Here’s a recap of all the talented drag queens who have been crowned winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered back in 2009 and a decade and 11 seasons later, the show is an iconic cornerstone of drag queen culture. Over its ten years on the air, the show has won no less than 13 Primetime Emmys and took home a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program. It’s grown from humble beginnings as a niche Logo TV channel show to a popular franchise that includes several spin-offs like RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and several international editions too.
In each season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, drag entertainers from across the USA come together and compete for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.” Alongside RuPaul – who acts as host, mentor and head judge – the competing drag queens are judged by a panel that currently includes Michelle Visage, Ross Matthews and Carson Kressley of Queer Eye fame. The competition is whittled down week by week through a series of challenges like designing custom outfits, lip sync battles and the legendary Snatch Game in which contestants impersonate celebrities.
In addition to the coveted title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar,” the victorious contestant is rewarded with a trove of prizes, which for the past few seasons has included $100,000, a year’s supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a dazzling crown and scepter. Here’s everybody who has had the honor of being a RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, from the first season up to the most recent eleventh season.
BeBe Zahara Benet
Tyra Sanchez
Raja
Sharon Needles
Jinkx Monsoon
Bianca Del Rio
Violet Chachki
Bob the Drag Queen
Sasha Velour
Aquaria
Yvie Oddly
RuPaul’s Drag Race has certainly produced some memorable winners over its eleven seasons, from the first-ever winner BeBe Zahara Benet and hilarious season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen, to Sharon Needles and her goth couture in season 5 or the fashion icon that was season 7 winner Violet Chachki. Several victors have gotten a significant career boost thanks to their wins like season 6 winner Bianca Del Rio who has since starred in two movies – Hurricane Bianca and sequel Hurricane Bianca: From Russia With Hate. Season 5 winner Jinkx Monsoon went on to release two studio albums, The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped.
Denver-based drag queen Evie Oddly was the most recent winner but with its twelfth season set to premiere in early 2020, it won’t be too long until she’s passing the mantle of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” to the next winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
