Michelle puts up a finger, the long nail filed into a sharp point, to stop Chi Chi. Whereas some girls spent 20, 30, 40, even $50,000 on garments, Heidi said. Social and financial marginalization forced drag artists to be creative. If youre not talented, if youre not funny, if you cant sing, you cant dance, your drag is basic baby, you shouldnt go.. Queens like Ivy Winters, Yuhua Hamasaki and Lashawn Beyond mentioned on their seasons how. Photo via VH1, Exactly! Cracker says, laughing. Some even higher. With . Some of it just comes down to taste, Branman said, pointing to Season 13s Utica as a recent example of someone whos got it. While the show can give participants a popularity boost, some wonder if it's enough to fully fund a rise to stardom. Youll collect some fans along the way if theres something there to fan over, she said. DragCon is the cherry on top of the drag sundae. RELATED: Mark Burnett: Reality TV's $500 Million Winner. 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. With . Its just not gonna happen., In the moment, it feels very like, This is what I brought, she continued. The larger industry is just starting to catch up and see the entertainment value and commercial value of these artists, Slane added. While its impossible to know exactly how much every queen spends to go on the show, Id estimatebased on conversations with several former contestants and the designers who often dress themcontestants are spending anywhere from $4,000 on the low end to upwards of $20,000 on the higher end. So, the longer they stay in the competition, the more money they will have. 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). The Drag Race opening credits sequence is just a list of prizes! 'The auditions are the worst'. 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! Branman told VICE that one of his custom leotards costs anywhere from $150$500, depending on the complexity of the pattern. Plus drag tours are hotter than ever with some queens making between$5,000 and $10,000 per appearance, BBC reports. In fact, they are getting paid, just like anyone doing any other job, and in the case of RuPaul's Drag Race, it's not too badly paid. The full contract is below, annotated with my analysis, but first, here are some key parts of the contract: All reality blurred content is independently selected, including links to products or services. So how much money can you make while on the show? . All of this makes the competition steeper each year. In the first-ever UK series in 2015, there were four winners - Lauren English, Emily Dredge, Stephen Hardiker and Martin Cole. I had never spent $500 on a costume. She was runner-up that week. 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. Popular Days. So it's safe to assume that the ABC and previous GSN iterations of The Chase worked out salaries for their Chasers, but like many TV show . One queen is named the week's winner, while the two bottom queens compete in a lip-syncing competition to avoid elimination. For instance, contestants on American Ninja Warrior dont earn any money for competing. It's not necessarily unusual for participants in a competition show to be paid meager wagers. For example . Each one of them scooped 25k. Here is a look at the wealthiest drag queens in 2022 and their estimated net worth. So, is going on RuPauls Drag Race worth it? I was like, If they eliminate me early, maybe I can return it, and I won't have rented it for so many days. How Much Do Contestants On RuPaul's Drag Race Make Per Episode?Hi there, and welcome to Luxology! Feb 18 2023. Mostly, those are prohibitions of certain behaviors (such as drug use, photography, and physical violence) and dont get into specifics of the competition. And, as the show is currently auditioning for it's 14th cycle, it can be inferred that the price tag for contestants will continue to rise. 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. I literally came from poverty to where I am now. While most of the queens who spoke to VICE had budgets that were on the lower end, a little back-of-the-napkin math shows that a lot of queens are likely spending way more. You dont need money, girl, Michelle says. Stars like Bianca Del Rio have seen brand partnerships and touring opportunities as a result of their earned celebrity. 319 posts. 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. 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. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / FilmMagic / Getty. Learn more. Fans can soak up drag glory in September in New York or in Los Angeles in May, CNBC reports.In New York at the Javitz Convention Center, DragCon sold out its first year in 2017, Fenton Bailey, executive producer of RuPauls Drag Race and co-creator of DragCon told CNBC. After being on Drag Race, When touring, recording, merchandise and endorsements are factored in, top queens are earning in the low to mid-six figures annually,Jacob Slane, Partner and Associate Manager atProducer Entertainment Group(PEG) told Billboard. The first season of Drag Race had a grand prize of $25,000. Uncategorized. RuPaul herself was reported to make $50,000 per episode all the way back in 2013. According to the Drag Race contract, "Cast members are paid $400 per episode for their first season, and their pay increases 5 percent for future seasons: $420 per episode for their second season, $441 for . How Much Do The Contestants On RuPaul's Drag Race Make Per Episode. In response, Joe stage-whispers, Aiiitch and emmmmm, and then laughs. Premiere: May 20, 2022. She has long red nails curved into claws, impressive triceps, and visible tattoos. Its also what makes it impossible to wear stuff off the rack., Bob the Drag Queen at DragCon UK. However, if you buy something after clicking an affiliate link, I may earn a commission, which helps support reality blurred. A $100,000 check from RuPaul can buy you a house, pay off student debt, or the entire menu at Cheesecake Factory 600 times over. Contestants can also compete in other challenges that allow them to earn prizes like immunity, a lifetime supply of high-end makeup or even a vacation. And Drag Race contestants received $400 per episode, . I mean, it was just hard.. Unfortunately, the stars of Married at First Sight don't exactly make bank for their time in the marriage experiment no matter how much drama, backlash or wine-throwing comes their way.. MAFS Australia contestants are only paid $150 per day for the show.Source: Nine. Thats never an excuse.. ), Mondo Guerra at work on Crystal Methyd's Drag Race Season 12 finale look. 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. Lets say the materials for one DIY outfit total $300, and a synthetic wig, shoes, and jewelry cost another $150. And now it's 13 years later, it's won all of these Emmys, it's HD, it's got superstar guest stars. And Drag Race contestants received $400 per episode, according to a contract obtained by Reality Blurred. RuPaul's Drag Race UK is back for series 4 - and Mama Ru has now announced the full line-up of queens for 2022. . podcast, one inside source said the Islanders receive a daily fee of $150 . But it also is very dangerous, because that means it can become all about capitalism, right? Season 11 winner Yvie Oddly told VICE. The process of going on Drag Race is, in my opinion, more than a fiscal investment, Bob said. Compare the Drag Race contract to the Survivor cast contractor the Big Brother houseguest contract, and youll find a lot of similarities. With around 14 episodes per season, a queen who makes it nearly all the way to the end would earn back only $5,600. Photo courtesy of Sam Branman. According to Vice writer Rachel Miller, who has spoken to many of the show's past queens, contestants spend anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 on each season. British comic Mary O'Connell emerged as the Creative Fund: Comedy Edition season's big winner and she talks to us about how she got bitten by the comedy bug, recounts her experience on the . or something stupid like that, she said. Theres a visible shock on my face at being called ratchet., This points to the additional hurdles that Black contestants have to overcome. If bespoke pieces arent in a queens budget, buying something inexpensive off the rack and customizing it (or glittering the fuck out of it, as Ru told Joe Black to do with the H&M frock) might not be a feasible alternative. They usually have no dialogue on the show, mainly appearing as "eye candy" for viewers and contestants. Dont waste my time. 1. Despite putting herself in the "bitter old . 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. As such, the document below was publicly available on World of Wonders website, and that is where I obtained it. What can queens expect to receive for their time on the show? Rachel Miller is the author ofThe Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People. Additionally, for the first time in the history of drag race, the runner-up will also receive $50,000 cash prize, powered by Cash App. Make Some Aesthetic Decisions And We'll Tell You Which "Drag Race UK" Contestant You Are. I wonder if it can be discussed or not. But at what cost? Theyre working paycheck to paycheck. With that, the winning queen will also receive a cash . The biggest pitfall of Drag Race to its queens- among the long hours of filming and impending hateful tweets from the fandom - seems to overwhelmingly be the expenses of competing. Be there. From there, the amounts increased to: $2,500; $3,000; $3,500; $4,000; $5,000; $6,00 and . Latrice Royale. Courtesy of VH1. Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino / Getty Images. 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. 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 . After a rough calculation, Mic estimated that she spends somewhere around '$45,000 alone on wigs'. The contestants are said to be paid per episode, and I surmise each one of them is Queens are competing for a pretty significant prize. I could tell that, even having spent more money than I had ever even had in my life, everybody else was clearly more expensive, she said. These should, in theory, level the playing field a bit, and benefit the DIYers in the group. At the end of each episode, theres a runway competition, where they wear a look tailored to the week's themesay, leather and lace or jetset eleganza., BenDeLaCreme, of Season 6 and All Stars 3, attends an All Stars event. Season: 7. Some areeven starting their own series like Alyssa Edwards Netflix show, Haus Of Edwards or Vices series, The Trixie and Katya Show. 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. 59 votes, 46 comments. The peach-colored plastic flower necklace she is wearing ends a couple of inches above her absolutely enormous cleavage, which is nestled in the bejeweled bra of a pop star. White homos tend to know other rich white homos with money or if they dont have money, they know someone who does," Monique said. Going on the show also opens them up to the extended RuPaul and World of Wonder universe, which includes opportunities like the Werq the World world tour, and DragCon, a multi day event that happens in both Los Angeles and New York City. And it does seem to be money well spent, even without winning $100,000; contestants who appear on the show get an increased profile, which leads to more gigs and better booking fees. 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. 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. Miss Peppermint made her Broadway debut and was part of the 2021 Inauguration entertainment lineup. 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. The winners don't find out they took the crown until the show airs. Im Andy Dehnart, a writer who obsessively and critically covers reality TV, focusing on how its made and what it means. I now live in L.A., living my best life. 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. In series 3 (2018), there were four winners - Daniel Murphy, Joseph Appleton, father and son Bob and Alex . Read Next: 15 Secrets You Didn't Know About RuPaul's Drag Race, Source: Mic,In Style, Vice, Showbiz Cheatsheet. 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. Sasha Velour said she spent $4,000 for her looks, half of which she had in savings, and half of which her father loaned her. 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. 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. reality blurredis your guide to the world ofreality TVand unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. Monet X Change was in a Pepsi Superbowl commercial alongside Cardi B. They include ill health, cheating, impeding the work of the production team. (. She had gotten the dress for free from a vintage store after modeling it for them prior to being cast on the show, and the fabric and yarn for the hat she made cost $50. Follow her onTwitter. She often used her very limited downtime on the show attempting to improve the runway costumes she broughtor make new pieces on the spotand spent so much time doing that, she said, that she didnt have time to learn the lyrics for the weeks lip sync. I had sold them because I needed the money to live, Joe said. Not every reality show contestant earns asalary. 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. There are very well known designers within drag circles that sew for the Queens. The queens are exclusive to Drag Race for 24 months after their last episode airs. Network: Paramount+. The contract also notes that any appearances after the first season come with a 5% raise. RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 airs on MTV, which is available to stream on services like Philo TV ,, Sling TV, Hulu+ With Live TV and Fubo TV. Applying to the show means that the production company has the option to require me to appear in one season, but it also includes options for five more seasons, which producers can decide upon six months after the final episode airs. Yeah, my garments just arent gonna stand up to their outfits. The queens agree that the producers have the exclusive option to serve as my exclusive manager, and they cannot get a third-party manager without permission. 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. After everyone has walked the runway, queens are sorted. 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. While this means that there's a total of $200,000 up for grabs, some fans may be shocked to learn that going on the show is no guarantee of a pay-out. With that said, as the show continues to see success, the looks become more and more over-the-top and the money spent continues to increase for competitive reasons. The underground aspect of drag defined the aesthetic for a very long time., Even in earlier seasons of Drag Race, when contestants were competing for an amount of money that was unprecedented in the drag world, the runways had nowhere near the scale that they do in more recent seasons. which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased . In spite of some of the more conservative numbers quoted, it appears to me that some contestants on RuPauls Drag Race are very likely spending upwards of $15$20,000 on their wardrobes but winners are not necessarily spending the most money on their wardrobes, or splurging on a bunch of custom pieces. 4 Contestants Are Paid Per Episode. ), A lot of the looks that have feathers can be expensive, Aquaria 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. As RuPaul's Drag Race passes its 200th episode mark, many of its alums are working to ensure it remains a voice for the LGBTQ community.. Its cultural. Drag race also pays for their hotel and airfare while they're touring for the show. "If you're a Black girl, that's generally not what's happening.. If a queen returns in an additional season, such as Shangela . During some episodes of Drag Race, contestants win vacations and gowns. And Shangela and Willam both appeared in the Oscar-winning film A Star Is Born. 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.) It was easier and safer to go look for a size 13 pump in a used store than it was to go into the ladies section. . Johnny and I didn't sleep for two weeks, she said. 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 best memes from the Drag Race UK launch; Drag Race UK queen has already left Whatsapp group; RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 contestants are here ; RuPaul invited Meghan on UK Drag Race; Brooke . Although the drag queen competition series is now in its 10th season, and though contractual obligations and rules have been mentioned even on the show, I have yet to see the contracts contents discussed in-deptheven though it was available publicly online. She later competed on All Stars 1 and 4 and on RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay . If an eliminated queen is only shown in a flashback or in the previously on RuPauls Drag Race segment, that does not count as an appearance, so theyre not paid for that episode. 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. Last years event generated $9 million in sales, not to mention the $40 entry fee paid by 40,000 people. The cost of a given runway look depends mainly on how complicated and unique it is, and the materials used to make it. I had maybe $1,500 total. 15 January 2021, 16:12 Photos via VH1, I know a lot of those girls have never sewn before, Tom Fitzgerald said. Answer (1 of 6): Only some do. Get reality TV news, reviews, and recommendations in your inbox every week. And none of them have a name beginning with Q, U, X, or Z. (Bob said she and Derrick have talked about it and are cool now.), Monique Heart pointed out that young queens of color dont always have the kind of community support that allows them to embrace activities like, say, reading Vogue or playing with makeup while they are still in high school. If I went back on Drag Race now, Id probably be spending $2040,000, she said. We had a whole feather runway on our season, which I know was financially crazy for the girls. Her words: "That outfit off the rack was a huge disappointment to me. The other mermaid looks like your friends ex-stepmom celebrating her third divorce with a trip to Vegas: Her luscious margarita-green hair is accented by a headband topped with starfish, seashells, jewels, and fake flowers. 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 . Brooke Lynn Heights, 2019's US runner-up, shares ALL the behind-the-scenes info you need to know. Not every dedicated viewer is a fan of the shiftand not every queen who appears on the show can keep up. However, flashbacks and episode recaps are not included as appearances. Producers own the rights and proceeds for anything the queens do on the show, which includes characters, songs, and anything they say about themselves (elements of my life story). The cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World has been announced.. " RuPaul's Drag Race " Season 14 will crown America's next drag superstar on April 22 when the finale airs on VH1. I spent more on this competition than I did on college, Cracker replies solemnly, and a moment of silence falls over both queens. wayiswho . That is what they did. Sasha, who won Season 9, said the most expensive item she wore on RuPaul's Drag Race was the medieval tapestryinspired look topped with a bloody horn she put together for a Sexy Unicorn runway challenge. I don't need a small, delicate hidden zipper, she said. Up until the 80s and the 90s, drag queens essentially dressed in vintage clothing, Fitzgerald told VICE. Bob the Drag Queen, winner of Chi's season, told Vice, "If I went back on Drag Race now, I'd probably be spending $20-40,000." That's an astounding amount seeing as how she only spent around $4,000 her first time around. "RuPaul's Drag Race." "RuPaul's Drag Race" has been on the air for 12 years. However, they are not allowed to plug their own stuff. Below is the contract the contestants had to sign for RuPauls Drag Race season eight, which is the season Bob the Drag Queen won and the last season to be broadcast on Logo. Photo: Santiago Felipe. Girl. For Season 6, the fan site TARFlies found that the team placing 11th and eliminated first was given $1,500. To grab the brass ring you have to be a seriously fierce b*tch. 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. How Much Do Drag Race Contestants Get Paid Per Episode. Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for World Of Wonder Productions. Latrice Royale was ranked in the tenth position on the list. (The pandemic decimated live entertainment, including drag performances.) ET and 2:45 p.m. PT . Photo via VH1. If a contestant enters on the first day and . So not only did I need to find the money, but I also needed to get the costumes again.. 2. Apr 23 2022. The Masked Singer UK season . But if I make it all the way, its going to be this expensive rental. Were looking for Great Britains next superstar. This statement rings true as viewership of the show continues to rapidly expand along with the program's prize money for lucky contestants. So when they called me cheap, I understood why., Yvie Oddly on the Season 11 finale red carpet. Though the pressure of looking like a million bucks weighs on each queen that walks into the competition, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity cajoles competitors to readily dig into their savings. Competing on Drag Race is expensive. She also said that shed been setting aside money in the hopes of getting on the show, but that her savings was not a lot. Yup. The tops and bottoms then receive critiques from the four judges (typically including a celebrity guest judge) on their runway outfit, hair, and makeup, as well as on their performance in the maxi challenge. OBSESSED with the fact that there's no cash prize for Drag Race UK, just the WOWPresents series that most US queens get just for showing up Lex (@lexfirth) October 3, 2019 While the majority of Drag Queens can sew, not all of them sew their own clothes for Drag Race. To say that VH1's smash hit RuPaul's Drag Race has taken the world by storm would be a complete understatement. The weight of her financial setbacks became a key detour of her confidence as she looked around at all the thousand dollar gowns of her competitors. After stunning us with that international all stars season, 2022 gives us another long-awaited first . Contestants agree to participate in sponsor integrations, which includes naming, identifying, wearing, using, describing, demonstrating or interacting with sponsors products or services. And you make beauty out of that.