UNDISPUTED QUEEN OF DRAG

Superstar RuPaul made history when he won his 11th Emmy award – but who is the man behind the makeup?

- KIM ABRAHAMS

WHEN he was born, cross-dressing was a punishable crime in America. Men had to dress like men, and in New York they could even be arrested for wearing fewer than three pieces of clothing.

Back then it would’ve been unthinkable that a drag artist – a black, gay one at that – would become a household name.

Yet RuPaul Charles has done that and more. He recently made history when he won his 11th Emmy award – the most by a black artist – for his long-running show RuPaul’s Drag Race. The 60-year-old hosts the series and acts as a mentor for aspiring drag queens, and it was them he thanked when he accepted his record gong at the recent Emmy Awards.

“Thanks to all of our lovely children on our show from around the world,” he said. “They’re so gracious to tell their stories of courage and how to navigate this difficult life. This is for you and for you kids out there watching. You have a tribe that’s waiting for you, baby. Come on to Mama Ru!”

He also acknowledged his milestone victory meant a lot to him. “I have all the scars to show you from a career in show business. It’s been a long, hard road but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

“I dig being creative and music and colours and shapes and the laughter from people and discovering something really beautiful in these contestants, every season. So the history sort of means other people are keeping track of things.”