I'll be the first to thank RuPaul, who gave me the money and let me out into the world. RuPaul is an excellent role model. I'm talking about someone who has worked hard in the business for quite some time. RuPaul put gay men in wigs into people's living rooms. RuPaul is the reason that we're not threatening.
Even though she may not be a physical presence, for me RuPaul is an aspirational presence. Ru is out there doing her job - being RuPaul. That takes a lot of time and a lot of commitment. Besides, I don't need RuPaul standing over my shoulder telling me 'Good Job.'
I want to follow in RuPaul's footsteps, which is that combination of not just personal stardom but to really transform myself into a producer of drag. That's the way to make a lasting impact on the world of drag and... to make actual differences in the queer community. I think there's no better model for that than RuPaul.
Seeing RuPaul go out there and not only create music, but TV and film roles, and continue to go down so many creative avenues - that is inspirational. For a person of color like myself, I see RuPaul and I say, 'Oh, honey, I can do it too.'
I genuinely had always thought, this sounds dumb, I always thought that 'RuPaul's Drag Race' was shot in the basement of RuPaul's house.
This movement that RuPaul has created and World of Wonder and Logo has allowed to be aired, it's so much than just gay men carrying on in high heels and wigs and fake fingernails. It's truly a story of courageous souls. And I'm grateful that I'm a part of this.
When I auditioned for 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' I said I'm gonna get on 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' I'm gonna win it and it won't be the most impressive thing I've ever done.
I've loved the RuPaul model of drag, where you're an amazing drag queen, you're a smart and savvy business person, and you use those together to keep drag at the forefront of what people are talking about.
Some people say that 'Drag Race' is about glory and immortalizing yourself in the Hall of Fame. For me, it's about shaking RuPaul down for her money.
We love trans women; all of us know that drag wouldn't be an art form without trans women. I know that, RuPaul knows that, everybody in the gay community knows that. Trans women have always been a part of and the face of drag. And I can guarantee trans women will always be a part of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.'
My reading with RuPaul was actually, for me, on a personal level, one of my favorites and the most shocking. This is someone I've wanted to read for a long time and so when he was standing there I nearly fainted.
I care about 'RuPaul's Drag Race' a lot. It's given me a career as an artist.
It actually was 'RuPaul's Best Friend Race' for me.
Part of my struggle with being gay was that a lot of my homophobia was internalized because of the cues that I was - received. I didn't see anybody like myself in the culture. RuPaul was the closest to a gay, out black man that I had growing up.
RuPaul knew details of the 'Burnett Show' that even surprised me.
Politics remind me a lot of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' It's real but it isn't.
I have nothing but respect for RuPaul, but it's impossible for me to be happy working with people who don't treat others the way they want to be treated.