RuPaul’s Drag Race has done it again.
Wrapping on its 13th season in late April, the show has become a global phenomenon. With 13 regular seasons, 5 All-Stars seasons, and seven different international spin-offs, the show has won its place in my hall of fame of TV shows.
I have been an avid fan of Drag Race since I was in the 6th grade. Yes, you read that correctly. 6th grade me was a secret Drag Race superfan. I would sit on my basement couch with my headphones on and watch the show on Netflix. I began watching the show on season 4 and was enthralled by the beauty, grace, comedic skills, and acting chops of all the contestants. The spooky Sharon Needles, the rebel Willam, and the fun-loving Latrice Royale all have held a special place in my heart since I first laid my 12-year-old eyes on them.
Through the years, the show’s fanbase has grown immensely, and as has the production value, runway looks, and acting challenges. Season 13 has set the bar for seasons to follow. The season was filmed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and was one of the first shows to start filming during the pandemic. This hurdle didn’t stop them from creating a fantastic (and quite lengthy) season.
The season began with one of the show’s biggest twists ever. Starting the season with lip-syncs for your life on the first episode. This automatically raised the stakes of this season, and I was obsessed. I couldn’t help but die over ‘fashion queens’ Symone and Gotmik, who thought the Drag Race runway was a couture show in Paris (and I loved every minute of it). Symone’s first look, a mini dress made of Polaroids of herself, a Gisele Bündchen reference, had me gagged.
Also featured on the season were iconic queens like Kandy Muse, Tina Burner, and Utica Queen. Kandy took the heart of viewers with her bold personality and feisty moments. I fell in love with her ‘From the hood to Hollywood’ story and her unapologetically Bronx attitude. Tina Burner has been a legendary queen in New York nightlife for years. Her signature colors of red, yellow, and orange were critiqued by fans. But you can’t blame a gal for trying to brand herself. Utica was the resourceful queen of the season. She was crafty yet innovative with everything she did on the show. Her most fabulous look, a hooded gown made of sleeping bags, was one of the best looks to grace the stage.
Season 13 has revived my faith in Drag Race. For the past few seasons, the show has lacked the rawness we see in earlier seasons. I will admit to taking a pause from the show for the past two years. The show felt over-produced and predictable. I kept up with the show on social media and was still a fan of the show, but the show lacked sparkle for a few seasons. Many people began referencing the show as “gay football.” You have your favorite team/contestant, but you are still rooting for them even if you don’t watch every game. Season 13 brings back this excitement and doesn’t rely on the typical “formula” we have seen in recent years.
Drag Race has taught me so much about myself and my community. It was the first show I saw myself in the contestants. The show has taught me about the history of the queer community, dialect, and sensibility. Season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race has revived my faith in a show that I love so much, and for that, I am so grateful.
Words by Tommy Drennan.
Graphics by Emily Monet.