. His influence spans from the recording studio to the television set and the literary world. He has written four books, including "GuRu" and "The House of Hidden Meanings." His television presence has expanded to include series like "AJ and the Queen," which he created and starred in for Netflix. By blending fashion, music, and reality television, RuPaul has created a unique cultural system. He remains a central figure in how drag and queer identity are presented to a worldwide audience.

678 words
🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
File:Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
Rupaul-2009 (cropped to collar).jpg
File:RuPaul Trending Report 2015.jpg
RuPaul Trending Report 2015.jpg
File:RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
RuPaul at Dragcon 2019 by dvsross.jpg
Up Next
🎨
Drag queen
Arts
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.