RuPaul by 201582081

Beginning of RuPaul's career

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 13:59:43 UTC

RuPaul released Supermodel (You Better Work) in 1992 as lead single of debut album Supermodel of the World. It hit charts in US (number 45) and UK (number 39) and became popular in the gay ‘handbag house’ scene

The music video featuring RuPaul in drag became an MTV staple and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana supposedly named it his favourite song to come out of 1993. The video went on to be nominated for "Best Dance Video" at 1993 MTV video music awards and won an award in the category for "Best Music Video" at the 1993 WMC International Dance Music Awards.

MAC Cosmetics

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 14:10:28 UTC

RuPaul became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics' "VIVA GLAM" campaign in 1995.

“Let’s break it down: When you spend £22 on a VIVA GLAM Lipstick, we donate £22 (less VAT) to support women and girls, the LGBTQIA+ community and people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. There’s no catch. It’s just pure giving back.” MAC cosmetics website description of VIVA GLAM

According to Phillip Ing, the Director of Visual Planning for MAC Cosmetics during the release of RuPaul as the spokesperson for the campaign, “up till now [they] always thought [they] wouldn’t have a face because MAC was for all sexes, all ages and all races and all of a sudden you find a person that actually fills that bill as well”

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 14:12:48 UTC

The RuPaul Show

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 15:04:28 UTC

The RuPaul Show premiered on VH1 in 1996 with Michelle Visage as the co-host. It was a chat show style show which often featured celebrity guests, performances and comedy skits. In this clip we can see how he used to do his own performances and an example of one of the comedy skits.

RuPaul's Drag Race

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 16:50:12 UTC

RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on Logo TV in 2009. RuPaul appears as the host and the main judge in the "search to find America's next Drag superstar".

The shows format is a competition in which Drag artists compete in various challenges that display their abilities in makeup and performance.

But perhaps one of the most important developments to come of “Drag Race” is the way it's helped bring drag and queer representation into the mainstream. Drag has existed for centuries, but it wasn't until the premiere of “RuPaul's Drag Race” that the art form was truly brought to the public's eye.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 18:30:45 UTC

This article describes how RuPaul's Drag Race brought the art of Drag into the mainstream.

RuPaul's image on RuPaul's Drag Race

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 20:45:20 UTC

This review of RuPaul's Drag Race season 1 describes RuPaul's image, claiming it is no surprise to see him in his glamorous drag look and that it is more shocking to see him looking more understated out of drag. This tells us that RuPaul had a glamorous celebrity image.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 20:47:14 UTC

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 20:48:22 UTC

RuPaul's image before Drag Race

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 22:39:00 UTC

As displayed in this MTV video, RuPaul didn't always describe himself as high-glam, but instead as "uptown call girl" describing it as "glamorous" but also "grunge".

Style influences

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 22:41:02 UTC

In this article it is stated that RuPaul took influence from stars such as Cher and Diana Ross, we can see evidence of this in RuPaul's earlier image before he formed his own high-glam look that is assosciated with Drag Race.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 22:45:18 UTC

hsjhocke — 2023-11-08 22:47:52 UTC

Image in drag

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 13:11:53 UTC

Within this compilation, we can see that while RuPaul is in drag as a judge on the panel, he takes on the role as the strict mentor. Though he still makes jokes and performs, he often takes on a grave face when addressing the contestants, particularly when deciding who to send home. While the other judges applaud he often stays still and keeps his face impassive.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 13:15:27 UTC

An example of RuPaul's strict mentor image within drag. Phrases such as "I came all the way across the pond, I want more" suggest he expects people to put their best effort into the competition because of who he is and who his image represents.

Image out of drag

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 13:32:35 UTC

In this clip we can see that out of Drag RuPaul takes on a more playful and easygoing image.

Controversy

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 13:40:43 UTC

Comments on transgender drag queens

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 14:39:26 UTC

This article covers some of the anti-transgender rhetoric that RuPaul has expressed in relation to the treatment of transgender contestants on the show.

Initial comments on transgender queens

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 14:53:39 UTC

RuPaul's initial comments on transgender contestants after past contestant Peppermint comes out as transgender. Comments are vague and dismissive and positioned briefly in the middle of a large and 'heartfelt' look at his life and career.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 15:26:18 UTC

RuPaul expresses his dissapointment at the removal of "she-mail" joke, which was removed due to the anti-trans slur the joke stems from.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 15:28:06 UTC

RuPaul aggressively defends his right to say transgender slur.

Fracking controversies

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 15:34:52 UTC

RuPaul received some backlash for reportedly allowing fracking to take place on land his husband owns in Wyoming.

The RuPaul brand

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 15:42:39 UTC

Though RuPaul's Drag Race's namesake is due to RuPaul hosting the show, 'RuPaul' has also become a brand and trademark, expanding into other markets.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 15:46:12 UTC

A makeup collection with the 'RuPaul' brand attached to it.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 15:49:43 UTC

An official site that sells 'RuPaul' branded merchandise.

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 16:00:30 UTC

RuPaul collaborated with Colorevolution to create a makeup collection and perfume.

Graeme Turner (2013) ‘The Economy of Celebrity’, in Graeme Turner (2013) Understanding Celebrity (2nd Edition), London: Sage pp.33-55

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 16:15:13 UTC

"Celebrities are developed to make money. Their names and images are used to market lingerie, swimwear, fragrances, and sports shoes, as well as the products of the entertainment industries: films, DVDs, magazines, newspapers, television programmes – even the evening news. Media entrepreneurs want celebrities involved with their projects because they believe this will help them attract audiences. Film producers use stars as a means of attracting investment to their projects, marketers use celebrity endorsements as a means of profiling and branding their products, television programmes feature guest appearances from celebrities to build their audiences, and sports promoters use celebrity athletes to attract media attention and increase the size of the gate. Celebrity also makes money for the individual concerned, of course and it does this in two ways. While they are cultural workers and are paid for their labour, celebrities are also ‘property’ (Dyer, 1986: 5): that is, they are a financial asset to those who stand to gain from their commercialisation – networks, music production companies, agents, managers, and finally the celebrities themselves. The celebrity can develop their public persona as a commercial asset and their career choices, in principle, should be devoted to focusing on that objective. As the asset appreciates – as the celebrity's fame spreads – so does its earning capacity."

As expressed by Turner, celebrity develop a public persona that can create to sell. RuPaul created an image of glamour and fame which is why he has gone on to use his brand to sell clothes, makeup and fragrance.

Ann-Marie Fleming (2019) ‘Because it’s the truth- authenticating Chanel through celebrity death and fan magazines’, Celebrity Studies, Vol 10, No.3- 320-331

hsjhocke — 2023-11-09 16:22:37 UTC

"Although Monroe is also a brand, her authenticity cannot come from ‘I use’ (like a product), but rather from ‘I respond to’. Using the above example as a framework, we might say: ‘I like Marilyn Monroe, not Audrey Hepburn’. In this case we could be suggesting: ‘I identify
with being misunderstood/vulnerable/sexy, not quirky/refined/sweet’."

In this quote, Fleming is using the examples of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn to describe how celebrity association can help represent a brand. In the case of MAC and RuPaul, RuPaul does not represent one fixed identity, rather someone who's identity is always in flux which makes him a malleable celebrity who's image can be moulded to fit whatever image MAC wants to present for this particular collection.