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.”
Denne historien er fra 7 October 2021-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra 7 October 2021-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BALLON IN THE BAG
Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football
IT WAS ALL A LIE
A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country
AGREE TO DISAGREE
Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book
PAUSE THE CLOCK
Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down
MPOOMY ON TOP
We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court
MATT THE RECLUSE
A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight
A LEAP OF FAITH
After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it