From shocking behind-the-scenes revelations to controversial production decisions, we're pulling back the curtain on the reality of this iconic drag competition series. Get ready for some jaw-dropping revelations about what really happens when the cameras aren't rolling, and what the queens have to endure to compete for the crown.
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00:00But, um, also, not tea, but sometimes if something really dramatic happens and it's the middle of the day and they need to talk about it, they will pull you in to the confessional room and...
00:14Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most shocking realities about RuPaul's Drag Race.
00:20Some spoilers may be mentioned, so this is your official warning.
00:23Then RuPaul, off camera but on camera, looks at you both and goes, alright, this time it's for real.
00:29And it's so chilling.
00:32Number 20. Tyra's Continued Vitriol
00:34What about me? What about Tyra?
00:41Snap out of it!
00:43Turns out there is such a thing as a sore winner.
00:45Despite being one of the first champions of the franchise, King Tyra, formerly known as Tyra Sanchez, has dedicated much of his post-show experience to psychologically tormenting those who still enjoy it.
00:55If you took what I said and that affected you or that you're related to that, then yes, I was talking to you. You were the person that I was talking to. For everyone else, it was a kiki.
01:05From making cruel jokes about fellow former contestants passing away to telling fans to take their own lives, he aims his sights at anyone that he feels crosses him.
01:13He has even spread false rumors about Morgan McMichaels dying, and posted what many believe was a threat against DragCon.
01:19I look pretty good for a dead bitch.
01:22Though many try to ignore him, he keeps popping back up, leading to several people demanding the crown and title be stripped from him.
01:30Number 19.
01:31Queens can't appear on another show for a year after the season airs.
01:34I'm just gonna say nine words. I swear to God that I am a faithful.
01:49With the resurgence of competition-based series starring iconic former reality stars, you may have wondered why you don't see many recent queens participating.
01:57It may seem like they just aren't interested, but judging by the season eight contract, they aren't allowed to appear in another televised show for a full year after their last filmed episode airs.
02:07Thank you, Aja. It's a pleasure.
02:09You don't love me. I'm gonna make you love me.
02:14In fact, it may be one of the few times that being an early out is truly beneficial.
02:18There's a chance the standards may have become more lenient in the past few years,
02:22but it may be why you have to wait a little while longer to see your favorite appear in House of Villains.
02:28Because let me tell you something about me, baby.
02:29I've done competitions twice before, and I've been the runner-up twice.
02:33So as you bitches thought that just because you got in a little click in a group,
02:36y'all gonna get somewhere far, let me tell you, you are highly mistaken.
02:39Number 18.
02:40Confessionals are filmed the morning of that week's episode.
02:43Sure, be brutally honest.
02:46I kind of was thinking that you would turn out something that we hadn't seen.
02:50Not today, Satan. Not today.
02:54One of the most popular segments of many reality TV shows is The Confessional,
02:58a sacred place where contestants can tell the audience their thoughts on anything that happens during filming.
03:03Thanks to queens like Jan and Brooklyn Heights,
03:05we've been given more insight into how Drag Race navigates.
03:08I believe normally we started filming around 9 or 10 a.m.,
03:12and you're leaving the hotel to go and film sometimes at like 6 or 7 a.m.
03:17and to film your confessionals.
03:19And then once you're there, you like wait around.
03:21The former revealed that the interviews are filmed each morning before the episode itself is recorded,
03:26with some exceptions in the case of unexpected drama occurring.
03:30This method makes it easier for editors to choose what clips to include after the challenge has already been filmed.
03:35To keep things consistent, they even have everyone dress in the same outfit every day,
03:39a far cry from the standards on the earlier seasons.
03:42She's very, like, poppy and, like, fashion-forward.
03:45She loves accessories, and she likes glitter, because it's wicked sparkly.
03:49I'm not nervous. I'll read a bitch. I will read you to filth.
03:54Number 17. Queens can't sue if they contract a disease on set.
03:58Come on, season six! Let's get sick, me!
04:02It's important to cover your bases legally, but some might find this strange.
04:06In the aforementioned contract, there are several release statements that the contestants sign off on.
04:11One stated that Queens assume any and all risks of working in close quarters with others,
04:15whether it's in a general sense or a more intimate manner.
04:18What this means is that should a participant come down with something,
04:22whether it's merely a cold or something much more serious,
04:24the responsibility lies with them, and they can't sue the show itself.
04:28With that in mind, it suddenly makes even more sense
04:44why there were so many necessary precautions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
04:48Category is precaution.
04:51I felt really, really safe on the set.
04:53The drag race team went above and beyond with making sure everything was done correct.
04:58Typical check when you come on the set.
05:01Number 16. The intense audition process.
05:04My entire audition was filmed in my bedroom, lip syncs and all.
05:08Really?
05:09Really?
05:09Yes.
05:10I had all of New York City holding my goddamn phone trying to...
05:13If there's one thing Ru has made clear,
05:16it's that she expects the best.
05:18Including at the audition.
05:19Some former contestants have been quite forthcoming
05:22about the stringent requirements when submitting a tape.
05:24According to season 11 runner-up Brooklyn Heights,
05:27potential participants need to present two lip sync performances,
05:30multiple options for Snatch Game, an interview out of drag,
05:33acting challenges, and even a look made from unconventional materials.
05:37The hardest part for me going into it was just not knowing what to expect every day
05:41and not being able to prepare myself.
05:43I like preparation and I like schedules and I like knowing things.
05:47The hardest part? Having to fit it all into a 20-minute span.
05:51It's strenuous, but it makes those who do make it seem all the more impressive.
05:55Some have even posted their own auditions over the years,
05:58showing the fans exactly what it takes to make it on.
06:01I work here in New York City and perform five nights a week.
06:04Actually, the only hardships I've ever faced was razor burn,
06:07my wig not gluing, and not knowing words to a song.
06:10Number 15. Rue doesn't interact with queens.
06:13You think we saw her at all?
06:15Harsh treatment or merely a reality of the genre? We'll let you decide.
06:19Though RuPaul does have several moments where he appears to genuinely connect with a contestant,
06:24when the cameras are off, it's a whole different story.
06:27Reportedly, the host keeps the queens at arm's length when they aren't filming,
06:31and hardly speaks to them at all.
06:32Who did RuPaul talk to the most off-camera?
06:36Nobody.
06:36Nobody?
06:38This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
06:40Most likely, at the end of a long day of shooting, he just wants to detach and relax.
06:45Do you two have banter prepared?
06:49What's your chemistry like?
06:52However, it does undeniably keep a wall up between him and those competing for the crown,
06:56which may be exactly as intended.
06:59So imagine you're a first time walking the runway, and they go,
07:01all right, it's you, go, Trixie, and you hear RuPaul go, next up, Trixie Mattel, whatever.
07:05You turn the corner, and the lights are on, and there's RuPaul and the judges,
07:08and the runway, and you've never seen it before, and it's so scary.
07:12Number 14. Queens can be sued for $2 million for breaking confidentiality.
07:17Sitting on a secret.
07:21Promise that we'll keep it, and we won't tell no one.
07:26An unfortunate reality of the fandom at large is that spoilers are rampant.
07:31Everything from who the contestants are to their placement is leaked.
07:34In an attempt to quell this, producers include a clause in the contract that prevents those
07:39competing from discussing anything about their season in detail.
07:42While this doesn't stop information from being released altogether,
07:45it at least stops most of it at the source.
07:48They took us off the plane and blindfolded us, and got us here to the hotel,
07:52so nobody would know where the girls are.
07:55Should a participant circumvent this non-disclosure agreement,
07:58then they could get taken to court to the tune of $2 million.
08:01The stipulation covers everything from a queen's statements on social media,
08:05to their appearances across various media once the show has started airing,
08:08making it clear why some choose to be as vague as possible.
08:12Number 13. Nothing you say matters unless that camera's rolling.
08:15Nothing you say matters unless that camera is rolling.
08:23And that broke my spirit.
08:27As stated earlier, RuPaul isn't exactly known for having a warm off-camera rapport.
08:32If a queen tries to get too close, disaster may follow.
08:35During a break from filming an episode for season 7,
08:38Pearl told the host how much she enjoyed working with her and how honored she felt.
08:41The camera went down for a moment, and I turned to RuPaul and I said,
08:45Oh my god, like, I just want to say thank you so much.
08:49Like, it is such an honor to be here, such a pleasure to meet you, you have no idea.
08:53Ru's response?
08:54To say that nothing she said mattered unless the camera was on.
08:57It was an unexpectedly harsh response, even if there was a grain of truth to it.
09:01In a genre like this, being genuine doesn't get you far unless it's broadcast for everyone to see.
09:06Well, I'm hoping it will light a fire under your ass.
09:18So there's something on my face.
09:20Unfortunately, that lesson seems to have come at the price of a permanent split between Ru and Pearl.
09:25And there's no telling if they'll ever mend it.
09:27Number 12.
09:28Queens get only a few weeks to prepare.
09:30We were told, with a little bit of information we were given, wear something that you wouldn't be upset if it got ruined.
09:37That was it.
09:38So that's why I'm wearing this little random dress that I wore 15 times on the show.
09:42Because I didn't have much time to pack up and go do it.
09:45Imagine this.
09:46After preparing your audition tape and waiting, you finally learn that you've made the cut.
09:50After the initial excitement, you need to prepare.
09:53And unfortunately, you don't get much time.
09:55With just a few weeks to get all your looks for runways, mini challenges, and whatever else ready, it suddenly becomes much more daunting.
10:02Even beyond outfits, some need time to learn how to sew, act, dance, or perform any other skill Ru has them show off.
10:09Even packing is a logistical nightmare, with contestants having a five-bag limit that's easily exceeded with hair, shoes, and makeup alone.
10:17I can't imagine the weight of your suitcases.
10:19Yeah, it was definitely a struggle.
10:21Like, when I was packing for Drag Race, you know, we only get a certain amount of luggage.
10:25So I actually was wearing that hat on the plane.
10:27Stop it.
10:27Some queens have reported having even less time before filming, a testament to how dedicated they are to their craft and the program.
10:35How quick was the turnaround of, like, filming season 17, going into All-Stars 10?
10:40Like, how much time did you have to prepare?
10:42What was that like for you?
10:43It was, like, four to five days that I had to prepare for, like, the first bit of the competition.
10:49What?
10:50Number 11.
10:51Some queens pay thousands for their runways.
10:53I have a person I'll go to for, like, evening gowns or, like, if I want to be more streetwear and more fashionable, I have certain people I use.
11:00But I definitely have to commission people because I don't like sewing.
11:04No wonder the queens are hungry for that $2,000 cash prize.
11:07With the time to prepare being so limited, those that can't or don't want to craft every single look instead turn to friends or designers for help.
11:15The contestants have been increasingly candid about what it costs to finance their time on the show, with several spending at least four figures.
11:22Others have resorted to more desperate measures to ensure they can have the best runways, from personal loans to taking out a second mortgage.
11:29I took a second mortgage out of my house to gag you on these runways, baby, so, like, I'm still fighting with my husband for that.
11:36Others rely on the generosity of family and friends.
11:39With so much importance being placed on fashion and expectations creeping higher and higher with each passing season, we can only wonder when the bubble will finally pop.
11:47Literally, my life and my funds and my financial future, I put it on the line because this is so important.
11:52I spent more coming into this competition than I did as a down payment on my house.
11:56Number 10.
11:57Queens are isolated from each other.
11:58What's up with the metal detector?
12:00It's mainly just to make sure you don't have a cell phone hidden anywhere.
12:05Oh, okay.
12:06Well, then I should bend over all the way.
12:08Yeah, please.
12:09Many may wonder how the Drag Race producers are always able to capture the riveting interactions between the queens.
12:15Well, for one, contestants are reportedly isolated from each other when they're outside the workroom.
12:20You are sequestered into this room until further notice.
12:24I just love it. It's like a prison.
12:26It's said that the queens are housed in separate hotel rooms and prevented from interacting with one another when the cameras aren't rolling.
12:34In order to ensure strict adherence to this rule, the producers apparently place tape over their doors to know if anyone snuck out.
12:40Even more, the contestants are completely cut off from the outside world, with no phones to contact their loved ones.
12:47Your new form of communication is going to be via post-it note.
12:51You have to pass a note under the door, okay?
12:55Now you know why they get so excited to see their family videos.
12:59Number 9.
13:00Seasons are filmed in roughly four weeks.
13:02If you give me a minute of your time, I hope to make a dress that's sublime.
13:06It takes anywhere from 12 to 14 weeks for a regular season of Drag Race to air in full.
13:12But that doesn't mean the show is filmed in the same amount of time.
13:16Although each episode is regarded as a new week, in reality, they're shot over a much shorter period.
13:22You've got 20 minutes to get into quick baby drag.
13:26Go!
13:26It's been widely reported that each season of Drag Race wraps up after roughly four weeks,
13:31with the average episode taking about two to three days to film.
13:35This would mean that the queens only have hours to sew and design exquisite dresses,
13:39come up with hilarious commercials, and write sickening verses.
13:43Boy, it really do take nerve.
13:48Number 8.
13:49RuPaul's Bad Memory.
13:50It's time to play the game that's sweeping the nation.
13:53Name!
13:54That!
13:55Queen!
13:55They got it!
13:56Anyone who's a fan of Drag Race can attest to the fact that RuPaul has a pretty remarkable
14:01recollection of pop culture moments.
14:03So it's quite surprising, and maybe a little shady, that Mother's memory becomes a little
14:07faulty when it comes to her own children.
14:09I'm trying!
14:10I'm trying to hit my thing!
14:11I don't have my glasses on!
14:14RuPaul has been captured multiple times forgetting the names of past Drag Race contestants.
14:18Sure, there have been a gajillion seasons at this point, and about a dozen times that
14:23number of queens.
14:24But the least Mama Ru can do is remember the winner's names, right?
14:28Well, wrong, apparently.
14:29Fans were stunned when RuPaul seemingly forgot that of the queen of all queens at DragCon 2022.
14:35I told, um, um, this one right here, because your name is...
14:40Jinx!
14:42Come on!
14:44Seattle!
14:45Seattle!
14:46Number 7.
14:47Multiple crownings are filmed.
14:49Well, this is it.
14:50The final lap.
14:52The grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.
14:55In the early seasons of Drag Race, the finale and crowning of the winner was shot in a studio,
15:01months before airing.
15:02However, after the season 3 winner was leaked by internet blogger Perez Hilton, producers
15:07of the show decided to alter the format.
15:09It's okay to think outside of the box and think greater than what you know.
15:13These days, a live grand finale is filmed in front of an audience, only a few weeks before
15:18it actually airs.
15:19In order to prevent spoilers, the producers film multiple endings, with each finalist
15:24being announced as the winner.
15:26RuPaul then picks the actual champion afterwards, which is only revealed when the episode airs.
15:31Hence, the winning queen gets to find out they've won at the same time as the viewers.
15:35Now, prance, my queen, prance!
15:43Number 6.
15:45Merle Ginsberg is replaced by Michelle Visage.
15:47I think you believed in me even more than my parents, even more than my husband.
15:51And I really feel like you have this kind of sense of seeing things in it.
15:56Right.
15:56RuPaul and Michelle Visage have been squirrel friends for decades.
16:00The two reportedly first met in the late 80s, and have worked closely together ever since.
16:04We've obviously talked about you because you're such an important part of her life.
16:09Yes.
16:09And when you're not threatened...
16:13Although Visage is now a staple on Drag Race, she was noticeably absent from the judging panel
16:21during the first two seasons of the show.
16:23According to the multi-talented entertainer, she was contacted by RuPaul to be a judge right
16:28from the start.
16:28However, at the time, Visage had just signed a five-year contract with CBS Radio
16:34and wasn't permitted by her boss to appear on Drag Race.
16:37After going over her boss's head to the VP of CBS Radio, she was given the go-ahead
16:42and replaced Merle Ginsberg from the third season onwards.
16:45My co-host for over 100 episodes of the RuPaul talk show.
16:50Couldn't keep us apart.
16:51Act as if your life depended on it, because, well, it does.
17:04RuPaul's Drag Race is a reality series centered around drag queens competing for the ultimate prize.
17:09So what in the world would such a show have in common with the cult leader and serial killer
17:13Charles Manson?
17:14I just wanted to be a star any way I got it.
17:17I said if I didn't become a star by 35, I was just going to become a serial killer.
17:22Well, you can relax a bit.
17:24Manson has never been a guest judge on any of the episodes.
17:27However, some seasons of Drag Race have been filmed on sound stages in Simi Valley.
17:32Situated within Ventura County, California, the valley was reportedly once home to the Manson family
17:37and was the location of some of their despicable crimes.
17:40When asked about the connection in a Vanity Fair interview,
17:43Mama Ru said, quote,
17:44We've come to cleanse the whole area of its checkered past.
17:48Tonight, they're ready to slay the runway in their best drag.
17:52Number four, You've Got She-Mail.
17:55No ma'am, no ham, no pam, no cauliflower, no cornbread, no green beans.
17:58RuPaul has come under fire in the past for some statements that have been viewed by many as transphobic.
18:03In the formative years of Drag Race,
18:05episodes began with a pre-recorded video from RuPaul that opened with the line,
18:10Ooh, girl, you got she-mail.
18:14Regardless of the intentions behind this, the term was clearly a pun on the transphobic slur,
18:19She-Mail.
18:19After a controversial season six episode, in which the slur was used in a mini-challenge,
18:24the show was called out for the lack of oversight.
18:26As a result, the mini-challenge was removed from the episode,
18:29and the opening line of the pre-recorded video was changed to the less controversial,
18:33Sheena already in her hair herses.
18:37And of course, I've, you know,
18:39taken that to the bank.
18:43Number three, Grueling Production Hours.
18:46Our poison bit is going on a long time.
18:53Roxy and I are sort of standing there like...
18:55Anyone who's worked on a film or TV show will not hesitate to let you know that production hours can be long.
19:02And while that's arguably harder for the technical crew on an average set,
19:06you have to take into consideration that the drag race queens need to be in full drag for the better part of the episode.
19:11According to some sources, a production day typically takes around 11 or 12 hours.
19:23This means that queens have to be tucked, wearing heels, hair and makeup,
19:27and be fully dressed for practically half a day.
19:30It's pretty understandable now why they're quick to take off as much as possible
19:34as soon as they hit the workroom for Untucked.
19:36Number two, Production Manipulations.
19:47Hi, I'm Trixie Mattel.
19:48I'm 27 years old and I'm from sunny West Hollywood.
19:51And some people might say I'm fake, but those people are alcoholics.
19:54Since its premiere, RuPaul's Drag Race has been widely celebrated as a cornerstone of queer representation.
19:59But at its most basic, it is still a reality TV show,
20:03a genre that is apparently notorious for being heavily manipulated.
20:07Drag Race seems to be no exception.
20:17Reports have long made it online that the show favors certain queens to win,
20:21and sometimes sets up other contestants to fail,
20:23to the point that they allegedly know beforehand that they'll be going home.
20:27While there may be no way of confirming this,
20:29fans have pointed out the perceived unfair treatment of Max
20:32and the unfavorable edit given to Jeremy Carey,
20:35formerly known as Fifi O'Hara, as indicators.
20:38After my season, a lot of people had this perception of me,
20:40so it was hard to get bookings.
20:42People genuinely thought I would come and, like, cuss them out.
20:45So it took a lot of work to show people that I'm professional.
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21:04Number 1. Willem's Disqualification
21:06In the history of Drag Race, there have been quite a few shocking eliminations.
21:11What the hell is happening?
21:14One of the very first in that category was the disqualification of Season 4 contestant Willem.
21:18After winning the Frenemies episode alongside Latrice Royale,
21:22Willem was sent home for reportedly breaking the rules.
21:25Your actions have consequences, and I'm afraid you leave me no choice.
21:31Willem, I have to ask you to leave the competition immediately.
21:36It was later revealed that Willem had received unauthorized visits from her partner during filming,
21:41which constituted a breach of contract.
21:43Although, the Queen has maintained that there was another more shady reason for her disqualification.
21:49Since her exit, Willem has consistently spilled behind-the-scenes tea about the show,
21:53including claims that the queens were not properly fed and the presence of safety hazards on set.
21:59They were giving us, like, literally $75 for 12 people to eat.
22:03That makes, like, $6.75 per person or something.
22:05At, like, 10.30 at night, they didn't know our names.
22:08They called Latrice La-something.
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