Even to just pay for the suitcases to get there was stressful., Contestants may go on Drag Race hoping to strike gold, but before the lucky few get to that point, theyll be paid a per-episode rate of just a few hundred dollars for two to three long days of filming. But it really gets to the heart and the history of what drag is: You pull it together from what you have. So it was definitely a good up-front investment., Aquaria believes that a run on RuPauls Drag Race is what you make of it. not to mention the $40 entry fee paid by 40,000 people. The queens came with costumes they'd made themselves and rarely breached the costly pricey of contestants nowadays. But its also the case that some of the more affluent girls can also sew (and some broke queens cant), meaning theres no guarantee that a design challenge will favor the people with less money. I could tell that I was the cheapest person there. Two mermaids are lounging, tails and all, on the kind of boxy, nondescript gray couches youd find in the office of a small startup. Though we do not know exactly how much 60 Days In participants are paid, we do know that the A&E show also pays money to the prison to film there. RuPaul's Drag Race has become one of the most popular reali. Compare the Drag Race contract to the Survivor cast contractor the Big Brother houseguest contract, and youll find a lot of similarities. The grand prize for the third season amounted to $75,000 and then eventually plateaued at handsomely generous $100,000 the season following. The queens are not paid for promotional appearances, but if they have to go more than 50 miles from their home, they get an airline ticket, hotel, and $75 per day. There are eight reasons given why someone might be disqualified and ejected from the show. And not just the kind of biscuits praised by all-star queen classy queen Latrice Royale. Monique Heart has 691,000 followers on Instagram as of . But it also is very dangerous, because that means it can become all about capitalism, right? Season 11 winner Yvie Oddly told VICE. With around 14 episodes per season, a queen who makes it nearly all the way to the end would earn back only $5,600. Courtesy of VH1. (Above: never-before-seen footage of Sasha Velour trying on her faux fur runway outfit in her Brooklyn bathroom before going on the show. And what happens if you win? From there, the amounts increased to: $2,500; $3,000; $3,500; $4,000; $5,000; $6,00 and . " RuPaul's Drag Race " Season 14 will crown America's next drag superstar on April 22 when the finale airs on VH1. Each one of them scooped 25k. She created nearly all of her costumes herself, along with the help of some friends. Yvie Oddly was the rare winner who was an exception to the makeover tradition, which led to a lot of backlash. The biggest pitfall of Drag Race to its queens- among the long hours of filming and impending hateful tweets from the . Photo courtesy of Mondo Guerra, Wigs are another significant expense contestants have to account for. Season 10 winner Aquaria told VICE that she doesnt remember exactly what she spent on her wardrobe, but guessed that it was around $5,000. With its nineteen Primetime Emmy awards - including four consecutive wins for Outstanding Competition Program - and it's seven international spin off shows, RuPaul Charles has cultivated a new mold of entertainment with this cultural phenomenon. The Masked Singer UK season . @bbciplayer. But what you don't get to see on "Drag Race" is that all the queens bring their catwalk wardrobe choices with them from day one, meaning that even if a queen goes home during the first week, chances are she brought all the clothes necessary to take her to the final. Prize money is a big deal for a reality/competition show, and it's possibly the biggest deal on RuPaul's Drag Race. The stakes are just higher.". She later competed on All Stars 1 and 4 and on RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay . Its the Game of Thrones of reality TV., I think for some people its worth it, she continued. This is no shade to World of Wonder, the amazing team behind Drag Race, but for the past few seasons the prize for winning the show has been a "grand prize of $100,000" -- the most recent winner . The queensagree to fully cooperate with recreatedscenes, though that the specific languagerequire me to re-create, re-enact or repeat certain actions, activities, statements etc. 1. The 22-year-old fashion obsessive has . I had maybe $1,500 total. Take Season 12s Heidi N. Closet, who said that her annual salary at the gas station where she worked before the show was $9,000. The cost of the show became an interesting talking point in season 10, as queen Miz Cracker and Kameron Michael discuss just how much they gave up to get onto the show. Thats never an excuse.. After interviewing several former contestants on the show, a reporter for Vice concluded that most participants are spending anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 on their get-ups for the show. Much of the language is standard and makes sense, allowing the production to use whats filmed on television and in advertising, and making perhaps obvious things explicitly clear, including that there is no expectation of privacy.. For instance, contestants on American Ninja Warrior dont earn any money for competing. RuPaul's Drag Race UK is back for series 4 - and Mama Ru has now announced the full line-up of queens for 2022. . Ru has always had a soft spot for those girls., Still, it isnt necessarily fun to be the broke but charming queen who is regularly in the bottom because of her runways. which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased . With that, the winning queen will also receive a cash prize of $150,000, the highest amount awarded to date. Fan site TARflies reports that Aaron from Season 6 spilled the beans on how much everyone else earns, with the second place team raking in $25,000 . They usually have no dialogue on the show, mainly appearing as "eye candy" for viewers and contestants. Like most niche-based conventions, DragConprovides an environment where fans can meet their favorite queens and load up on merch. Cast members have just two to four weeks after getting the call to prepare 2025 unique looks for all of the episodes events above (including an outfit, wig, and shoes, along with any unique makeup or accessories they want to use) before filming starts. Today, I review and recommend reality shows, documentaries, and nonfiction entertainment; analyze news and report from behind the scenes; and interview people who create and star in reality TV shows. The second season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on February 1, 2010, and aired its final episode on April 26, 2010. Im not even gonna say how much money I spent to get here, because it is She doesnt finish her sentence and instead twists her overdrawn hot pink ombre lips into a frown you could see from space. According to Vulture, the winner's grand prize was upped to $150,000 in the latest, Season 14 of the show the first prize increase since 2011. All of this makes the competition steeper each year. Contestants on the Drag Race get paid by episode. Nor is not having it., For me, it was [worth it]definitely, 100 percent, Heidi, who recently released GAP, her first single, said. The outlet also notes that participants in "The Bachelor" franchise don't get paid at all. My hand-crafted newsletter is sent most Fridays, and is free! Courtesy of VH1. All from their own pocket, because the show doesnt provide them with any sort of budget. ), A lot of the looks that have feathers can be expensive, Aquaria said. Heidi also told VICE that she spent $4,000, half of which her partner at the time loaned her; a good friend loaned her the rest. Theyre working paycheck to paycheck. The fans, when they expect that glow-up, I don't think they realize how much money goes into that, Yvie, who is now working on growing her YouTube channel, said. She also took part in the first and fourth seasons of 'RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars.' In 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine compiled a list of the 100 most powerful drag queens in America by ranking former 'Ru Paul's Drag Race' contestants. And, for the queens who drain their bank accounts to appear on the show and dont take home the $100,000 prize, is it all worth it? DragCon is the cherry on top of the drag sundae. Brooke Lynn Heights, 2019's US runner-up, shares ALL the behind-the-scenes info you need to know. With that, the winning queen will also receive a cash . The-bank-owns-my-butthole money. Yvie isnt the only contestant to turn to others for help funding her wardrobe. had been forced to sell all of his costumes, Legendary Children: The First Decade of RuPaul's Drag Race and the Last Century of Queer Life, Faux Fur Fabulous Russian-inspired runway look, medieval tapestryinspired look topped with a bloody horn, a reality show about her Dallas dance studio, was part of the 2021 Inauguration entertainment lineup, 'RHOP' and the Hypocrisy of 'Your Behavior Is Bad for Black Women', she walked around the East Village asking people for money while wearing literal trash as a drag costume, who recently released GAP, her first single, The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People. Dont waste my time. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Trans women and queer men couldnt walk into a department store and buy dresses. That was a lot more expensive, she said. Now, she seems to truly believe, in the way only a very wealthy person who was once very poor can, that you dont need money to succeed. Drag queens are known for stretching a dollar, so, ahead of their . Johnny and I didn't sleep for two weeks, she said. After stunning us with that international all stars season, 2022 gives us another long-awaited first . In the years since it began airing, RuPauls Drag Race has become a cultural juggernaut, with numerous spin-offs and international editions. If I went back on Drag Race now, Id probably be spending $2040,000, she said. Coming up with thousands of dollars on very short notice has been all but impossible for some contestants. As revealed in episode 122 of the So Dramatic! The contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race receive $400 each per episode, and the winner walks away with the grand prize of $100,000. That's an astounding amount seeing as how she only spent around $4,000 her first time around. According to The Sun, a source has revealed that each contestant actually earns 200 a week (around 2.80 an hour) and their total income from the show will depend on how long they manage to stay in the villa. Whereas some girls spent 20, 30, 40, even $50,000 on garments, Heidi said. If youre just a drag queen that just wants to do drag brunch and, you know, it would be cool to get on Drag Race, Monique Heart said, Im gonna tell you not to go, cause youre gonna embarrass yourself. I literally came from poverty to where I am now. With that, the winning queen will also receive a cash . And here I am. Yvie Oddly echoed this point, and said that the bigger issue with Joes Black H&M look is that it didnt really showcase her unique talents or perspective. Despite putting herself in the "bitter old . And there's other queens who can afford it, and literally can just be like, Make me 10 amazing outfits, and then they pack them in the suitcase and show up.. Several people I talked to for this article said that they dont love the proliferation of designer looks on the runway because, in many cases, queens are using money not to simply elevate their drag, but to become a different queen entirely. You still have the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, no matter where you go home. The couple took the subway to Manhattans Garment District every day to buy fabric, and then came home and sewed all night. While Aquaria had a major hand in creating her own pieces, including designing, sewing, and stoning many looks herself, she got a lot of help from extremely talented friends who happened to work in fashion, and who were excited to help her prepare. The RuPaul's Drag Race winner opens up about her spending, saving, and very glamourous splurging. And Shangela and Willam both appeared in the Oscar-winning film A Star Is Born. I spent more coming into this competition than I did as the down payment on my house, Kameron says, her tone serious now. With her frequent collaborator Katya Zamolodchikova, shes published a New York Times bestselling book and had several successful web series (including one that ran on VICE and one with Netflix). reality blurredis your guide to the world ofreality TVand unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. 'The auditions are the worst'. To me, that is the essence of queer artpeople pulling together from the culture, from whatever they can pick up, and making it queer., Ru is the one that will say, It doesn't have to be expensive, but you've got to make it drag. And I do agree with him on that, he added. Together, Bolte and Petersen have also cast unscripted reality shows like "Million Dollar Listing" and "Say . Similarly, RuPaul herself openly chastised competitor, Joe Black on the second season of the show's UK spin-off. Photo via VH1. In signing the contract, the participants also give away rights to anything they do on the show, including "characters, songs, and anything they say about themselves.". Royale made her first Drag Race appearance on season 4, where she was crowned Miss Congeniality. But the cost of materials still adds up. Photo courtesy of Sam Branman. Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino / Getty Images. In series 3 (2018), there were four winners - Daniel Murphy, Joseph Appleton, father and son Bob and Alex . Like, my asshole is collateral against a loan, my asshole is in a bank vault somewhere, Miz Cracker on RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked. Put a parka zipper in my dress. She also said that big plastic jewels are likely a better choice than more expensive glass ones, which often dont actually read well on camera. Photos by Santiago Felipe / Getty Images. As the onslaught of negative critiques from the judges panel towards homemade or store-bought costumes grew much harsher, prospective contestants began running to local fashion designers the second they got the call to be on the show. Rachel Miller is the author ofThe Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People. I was like, If they eliminate me early, maybe I can return it, and I won't have rented it for so many days. She came into the "werkroom" with a dress made of trash bags and a comforting, Southern charm. As such, the document below was publicly available on World of Wonders website, and that is where I obtained it. The incident brought long-simmering questions up to the surface: What does it actually cost to compete on RuPauls Drag Race? I don't think having money is a bad thing. September 23rd. This you dont need money ethos shows up a lot on Drag Race, despite the fact that you very obviously do need money to go on the show. The stakes are just higher., Fitzgerald, Marquez, and many others all agree that drag becoming mainstream is overwhelmingly a good thing. Heart appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10, finishing in eighth place, and was a finalist on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 4. Monique, who told Paper magazine that her car broke down as she was preparing to go on Drag Race, was open about how a lack of funds hurt her prospects on the show during a heartbreaking episode of Untucked following her elimination. Photo via VH1. Social and financial marginalization forced drag artists to be creative. A queen might not be able to splurge on her wardrobe or even be the best at Drag Racewhich, its often said, is different from being good at dragbut those who are exceptionally magnetic, funny, and unique tend to do fairly well for themselves post-show. Do Drag Race contestants get paid? And now it's 13 years later, it's won all of these Emmys, it's HD, it's got superstar guest stars. How contestants prepare to go on Drag Race, How much money contestants are actually spending on a season of Drag Race, What happens to queens careers after Drag Race, Money isnt a panacea on RuPauls Drag Race. Latrice Royale attends 'RuPaul's Dragcon' at Los Angeles Convention Center on May 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Sussex resident Dakota Schiffer is making Drag Race her-story as the first UK trans contestant. Theres a clause that allows for filming to take place in contestants homes or elsewhere, and the language allows producers to enter and occupy their home or business and place cameras and other recording devices. If a contestant doesnt control a location, they agree tohelp producers get permission. Like, I'm not trying to look like the most flossin bitch getting evicted from my apartment next month, she added with a big laugh. Former contestants announced that they spent anything between 2,900 and 30,000 to create jaw-dropping looks, so contestants have risked a lot for the . I realistically spent maybe, maybe $3,000 to go on Drag Race. (Later, she added that she spent an additional $3,000 on her two finale looks, bringing her total to $6,000.) RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 4 contestant Dakota Schiffer. Surprisingly, the contestants aren't paid at all for stripping on the telly. I mean, it was just hard.. When a person who doesnt fit our preconceived notion of fashion does this, well, its because they cant afford anything better. And thats not including any costumes for other challenges, or the more elaborate custom runway lookswhich many, many, many queens in recent seasons are wearing regularly, if not every single runway. The collection of legal documents is 51 pages long, and includes background check and medical release forms, plus basic rules. HBOs excellent series Were Here centered around Eureka, Bob, and Shangela. Which was funny because in the moment, I didn't feel ratchet, or particularly urban or hood. I felt really elegant in this gown with my Afro. While lounging in the sun all day and flirting up a storm might be payment enough, it turns out you can make some mega bucks being an Islander! I mean, rent in New York is expensive, even if you're not in a fierce place. Still, when she got the call, she decided to spend everything she had because it was her one shot. This is where the charisma really pays off. (See also: the avant garde hooded dress Utica made out of a sleeping bag for a design challenge.) House buying money. But, like any business venture that involves startup costs, investing in a Drag Race appearance is a risk, and contestants have no way of knowing if theyll be eliminated first, or forgotten after the season ends. Though her bubbly, humble personality and abundant talent hoisted her into the Top 4 of the competition, this is not the case for queens that are similarly unfortunate. Still, its a start. Read Next: 15 Secrets You Didn't Know About RuPaul's Drag Race, Source: Mic,In Style, Vice, Showbiz Cheatsheet. reality blurredis regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews ofreality TV showsincluding Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Mole, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, Top Chef, Holey Moley, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, and many more. Im Andy Dehnart, a writer who obsessively and critically covers reality TV, focusing on how its made and what it means. Dont waste my time. Back in 2016, when the show was really coming into the nation's attention, Drag Race royalty Alyssa Edwards told Mic that she spends around "$450 for a wig a custom wig that's fitted to your head, and for your face." That said, everyone I spoke to for this story said that styling and swagger matter a lot to the judges. The glamour of the contestants' outfits and make-up suggests opulence and wealth, so it's easy to assume that those competing are among the rich and powerful. And they're not wrong - it works out at about 2.80 an hour. (You just need to wear a suit!) Contestants may go on Drag Race hoping to strike gold, but before the lucky few get to that point, they'll be paid a per-episode rate of just a few hundred dollars for two to three long days of . So that one's like a $60 look. Thanks, in no small part, to having the sort of je ne sais quois that transcends dollars, she took home the prize of the week while wearing it. That outfit off the rack was a huge disappointment to me, Ru says. For those wishing to Drag Race with RuPaul, the out-of-pocket expense can be surprising. When someone who reads as wealthy thanks to these physical privileges wears H&M or Converse sneakers, its viewed as an intentionally subversive and cool choice. I was like, If I go and get eliminated first, at least I can say I was on it, get a couple gigs, get an increased booking fee, and keep working. The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking a record number of 349 bills targeting LGBTQ rights introduced during the legislative session, causing the reality competition series queens to speak out at a recent viewing event . Most queens invest in their Drag Race wardrobe believing it will pay off, the same way that someone might take out a loan to fund their small business. However, the lead gets an impressive payoff. I do think they give space to the Nina Bonina Browns, the ones that are making stuff, author and blogger Tom Fitzgerald said. Or you canyou can go, but you wont win.. A confident, charismatic queen truly can make an Amazon jumpsuit or a thrift store dress look incredible, particularly if the garment feels authentic to the queens overall personality and vision. Still, phrases like a great eye or can pull off anything are the sort of fashion-industry compliments that are often only applied to people who fit a certain mold: thin and tall, for starters, and likely also white and able-bodied. who is the guy in the sensodyne commercial, charlie weis daughter,