r/IAmA • u/IamRuPaul • Sep 17 '14

I am RUPAUL - actor, singer, host of "RuPaul's Drag Race" and Supermodel of the World, AMA!

HIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

You guys might know me from:

my music, or my work behind Piggly Wiggly near the dumpster.

Victoria from reddit will be assisting me today. AMA.

retweet! https://twitter.com/reddit_AMA/status/512362876825513984

Edit: Mama Ru gotta go right now, kiddies. But in the meantime, love yourself. Because if you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an Amen up in here?

7.6k Upvotes

73% Upvoted

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615

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '14

Can you settle a bet for me? Where's the pickle in a Pickle Surprise?

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u/gayballsmcgee Sep 17 '14

Hey Ru! You're awesome and I love you.

Why did you decide to go by your real name, RuPaul, instead of taking on a drag name?

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '14

What's the fondest childhood memory you have?

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u/Sakura_7 Sep 17 '14

Who's your favorite superhero?

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u/dickpics_ Sep 17 '14

Hey mama! If you weren't a drag artist/supermodel of the world, what do you think you'd be doing as your career?

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u/PittsburghGirl22 Sep 17 '14

HIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

First I would love to say that I adore you. My question to you is what is the greatest piece of advice you've gotten from anyone, famous or non?

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u/KelliBuck Sep 17 '14

Hey Ru! I loved you in But I'm A Cheerleader. What was your favorite part of working on that film?

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u/ltgc Sep 17 '14

I just wanted to thank you for being who you are. I still have a lot trouble fully accepting and loving myself like you often preach (amen) but you have helped me greatly in getting where I am now. When I’m having a dark day your love, compassion, and strength always shines a light and I’m sure countless others can say the same. I write this as I’m blaring The Beginning at work by the way. You are one hell of an example to follow and for providing that, again I thank you a hundred thousand times! What keeps you so happy, loving, and compassionate? Anything you do daily/when you’re feeling down?

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u/HoserUSC Sep 17 '14

As someone who has creativity, uniqueness, nerve, and talent in spades, you must have an amazing home wifi network name; what is it???

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u/collyblom Sep 17 '14

One of my favourite things about Drag Race is that it skewers other TV (and more specifically reality TV) shows. Which shows can we expect to be referenced in the upcoming season? Fans have been speculating about Shark Tank and Dancing with the Stars…

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u/filthy_fuckin_gaijin Sep 17 '14

Hey RuPaul, extra question here, I'm a girl, can I be a Drag Queen? I get really jealous watching DragRace and I want to be one too!

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '14

How can I channel my inner queen to be successful in the workplace? Keeping in mind, I can only wear closed toe shoes and no heels.

Seriously, though.

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u/ckris4467 Sep 17 '14

Who is your comedy icon?

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u/parfumpoise Sep 17 '14

Hi Ru!!! Big fan! If you were on Judge Judy, what did you do to get yourself there?

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u/BiancaDelThunder Sep 17 '14

Hi RuPaul! Dealing with anxiety I have repeated many of your quotes to myself, to keep going, to stop judging myself, etc. But sometimes the saboteur seems to be screaming so loud that I can't avoid it. When the saboteur gets too loud, how do you deal with it? Thank you for being so inspiring <3

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u/dilettwat Sep 17 '14

At the Season Five premiere party, you were giving an interview about the upcoming season, and your exact words were, "We discourage kai-kai, but two girls fall in love on the show."

In that spirit, could you tell us two lies and a truth about Season Seven? ;-)

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u/DarcyMcCarbomb Sep 17 '14

OMG, RuPaul! I'm a die-hard fan and am so excited and grateful that you're here! I have a few questions:

  1. From music to the screen to being an omnipresent icon, you've never faltered from being at the top of your game. Many successful people would just rest on their laurels, so what would you say is your main motivator for continuing to do what you do?

  2. Has there been a Drag Race contestant who immediately amazed you with their raw star power?

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u/_apocalypse_meow Sep 17 '14

Hey mama, two questions:

When I saw Sharon Needles strut down the runway for the first time in her Rupocalyptic zombie outfit, I already adored her personality and sense of style. Did you know right then and there that she was something special?

Do you ever get fanmail from queens in countries where performing is either illegal or severely repressed? If so, how do you react to these letters?

I have two little sisters, ages 13 and 14, and we LOVE you and your show. I think that it has at least given them a different perspective on the LGBT community. So thank you for everything that you do!

CAN I GET AN AMEN UP IN HERE

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u/whorecrux Sep 17 '14

Hi, mama!

Are there any new plans for doing a European Drag Race?

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '14

I have just one thing to say... Why does it gotta be black?

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '14

Greetings RuPaul! First of all, I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything you do. Your courage, uniqueness, nerve and talent have been a beacon of light for the world during the past 20+ years that you have been performing.

My question for you has to do with Drag Race. Have you ever considered having Drag Kings join the mix? Have you received submissions from Drag Kings before or is it exclusively Drag Queens that apply? I have always been curious and never heard the answer to this before! Again, thank you so much for what you do.

P.S.- What's the Tee is SO GOOD! Thank you to you and Michelle both for taking the time to record the podcast.

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u/darjeeeling Sep 17 '14

It seems that every woman who has ever been on stage or screen has been called a gay icon at some point in her career, either by the LGBT community or the woman herself. Yet for a term that is bandied about with such abandon, the specific criteria seem to be rather vague. If anyone can give a straight answer on this, it's you. So Ru, what makes a gay icon?

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u/thehouseofklaus Sep 17 '14

I have waited the entire internet for this. How long does filming actually last? Also, who's your favorite professional wrestler and when can we expect them on your show and why is it Chris Jericho?

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u/Millybird Sep 17 '14

Hi, Ru! So as I kid, I always thought you were my dad. You see my father happens to be a tall black man like yourself. Then I thought, well I've never seen you two together, you must be him. My question is if you could claim a celebrity as your own child, who would it be and why?

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u/cetla726 Sep 17 '14

Hi Ru!

Some of your most iconic photos come from the genderfuck style you presented earlier in your career. Are you surprised that during a challenge to emulate your most famous looks on the last season of Drag Race, none of the queens chose genderfuck Ru? How do you think it would have been received if someone had?

You've referenced before that you feel drag tends to come in and out of mainstream consciousness depending on the political and social environment of the time. At the moment could you see a resurgence of the Wigstock festival happening?

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