Winner of the Spring 2019 StMU History Media Award for
Best Article in the Category of “Cultural History”
RuPaul’s most iconic and memorable moments were all fueled by a single ambition: to one day reach fame. RuPaul’s undeniable authenticity led him to gain an enormous amount of influence in the drag community. RuPaul’s hit single “Supermodel,” also known as “You Better Work,” opened many people’s interest to the drag community, in which RuPaul is a heavy influence. RuPaul’s great influence over the drag community is important because that influence allows a marginalized group of people to take power within themselves and express their art and talent. RuPaul lives an extraordinary life that influences people from all parts of the world to start embracing themselves. However, it did not start that way for RuPaul.
RuPaul Andre Charles grew up in San Diego, California learning fashion tips from his mother and three sisters during the late 60s. His mother and sisters heavily influenced him through fashion and beauty starting at a very young age. RuPaul was the only boy of his parents’ four children. At the age of seven, RuPaul began wearing his sisters’ clothes, which is when he began exploring cross-dressing. Some of RuPauls favorite people to emulate in his youth were stars like Diana Ross and Jane Fonda.1 Growing up in a home filled with tension due to RuPaul’s parents’ divorce, it heavily influenced him. The divorce then led RuPaul to move to Atlanta, Georgia, with his sister and her husband later in his teens.
Having always had an interest in cross dressing, RuPaul was more than excited to move to Atlanta, where the drag scene was more developed than it was in California. While in Atlanta, RuPaul attended the Northside School of Performing Arts, and although he didn’t graduate, it was a big step toward getting his feet wet in the world of performance and show business!2 While going to school in Atlanta, RuPaul made it by working as a used car salesman in the local area. After a few weeks working, RuPaul knew that this was not where he belonged, and that he was destined for much more. In 1982, RuPaul took that next step and sent a photo of himself to a local TV program called The American Music Show, asking to appear on air. Not long after, he was appearing on the series regularly, often with his newly formed band, RuPaul and the U-Hauls.
RuPaul and the U-Hauls broke up and faded away not too long afterwards. RuPaul then made his first move into his dream of acting during this period in Atlanta, starting off small, but growing rapidly.3 RuPaul first made appearances in uncredited roles in low-budget movies and films. This is what gave RuPaul an urge to reach for more. RuPaul wanted to be in the spotlight now more than ever. Although these appearances did not help RuPaul reach fame, he never fell short of ideas to one day reach ultimate fame. RuPaul was very determined during this time that he never let himself fall behind. After some time in Atlanta, RuPaul then felt obligated to move somewhere more fitting for his future, and he headed to New York.
That first time walking the streets of New York City made RuPaul realize that he had made the right decision. He was in the right place. He could feel the excitement and eagerness he had to start climbing the ladder to fame. Being in the city where dreams come true, RuPaul realized why drag meant so much to him in that very moment. Drag, according to Charles, applies to us all, regardless of gender, race, or social background. It’s how we choose to show ourselves to the world, what personas we adopt as we move through life. “Why not make it work for you,” he said to Oprah Winfrey. “If you have the power to control how people see and interpret you, why not use it?”4 RuPaul not only did drag because it was his hobby, but also because it was his passion. Cross dressing is what helped him get through so many rough patches during his childhood, and even still in his adult life. RuPaul wanted to make people feel just as he feels every time he is on stage. Through his performances and music, RuPaul was determined to create an impact and empower his audience to live boldly and be 100% true to themselves.
Harnessing that power, RuPaul soon started performing in local Manhattan clubs, where he was best known for his flamboyance and ease on stage. These qualities making him a hit club dancer and by the end of the decade he was named the Queen of New York.5 Slowing reaching closer to fame, RuPaul got stuck in the life of living like a star and fell into a massive drug addiction hanging around the wrong people. Very unlike himself, RuPaul was stuck with his career, and in a dark place for a while, before he had the motivation to dig himself out. Luckily, a few months later, RuPaul got back on his feet and was offered a record deal with the hip-hop label Tommy Boy. His album Supermodel of the World was released in 1993, but failed on the Billboard Charts.
This meant that yet again, RuPaul had reached another low in his career. Life felt as if he was getting beat up over and over again, and it made RuPaul feel that fame was so very far away for him. However, this did not stop RuPaul from continuing to work for the fame he always believed he could reach. In 1994, his single “Supermodel (You Better Work)” was released. It was a tribute to the divas of the fashion world, and it began to get recognition. Being placed in the top 30 on the Pop Charts, RuPaul had his first success! From that moment on, RuPaul’s life would changed forever. His single was not only popular in the US, but worldwide. His music video for the single, “You Better Work,” was then nominated for Best Dance Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards.5 The successes of “Supermodel” continued and had RuPaul performing at the Gay Rights rally in Washington D.C., in the exact same spot Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. It was truly a monumental time in his career. During that same year, RuPaul then started recording music with many well-known celebrities, including Elton John. Many were charted on the American charts, but they proved more successful in Europe. Through his hit single “You Better Work,” RuPaul had now paved the way for his career and the many lives he would change from then on.
Since then, RuPaul has more than proved himself in the drag community, as he has launched a makeup line named “Color Evolution”, co-written and co-produced 14 studio albums, and even started his very own show RuPaul’s Drag Race, which is going on its eleventh successful season. Still standing for what he believed drag means, his show RuPaul’s Drag Race pushes the drag scene into the spotlight. “It would take about 10 years for something in gay culture to actually migrate to the mainstream,” but, “because of our show, gay pop culture is pop culture in the mainstream. Everybody knows all the terminology. It’s really interesting for us to bring a lot of the old ideas and gay culture forward to the pop culture mainstream.”7
His infectious way to uplift people through music, performances, and shows continue to be noticed throughout the world. In March 2018, RuPaul was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, thereby becoming the first drag queen to receive the honor. Following an introductory speech by Jane Fonda, one of his early inspirations, he tearfully told the audience that this was “absolutely the most important moment in my professional career.”8 Throughout all RuPaul’s failures, he always found a way to continue and see the possible sides of things. In the famous words of RuPaul, “When you become an image of your own imagination, it’s the most powerful thing you could ever do.” RuPaul Andrew Charles not only made a name for himself, but also brought the drag community a platform where men could enjoy sharing their talents of costume, make-up, and performance. Without RuPaul’s heavy influence, the drag community would not have the voice and success it has today. His struggles in life gave RuPaul the strength and courage to continue on with his dreams of becoming famous all while doing what he loves the most: DRAG.
- Marc Snetiker, “From Drag to Riches (Cover Story),” Entertainment Weekly, no. 1471 (June 2017): 23. ↵
- Marc Snetiker, “From Drag to Riches (Cover Story),” Entertainment Weekly, no. 1471 (June 2017): 23. ↵
- Colin Bertram, “The RuPaul Effect: How He Brought Drag to Mainstream Culture,” Biography.com (blog), June 20, 2018). https://www.biography.com/news/how-rupaul-brought-drag-to-mainstream-culture. ↵
- Colin Bertram, “The RuPaul Effect: How He Brought Drag to Mainstream Culture,”Biography.com (blog), June 20, 2018). https://www.biography.com/news/how-rupaul-brought-drag-to-mainstream-culture. ↵
- Marc Snetiker, “From Drag to Riches (Cover Story),” Entertainment Weekly, no. 1471 (June 2017): 23. ↵
- Marc Snetiker, “From Drag to Riches (Cover Story),” Entertainment Weekly, no. 1471 (June 2017): 23. ↵
- Chuck Arnold, RuPaul’s ‘Supermodel of the World’ Album turns 25: Why It Was More Than a Novelty, (Billboard, June 2018). ↵
- Colin Bertram, “The RuPaul Effect: How He Brought Drag to Mainstream Culture,” Biography.com (blog), June 20, 2018). https://www.biography.com/news/how-rupaul-brought-drag-to-mainstream-culture. ↵
69 comments
Makenzie Santana
This article is quite unique and really caught my attention, I was surprised to find an article like this on the STMU website and admire the diverse direction the author took. It was a really interesting read and to learn about RuPaul as such an inspiring advocate for the LGBT community was a little inspiring for him to be himself in the best way possible.
Rebeca Escobar
Very intriguing article! I have heard of Rupaul before, but I never watched his show despite how good everyone claimed it was. Rupaul’s story is one of pure passion and determination, and he knew he was destined for the spotlight and worked towards it. I am happy he was able to accomplish what he was passionate for because I feel that is something not everyone is successful in doing.
Thomas Fraire
This article was really different than anything I have read on the STMU History media site. I really have no prior knowledge about this topic what so ever so I came into it not really knowing what to expect. It is really cool to see how this man helps to continue to push our nation forward into change and being more accepting of who people are. This article was very well written and I enjoyed t congrats on your nomination
Christopher Hohman
Nice article. I had never heard of RuPaul before reading this article. He seems like an extraordinary artist and performer. I am glad that he was able to live his truth and be who he wanted to be. I admire his determination to succeed despite all the obstacles he faced. He was brave and an amazing talent. Congratulations on your nomination.
Christopher Metta Bexar
Congratulations on the nomination! I enjoyed the article before and decided to reread it to see what else I could find out.
RuPaul is a phenomenon. The article illustrates some of the hard work needed to make our dreams into reality. And how it’s even more difficult when you are different or GLBTQ.
RuPaul in some ways is like Aretha Franklin is to rhythm and blues music. An original that might never be matched or replaced when lost.
I’ve admired both for years for being extremely talented and never afraid to be themselves.
Krystal Rodriguez
I have heard and seen so much about Ru-Paul and Ru-Pauls drag race. I had a friend who introduced me to it and I absolutely loved it. It is amazing seeing how much Ru-Paul went through and how much he had to overcome. He is such a great advocate for the LGBT community and admire how much he has done them.
Mariah Garcia
I am a big fan of RuPaul and their work. The leaps and bounds that they have made for the advocacy and advancement of LGBTQ+ peoples has continued to lead to growth, success, and visibility from a time where it was dangerous to be out to now where the bigotry is more intense, yet the identity itself is far more accepted. Their music defines a culture and their impact gives a voice to a marginalized group.
Christopher Hohman
Nice article. I had never heard of RaPaul or his single before. It seems like he was quite the determined person who wanted to succeed no matter what. He faced some hard times in his life, but at the end of the day he triumphed and became a very big star not just in the drag community but also in the world at large. It is important that we all be allowed to express ourselves for who we really are, and RuPaul is doing that not just for himself, but for others as well.
Christopher Metta Bexar
I found the article quite interesting. RuPaul is a self-made work of art. He saw the challenges and met them.
I’m glad someone took the time to write about the hard work he/she put in to make this happen ( though it would have been nice to have a picture of RuPaul Charles so we can see just how good his art is).
I’m also glad the author looked at more than one source to write the article. I know we are sometimes tempted to stick to one person who knows the topic well.
Fatima Navarro
I like that he is a big inspiration to many and that he opened up the scene for cross-dressing. He inspires because behind that success, there are so many tears and many failures. Yet, he never gave up and kept pushing through until he reached the top where he wanted to be. The drag community needs more recognition because doing what they do: working those hills, their attire, the hair and all the long hours doing their make-up, is not easy.