RuPaul

RuPaul Andre Charles is an American drag queen, singer, actor, writer, and producer who is openly gay and one of the most influential queer entertainers in global history. RuPaul grew up as a queer Black kid navigating a turbulent home life before forging his identity in the punk and drag scenes of Atlanta and New York, as detailed in his 2024 memoir The House of Hidden Meanings. RuPaul achieved international fame with his 1993 hit "Supermodel (You Better Work)," becoming the first drag queen to break into mainstream pop culture at that scale. In 2009, he created and began hosting RuPaul's Drag Race, now a global franchise; he has won 14 Primetime Emmy Awards from 22 nominations, including eight for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program, and holds the record for the most Emmy wins by a person of color. RuPaul has also been a major LGBTQ+ philanthropist since the 1990s, including serving as a MAC AIDS Fund spokesperson -- the first drag queen to front a major cosmetics campaign. His memoir recounts his journey toward self-acceptance, chosen family, sobriety, and enduring love with his husband Georges LeBar. Across music, television, activism, and drag artistry, RuPaul stands as a foundational architect of modern queer culture.