RuPaul's Drag Race

Every generation has its tv shows that sweep the airwaves. Rupaul's Drag Race is certainly amongst those for this millennium. It's not just a show; it's a cultural phenomenon that has brought the art of drag to the mainstream and earned countless fans in the lgbtqa+ community and beyond.

Drag Race is among the better reality tv competition shows because it is so fun and inventive. There's a little bit of everything in there, from fashion to comedy to acting to singing. Many of the queens to come out of the show are icons and have helped make drag as popular as it is today.

However, where Drag Race in the past seemed to be above the usual shady reality show tricks, in recent seasons it has become more and more unfair and seems to be more rigged than it ever was. Most fans agree that the show's peak was seasons 5 and 6, but since then (for the most part) it has been losing its way. Season 7 is famous for being a disaster, season 9 was good but the change in format for determining the winner was one of the shadiest things Rupaul has done, season 10 was messy and season 11 was the most unfair season of the show so far. Storyline and drama seems to have become the show's primarily focus, sacrificing fair judging for causing a stir. Yet, the earlier seasons did not need this to create a good story. Season 5 had the best storyline of any season and it didn't feel manufactured or forced by the judges. There was a definite attempt to replicate it in season 11, but because it wasn't natural, it didn't work. Things like that make the enjoyment for the show go down, along with the quality.

This does not mean the show has become awful, but it has experienced a drop in quality. The earlier seasons will always be the peak of the show and unless Rupaul changes the way things are done, I think the show will continue to go downhill.

This show is truly ground breaking. This show allows all of America to see a bit of what gay culture is. Not to mention that its funny and the competition is fierce. IT makes people look at how talented and funny drag queens are. Drag is truly an art and it takes skill experience and talent. This show has guest judges apart from the standard judges which are Rupaul, Michelle Visage, and Santino Rice. The guest judges have included actors,singers and TV personalities. The challenges are design to test the queens and to allow them to show America why it is they should win. Acting, singing, rapping, comedy, dancing, impersonation, have all been bases for challenges. Anyone who is obsessed with pop culture should watch this show.

The checklist for this show reads like this :-

• Reality TV - Drama - men in drag - cheese extra thick - beauty pageant

I'll be honest and say this show has everything I DESPISE all crammed together! I watched it by accident one day (season three mid episode) and I thought it was a normal beauty pageant show... then the camera went back stage and my mind took a minute to process... wait what? WHAT?!?!

So what's the verdict? I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! not only is everything done tastefully and with a lot of dignity attached to it, it also manages to do that with a lot of fun and not taking itself too seriously.

The show Humanizes the people on it so you don't see a "drag queen" you see the contestants. (Raven you will always be my fav!) at their best and not so best. each bigger then life and an entertainer at heart.

Rupaul keeps it interesting with lots of fun little twists and event and the clothes (and the shoes, oh god the shoes!!!) are always beautiful.

I love that the show celebrates different body types, they're not all skinny and tall blondes, curvy girls have a real shot here and some you'll fall in love with.

Right now this show is by far the best American reality TV show there is. which queen will you root for this season?

This is a great show. One of the best reality shows I've ever seen. Those interested in fashion, makeup and pop-culture will find it instantly interesting, but beyond the obvious, you'll find a show that makes you think about life, about parenting, about friendship and about love. It is truly wonderful to see these amazingly talented people that went through hard times, but are still able to find joy and beauty in life.

They say Drag is the art of illusion. And isn't illusion a fantastic subject? Films like "Pan's Labyrinth" and "You Will meet a tall dark stranger" make me think so. For me, this kind of art can be appreciated on many levels, and watching this show, just makes me like I could feel/be fabulous too.

(I'm married, with three kids, just saying!)

I used to watch the show from the very first episode; back in the day, it wasn't popular, it wasn't that interesting, nobody knew about it. I stuck with it through thick and thin. Watched it all, because I loved it from the first sight.

After all the seasons, international editions, all stars, covid, in and out, I look back and see how over produced and fake it has become. How clear it has become DragRace is not about Drag anymore; it's about taking drag to the bank. It's not about personality, fashion, carisma, talent. It's about what sells at the moment, and what won't.

Sashay. Away.