RuPaul

Singer-songwriter, model, actor, TV personality, drag artist, LGBTQ campaigner and all round entertainer RuPaul has been an iconic figure since he exploded onto the scene with his smash hit single 'Supermodel (You Better Work)' in 1993. It is well documented that as an entertainer who performs both as himself and his drag persona, he is equally at home with the pronouns he and she. RuPaul moved from his birthplace of San Diego to Atlanta, Georgia after his parents divorced. He always liked to dress up as a child, often wearing his sisters' clothes. In Atlanta, he attended the Northside School of Performing Arts, making several contacts with the world of show business and forming RuPaul and the U-Hauls in 1982. Before long, he was appearing regularly on the television show 'The American Music Show'.

RuPaul and the U-Hauls did not stay together for long, but RuPaul quickly formed a new band Wee Wee Pole and he made several appearances on the club scene as a backing singer and dancer. He moved to New York in the mid-1980s and appeared in the video for The B-52's iconic 'Love Shack' in 1989. He appeared at the annual Wigstock drag festival for many years and hosted the morning show on WKTU radio.

RuPaul's debut album 'Supermodel of the World' was released in 1993 along with the hit song 'Supermodel (You'd Better Work)' which reached number two in the US Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart. Three other singles were released from this album, including 'Back to My Roots' and 'A Shade Shady (Now Prance)' which both reached number one in the US Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart. RuPaul has appeared in over 50 feature films and TV sitcoms, the first of which was Spike Lee's 'Crooklyn' in 1994. In this year he was also signed as a Viva Glam model for MAC cosmetics. In 1995, he starred in the video for Diana Ross's cover of 'I Will Survive', and in the same year his autobiography 'Lettin' It All Hang Out' was published. He began hosting 'The RuPaul Show' in 1996 and also released his second studio album 'Foxy Lady'. This was followed in 1997 by 'Ho Ho Ho', an album of Christmas songs. In 1998 he released a compilation album 'RuPaul's Go Go Box Classics', which included a duet with Martha Walsh of a cover version of 'It's Raining Men'.

RuPaul took a break from his musical career after this and concentrated on his acting and TV work, returning in 2004 with his fourth studio album 'Red Hot' which had a more hip-hop based style and was the first album released on his own 'RuCo. Inc' record label. From this album, the singles 'Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous' reached number two in the Dance Charts, 'WorkOut' reached number five and 'People Are People' featuring Tom Trujillo reached number ten. In 2006, RuPaul released 'Reworked', his first album of remixes.

In 2008, RuPaul began producing and presenting the TV show 'RuPaul's DragRace' and this led to a resurgence in his music career, as contestants from the show featured in the music videos of his subsequent releases. In 2009, the album 'Champion' peaked at number 12 in the Dance Charts, followed by 2011's 'Glamazon' which reached number eleven. These were both produced by Revolucian. By this time, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' was winning awards and increasing in popularity, and RuPaul launched his own brand of make- up and a perfume called Glamazon after his album of the same name. In 2014, RuPaul released the album 'Born Naked' and in 2015, two albums 'Realness' and 'Slay Belles', the latter being his second album of Christmas songs. RuPaul's tenth album, 'Butch Queen', was his most successful so far, reaching number three in the US Billboard Dance Charts. Most of the music he released during this time was featured in his TV show and this helped him gain popularity. In 2017 he released a total of three albums 'American', 'Remember Me: Essential Vol.1' and 'Essential Vol.2'. In 2018, his third Christmas album was released entitled 'Christmas Party'.

RuPaul has appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times and is America's most commercially successful drag star. He was the first drag queen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.