Over the past decade, we’ve watched RuPaul’s Drag Race transform from spicy reality competition to global phenomenon and frankly, it’s what she deserves.
In the last 12 months alone, we’ve been blessed with new seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, the RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular, the recently renewed RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and the much loved Drag Race Thailand (the new season has just been added to Stan, BTW).
Having officially expanded the fabulous franchise to both Europe and Asia, RuPaul takes the next step towards world domination and our queen mother needs to be celebrated.
RuPaul’s Drag Race first sashayed onto the scene way back in 2009 and while it was hella popular back then, who could’ve predicated what a powerhouse it would ultimately grow into?
The OG series has spawned 11 seasons, with a 12th announced a few months back and our bussies are tingling in anticipation.
But because all you huntys just can’t get enough Drag Race madness, Mama Ru has come thru with a bunch of epic spinoffs that have also been ‘yugely successful.
Let’s have a lil look back, shall we?
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked
The first spinoff was RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, which RuPaul describes as an “access-all-areas pass to the drama that you didn’t see on the runway- the backstage bitchiness, the catfights, the struggles, the tears and the secrets.”
What more could ya want!?
Untucked isn’t to be dismissed as a mere extra segment of Drag Race. Nay, Untucked has become a fabulous series in its own right.
The much-loved spinoff has been nominated for four Emmy Awards including Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program and Outstanding Picture Editing.
All 11 seasons are now streaming on Stan with a highly anticipated 12th on its way.
Oh and here’s a bonus for ya, Stan also has RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars Untucked which includes behind-the-scenes drama and exclusive unseen footage from Drag Race: All Stars season 1.
tea has been spilled
RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars
Because some (read: most) contestants are way too iconic to let go once the show is done, All Stars exists to welcome back fan faves for one more jaunt down the catwalk.
In this spinoff, RuPaul invites past contestants of RuPaul’s Drag Race to compete for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.
After each season of Drag Race wraps, punters eagerly wait to find out which contestants have been selected to return for All Stars ‘coz seeing them compete one more time is always a wild ride.
Four seasons of All Stars are now streaming on Stan so start your engines, sis.
Drag Race Thailand
With several successful incarnations of US Drag Race being watched across the globe, RuPaul decided to take the franchise international with Drag Race Thailand.
Although Ru sat this one out (your girl’s a busy bee), she’s enlisted the fabulous Art Arya and Pangina Heals to take her place as hosts.
Art is a legendary Thai drag queen, as well as a hugely respected Thai fashion icon, stylist and designer.
She’s no stranger to feisty reality shows, having appeared on other series in her native Thailand.
Joining Art is Pangina Heals, a half-Thai, half-Taiwanese performer from Bangkok, who is commonly referred to as “The RuPaul of Thailand”.
She’s a much-loved host in Thailand’s drag circuit and is also credited with popularising waacking, a dance genre that originated in LGBTQI+ clubs in Los Angeles in the 1970s (similar to vogueing).
Despite Ru’s absence, the fierceness of the Thai hosts more than makes up for it and the series is a cultural treat for all Drag Race fans.
The second season of the hit series is now streaming on Stan.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
Earlier this year, the already booming franchise went across the pond with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK which has already become a fan fave.
Ru and celebrated qween Michelle Visage were joined on the judging panel by hilarious British talkshow hosts Alan Carr and Graham Norton for an entire season of debauchery.
Much like the US series, a bunch of iconic celebrity guest judges lent their talents including Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud, Geri Halliwell AKA Ginger Spice, Jade of Little Mix, Twiggy, Andrew Garfield and actress Maisie Williams.
The series was such a smash hit that it was recently renewed for a second season, even before the first season had finished airing.
Have a jolly good peek at the trailer below, and head to Stan to watch every single ep of the series.
Having already made so many strides in television across the globe, you’d think Drag Race had conquered all it possibly could, right? Not a chance, dolls.
Not only are there a bunch of new seasons on the way for the already existing series, but you can also keep your eyes peeled for RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race, Drag Race Canada, Drag Race Brazil and, of course, Drag Race Australia.
This is RuPaul’s world, we’re just living in it.
