Beauty Icon Of The Month: RuPAUL
RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960), best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, andsinger-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta and New York City club scenes during the 1980s and early 90s. RuPaul has on occasion performed as a man in a number of roles, usually billed as RuPaul Charles. RuPaul is noted among famous drag queens for his indifference towards the gender-specific pronouns used to address him—both "he" and "she" have been deemed acceptable. "You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don't care! Just as long as you call me." He hosted a short-running talk show on VH1, and currently hosts reality television shows called RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag U.
Biography
RuPaul was born in San Diego, California. His name was given to him by his mother, a Louisiana native. The Ru came from roux, an ingredient used in gumbo. RuPaul struggled as a musician and filmmaker in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1980s. He participated in underground cinema, helping create the low-budget film Starrbooty, and an album by the same name. In Atlanta, RuPaul often performed at the Celebrity Club (managed by Larry Tee) as a bar dancer or with his band, Wee Wee Pole, which included the late Todd Butler.
In the early 1990s, RuPaul worked the Georgia club scene and was known by his full birth name. Initially participating in
genderfuck-style performances, RuPaul performed solo and in collaboration with other bands at several
New York nightclubs, most notably the
Pyramid Club. He appeared for many years at the annual
Wigstock drag festival and appeared in the
documentary Wigstock: The Movie. In the '90s, RuPaul was known in the UK for his appearances on the
Channel 4 series
Manhattan Cable, a weekly series produced by
World of Wonderand presented by American
Laurie Pike about New York's wild and wacky
public-access television system.
Career
| “ | What other people think of me is not my business. What I do is what I do. How people see me doesn’t change what I decide to do. I don’t choose projects so people don’t see me as one thing or another. I choose projects that excite me. I think the problem is that people refuse to understand what drag is outside of their own belief system. | ” |
—RuPaul, |
His next two songs/videos, "
Back to My Roots" and "A Shade Shady (Now Prance)" both went #1 on the Billboard
Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts and furthered his campy persona. Between them,
House of Love was released without a video. It failed to place on any US charts, despite rising to #68 on the
UK Singles Chart.
RuPaul caused a controversy at the 1993
MTV Video Music Awards when he presented an award with actor
Milton Berle, who performed an altogether different type of drag early in his career. The two had conflicts back-stage, and when Berle inappropriately touched RuPaul's breasts, RuPaul ad-libbed the line "So you used to wear gowns, but now you're wearing diapers." A surprised Berle replied, "Oh, we're going to ad lib? I'll check my brain and we'll start even." The press portrayed the exchange as a crack in the "love everyone" message RuPaul presented, and as a young newcomer treating a legend poorly. RuPaul would later describe the situation in his autobiography, describing Berle's behavior backstage as sexually inappropriate and rude. He did regret the situation, saying: "Of course, what I should have done backstage is told him 'Get your dirty hands off of me, you motherfucker!', and then gone out there and been Miss Black America." That same year would also mark his biggest hit on
the UK Singles Chart, a remake of "
Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with
Elton John, which went to number seven. It was around this time that RuPaul co-hosted the
BRIT Awards in
London, also with Elton John.
The next year he landed a talk show of his own on
VH1, called
The RuPaul Show, interviewing
celebrity guests and musical acts.
Nirvana (even though
Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994),
Duran Duran,
Pat Benatar,
Mary J. Blige,
Bea Arthur,
Dionne Warwick,
Cyndi Lauper,
Olivia Newton-John,
Beenie Man,
Pete Burns,
Bow Wow Wow, and the
Backstreet Boys were notable guests. His co-host was
Michelle Visage, with whom he also co-hosted on
WKTU radio. On one episode, RuPaul featured guests
Chi Chi LaRue and
Tom Chase speaking about the
gay porn industry.RuPaul was signed to a modeling contract for
MAC cosmetics, making him the first drag queen
supermodel. Various billboards featured him in full drag, often with the text "I am the MAC girl." He also released his
autobiography,
Lettin' It All Hang Out. He promoted that book in part with a 1995 guest appearance on
ABC's
All My Children, in a storyline that put him on the set of
Erica Kane's talk show "The Cutting Edge."
Later in the year he released his second album,
Foxy Lady, this time on the LA based
Rhino Records label. Despite his growing celebrity, it failed to chart within the Billboard 200. However, the first single
"Snapshot" found success in the dance market and went to number four on the
Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. It also enjoyed limited mainstream success, charting at number ninety-five on the Billboard Hot 100 (which was his second and only other Hot 100 entry). The second single "Little Bit of Love" only charted at number 28 on the hot dance music/club play chart. The album featured covers of a 1981
Diana Ross song
Work That Body co-written by
Paul Jabara and "If You Were a Woman and I was a Man" originally recorded by
Bonnie Tyler. Because of his strong fan base within the
gay community, RuPaul has performed at
gay pride events and numerous gay clubs. During this time RuPaul helped launch the return of WKTU radio in
New York City and would serve as host (with
Michelle Visage) of the morning show until 1998.
In 1997, he released his third album, a
Christmas album entitled
Ho, Ho, Ho. He has had guest appearances in many films, including both
Brady Bunch movies, in which he played Jan's female guidance counselor. In 1997, RuPaul teamed with
Martha Wash to remake the classic disco anthem, "
It's Raining Men". The song was included in the 1998 compilation CD RuPaul's Go Go Box Classics, which was a collection of some of his favorite dance songs by other artists; this would be his third and final release through
Rhino Records and a major record label. It was during this time that he appeared in
Webex TV commercials and magazine ads. In 2001 he recorded with
Brigitte Nielsen, credited as Gitta, the
Eurodancetrack "You're No Lady".
In 2004, RuPaul released his fourth album,
Red Hot, on his own RuCo Inc. label. It received some dance radio and club play, but very little press coverage. On his
blog, RuPaul discussed how he felt betrayed by the entertainment industry, particularly the gay press. In one incident, it was noted that the magazine
Entertainment Weekly refused to review the album, instead asking him to make a comedic contribution to a fashion article. He likened the experience to "a black person being invited to a party, but only if they'll serve." Despite his apparent dissatisfaction with the release, "Red Hot" showed RuPaul returning to the top of the dance charts in the US with the lead off single "Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous" hitting number two on the dance chart. The second, "Workout", peaked at number five. The third and final single from the album "People are People" a duet with Tom Trujillo peaked at number 10. The album itself only charted on the
Top Electronic Albums chart, where it hit number nine.
When asked about this in an interview, RuPaul said, "Well, betrayed might be the wrong word. ‘Betrayed’ alludes to an idea that there was some kind of a promise made to me, and there never was. More so, I was disappointed. I don’t feel like it was a betrayal. Nobody promises anything in show business and you understand that from day one. But, I don’t know what happened. It seemed I couldn’t get press on my album unless I was willing to play into the role that the mainstream press has assigned to gay people, which is as servants of straight ideals."
In mid 2008, RuPaul began producing
RuPaul's Drag Race, a
reality television game show which aired on
Logo in February 2009. The premise of the program has several drag queens compete to be selected by RuPaul and a panel of judges as "America's next drag superstar" . The first season's winner was
BeBe Zahara Benet, and first runner-up
Nina Flowers was chosen by fans as "Miss Congeniality" through voting via the show's official website. In publicity preparation for the new show, RuPaul made appearances as a guest on several other shows in 2008 including as a guest judge on Season 5, Episode 6 of
Project Runway] and as a guest "chef" on
Paula's Party.
On June 13, 2006, RuPaul released
ReWorked, his first remix album and fifth album overall. It features reworked versions of songs from his back catalog, as well as new recordings. The only single released from the album is a re-recording of "Supermodel (You Better Work)", reaching number twenty-one on the U.S. dance chart. June 20, 2007 saw the release of
Starrbooty (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on iTunes in the US. The single "Call Me Starrbooty" was digitally released in 2007. The album contains new tracks from the singer as well as interludes with dialogue from the movie. The film was released on DVD in October 2007.
In March 2009, RuPaul released the album "Champion" to iTunes and Amazon. The album topped the iTunes dance album chart at #1 and features the dance singles "Cover Girl" and "Jealous Of My Boogie", both anthems from the reality show RuPaul's Drag Race. Logo's Second Annual "
NewNowNext Awards" 2009 were hosted by RuPaul. There he performed "Jealous Of My Boogie (Gomi & RasJek Edit)". In March 2010, RuPaul released his second remix album, "Drag Race" to iTunes. The album features remixes of songs from the 2009 album
Champion and the brand new song "Hit The Floor".
In April 2011, coinciding with the finale of season 3 of
RuPaul's Drag Race, RuPaul released his fifth studio album
Glamazon, produced by
Revolucian, who previously worked with RuPaul on his album "Champion". The album peaked at #1 on the iTunes Dance Album Chart. The album also charted on the Billboard
Dance/Electronic Albums Chart and the Billboard
Top Heatseekers Chart at 11 and 8 respectively. In July 2011, RuPaul released another remix EP on iTunes entitled
SuperGlam DQ(EP), which features remixes of tracks from "Glamazon", remixes to the "Drag U Theme Song", and a new song "Sexy Drag Queen". Starting in June 2011, the second season of
RuPaul's Drag U aired and is currently running.
Is a drag queen.
Can be seen in the B52's video "Love Shack"
Hosted his own talk show/ comedy sketch show on VH1
On the week of Rupaul's 40th birthday in 2000, a replica statue of him was unveiled at Madame Tussaud's wax museum in New York City.
He was the surprise guest at the VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross in an all star lineup that included Donna Summer,
Faith Hill
, Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey, performing Ross's hit song I'm Coming Out.
Made a media comeback in 1996 after the tabloids dubbed him "The Wicked Witch of MTV" following his Milton Berle issue. He appeared in an exuberantly done gown by fashion desinger Bob Mackie at the 1996 VH1 Fashion Awards.
Ended his affiliation with MTV, shortly after the succes of his debut album, which was supported heavily by the network. Due to his departure from the written script during a live telecast of the 1993 Video Music Awards, uttering rude remarks to co-presenter comedian Milton Berle. His representatives later made a public statement that his offense was provoked by Berle's vulgar comments and harassing ways back-stage during the show.
Scored four #1 singles from his debut album on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts, with Supermodel (You Better Work), A Shade Shadey (Now Prance), Back To My Roots and House Of Love.
Born at 7:58 PM PST.
His #1 dance single Supermodel (You Better Work) was covered by 80s dance sensation Taylor Dayne for the Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack in 2003.
Ranked #85 on E TV's "101 Reasons The 90's Ruled".
Was voted "Queen of Manhattan 1990" by club owners, promoters and djs at the annual event.
Has appeared in four films with actress Stockard Channing in Smoke (1995), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), An Unexpected Life (1998) and The Truth About Jane (2000).
In 2002 he recorded "You're No Lady" a dance-club song with actress Brigitte Nielsen as Gitta
Personal Quotes
"If you don't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?"
"I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven inch heels, four foot wigs, and skintight dresses?"
"As the two of us sat watching TV, Kurt Loder popped up on the tube, teasing an MTV News story with footage of me frolicking around a shopping mall in Jersey City. He said "Coming up next, she's er ah he's 6' 4" and supermodel of the world." Me and Mama both looked at each other, and in that moment we simultaneously realized that her prediction, made 32 years prior, had finally come true. I was a star. That was the last time I saw Mama. " - on his mother Ernestine Charles
"I was having breakfast in the Presidential Suite of the Century Plaza Hotel courtesy of the "John & Leeza Show" when the phone rang and it was my manager. He told me that Elton John wanted to include me on his upcoming "Duets" album and was I interested? I said, "Hold on one minute." The size of the suite gave me the opportunity to flail my arms around while running back and forth screaming "Oh my God Elton John! Oh my God, Elton John!" I must have screamed for a good five minutes before I got back on the line and answered nonchalantly, Sure."
"Doing what I do for a living has never been easy. I've had to fight countless battles in this game that the public has no idea ever happened. But, I just pick myself up and carry on, I Carry On."
"I've dedicated my career to fighting the mundane. My hope is that my career will be a shining example to children everywhere that life is more meaningful when you are not afraid to see all colors of the rainbow."
When I first laid my eyes on RuPaul I thought , well there goes the neighborhood. Now being the LA club kid that I was in the 1980's and early 90's I was not shocked by this tall Glamazon. in fact I was surrounded by many drag queens and gender benders all all types, it's just that Rupaul was the first real mainstream Drag Artist to say hello bitches get ready cause I'm coming to town. Ok, we did have Boy George and in is own right and well deserved way he opened the door for the world to see and hear past the first impression of a person and artists. With Boy George it was is voice, pure, unchanged , and beautiful, and once smitten by that sound who really cared that he was adorned in lipstick and rouge.
The Same can be said of RuPaul, Look anyone can wear a frock and lipstick and a pair of cha cha heels and be a queen, but it's the talent, charm, personality and the heart of the person that makes you see past the facade and open your heart to someone. and America has done so with Rupaul, I am not sure that he's even aware of what he has done, i think more people are open and accept differences in people and I think he's helped. i have met Rupaul in the past and he's always lovely to everyone, and a class act, he has been there, I mean been there and knows what being thankful , grateful and that being blessed comes with responsibility to be kind to others....these are good things to learn and to me put aside the wigs, the heels, the gowns, and Rupaul still lives his life with Grace...........
check out the sounds and visions of RuPaul
