Herstory Made: Ru Paul’s Drag Race Wins Big at The Emmy Awards
Article by Mitch Carr
Developmentally Edited by Alexandra Hidalgo
Copy Edited and Posted by Iliana Cosme-Brooks
Feminism comes in different forms. As a gay man, one of my favorite forms of promoting feminism is supporting drag queens. Drag fosters feminist practice by promoting gender and sexual equality through personal expressions of dramatized styles that break down the barriers of gender constructs built into society. Since its premiere in 2009, Ru Paul’s Drag Race has helped drag engage with mainstream audiences.
When COVID-19 hit and lockdown measures kept us all isolated at home, I watched (or rather binged) Drag Race for the first time. Through the show I learned more about the queer communities I am involved in and learned so much about queer culture. The show changed how I view gender and sexual expressions to be more in tune with that the queer community is all about: being inclusive, diverse, and individual while still supporting each other in a safe space.
Ru Paul has been working to get drag into mainstream media for over four decades, and at the 2021 Emmy Awards the beloved show may have just done that. Drag Race will enter its 14th season, celebrating a multitude of awards that put the show in herstory.
The Emmys recognize excellence within various areas of television and emerging media. As COVID-19 continues to encourage social distancing, remote work, and flexible schedules, TV and streaming have become an even more prominent pastime for millions across countless communities around the world. And, based on this season’s awards, drag has transitioned from ‘emerging media’ to legendary television. The show won six awards for their excellent casting, editing, and directing. Ru Paul’s Drag Race also won its fourth consecutive Emmy for “Outstanding Competition Program,” and won for “Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.”
As the executive producer and host of the show, Ru Paul won their 11th Emmy. Ru accepted the award for “Outstanding Host for a Reality Program” alongside their long-term friend and drag race judge, Michelle Visage, and season 13 queens, Symone and Gottmilk. This Emmy makes “Momma Ru” the most decorated Black artist throughout the award’s 72-year history. Momma Ru said, “Thanks to all our lovely children on our show from around the world. They are so gracious to tell their stories of courage and how to navigate this difficult world called life. This is for you.”
It makes me feel optimistic to watch the development of the drag community through this show. Each season we see queens develop friendships and rivalries. However, regardless of the queens’ relationships, we see them promoting each other and each other’s drag careers. We can see the connections the queens form, especially when they are asked to “lip-sync for their life.” This lip-sync happens between the two bottom queens of that week’s episode, and they compete to see who goes home. The most iconic lip-sync battle for me was in “All Stars 4” between Gia Gunn and Naomi Smalls. The two queens showed out because they were great rivals with a lot of drama between them, but Naomi Smalls showed tricks that were unexpected from the queen, who is famously known for her supermodel looks rather than her dancing. Her gravity-defying bends and leg slides down the runway gave Naomi the leg up in the battle, and Ru told Naomi, “Shantay, you stay” and told Gia Gunn, “Sashay away.” The two queens ended this battle with a hug, saying they loved each other. Rivalries such as this one provide a healthy example of supportive competition regardless of the communities we are in. It is good to push each other, but it has to come from a place of love. I thank the queens for providing me, and millions of others, with an inclusive example of what a competitive and supportive community looks like.
Ru’s other famous quotes such as, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag,” or “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love someone else?” are featured at the end of every episode to promote individual expressions of gender, sexuality, self-love.
Ru finished their legacy-making speech by continuing to spread the message of what drag is all about, “For you kids out there watching, you have a tribe that is waiting for you. We are waiting for you, baby. Come home to Momma Ru.”
You can watch Drag Race on Hulu. Connect with Mitch by visiting his profile.