Dark Secrets Of RuPaul’s Drag Race

1. It's taped in Charles Manson's home!

Image source/ stylistThis is something the majority of fans will not know. RuPaul’s Drag Race has actually been taped on a soundstage which is located in the Simi Valley in California. This was home to none other than Charles Manson’s family. So, the setting of RuPaul's Drag Race has a very dark and disturbing past.

2. Some queens believe the entire season has been rigged

Image source/ lifehackerIt has been a circulated rumour that some queens think the entire season of Drag Race has been rigged. For example, even the dating of the show makes it seem fairly clear to fans who will be the winner of the season. Some queens feel the same as though winners are picked at the start.

3. The controversial She-mail

Image source/ expressandstarIf you're a fan of the show, you'll remember the controversial She-mail. But it brought up issues and questions of trans-phobia particularly because some of the contestants had come out as trans. And so, it was eventually scrapped so that this segment of the show no longer happens.

4. Queens are locked in their bedrooms after filming

Image source/ theegsuduThis is not something that is often revealed because it sounds very drastic. But as we know during filming queens are allowed limited contact with world. So of course, the queens are not physically locked in like prisoners, they are not allowed as part of their contract to meet anybody else.

 5. No outside contact during filming

Image source/ filmdailyAlong similar lines not only are the queens supposed to stay inside their assigned hotel after filming, but they are also not allowed any outside contact with the world. This is because they could catch wind of their public perception which may affect their performances.

6. 12 hours in heels

Image source/ SBSThe queens do not have an easy time during filming. The days are long and hard and tiring and what makes it worse is the fact that the queens have to spend up to 12 hours a day. Now that sounds like agony - particularly considering the fact that those heels are definitely not kitten heels and have a pretty huge stiletto.

7. Willam was kicked off for breach of contract

Image source/ thestrasworldwideRemember Willam? He was kicked off due to a breach of contract. This is because his partner was visiting the hotel in which the contestants were staying. And as we know, this is against the contract which says no contact with the outside world. And so, he was kicked off the season despite being one of the most experienced queens.

8. TV Networks were initially wary

Image source/ contestantsdragConsidering we think of ourselves as a progressive world, it's a bit shocking to think that TV networks were so wary about the concept of RuPaul's Drag Race because of the content of the show. So, they were a little reluctant to trial it at first. It seems the world was more ready for it than everybody assumed.

9. Perez Hilton and Michelle Visage's beef

Image source/ HuffPostPerez Hilton is a famous social media blogger who writes about popular culture. He very controversially announced the winner of season three as a spoiler. Which...made him very unpopular in some people's eyes such as Michelle Visage who is RuPaul's best friend. The two of them had some tension on I'm a celebrity.

10. Being set-up to fail

Image source/ filmdailySome contestants feel that they were pretty much set up to fail on the show. They felt that the material they have been given is totally unsubstantial in comparison to what others are given. Phi Phi O’Hara felt this way as she thought her material was completely inadequate by comparison and that she had been made to fail.

11. Even RuPaul laughs at season one

Image source/ primetimerThe majority of RuPaul Drag Race fans have not even watched season 1. This is because if you look back...the quality is pretty terrible. In fact, to make it appear more glamorous the producers put a filter across the entire series which looks hilariously amateur. RuPaul himself laughs at it and calls season one the pilot run.

12. Merle Ginsberg pushed out by Michelle Visage

Image source/ accessonlineMichelle Visage as we know is one of RuPaul's closest friends and she had experience hosting, so she was always intended to be the host of Drag Race. Other commitments meant she couldn't do the first two seasons and so Merle Ginsberg did it but as soon as Visage was available, he was immediately pushed out of his role.

13. The contestants have some prior challenge knowledge

Image source/ AttitudeIt is a continuous question of fans who watch the show how the contestants manage to look so surprised by the challenges, but always manage to have the right things considering the challenges can be ultra-specific. What happens is that they are given a list of things they need to bring and so the contestants have hints at what will arise.

14. There are arguments behind set

Image source/ thedailydotIt is not all smiles and love on RuPaul's Drag Race. In fact, what we see ON the show is sometimes just the surface of what is really going on behind the scenes. In fact, there are often arguments behind the scenes which are not aired on the show. Competition is rife between the queens.

15. RuPaul doesn't remember all the names

Image source/ dailymirrorWhen it's your show there is an expectation that you would remember the name of your contestants. Not RuPaul. He apparently can't remember the name of most of his contestants, not even just a few - which, might be a little insulting if you are one of them.

16. RuPaul wanted no bad blood

Image source/ EonlineRuPaul does not like reality TV. Ironic, we know. But what he really dislikes about it is the fact that reality tv shows people up or embarrasses people so that we can laugh at them. RuPaul specifically wanted this not to be the case for Drag Race because he wanted no bad blood.

17. Contestants know they are going to be eliminated

Image source/ thedailynewsIf you see any shocked faces when a contestant is eliminated it is all for show because contestants do know when they're time on the show has come to an end. That being said, the rest of the contestants often do not know, so that reactions are as authentic as possible.

18. Hotels have sent checkout letters before they knew

Image source/ RedditAs we have just discussed, many participants already knew when they were being eliminated but measures have been taken to stop this. Imagine finding out that you were being eliminated by receiving your hotel checkout. This is what one participant claimed had happened to her.

19. He came up with the concept in his garage

Image source/ NMEWhen you think about the creations of some of the most popular ideas, we think that they must have been born in some extraordinary way. But it's often not the case. RuPaul was just in his garage at the time when he started to develop the concept for the show.

20. Multiple endings are filmed for each queen

Image source/ contestantsdragMultiple endings are filmed for each queen. Because if they don't want anyone to know who the winner will be they can't just ask for the winner to do a victory video. So, they get one from each contestant. It's also a good way to stop spoilers because it keeps everyone in the dark.

21. The crew follow what fans are saying

Image source/ CBSThe contestants have no idea what the public perception of them is because of the lack of outside contact. But this is not the case for the crew who keep really up to date with what fans watching the show are thinking. They follow social media to keep up with what's popular and what is not.

22. Five suitcases are allowed

Image source/ dailyglamourHow much stuff must these queens have for all of their challenges. A lot - but not an infinite amount. They are each allowed five suitcases. Which thinking about it is a heck of a lot of stuff considering we take one case for a full holiday, but it's necessary for all of the challenges.

23. No vegetarian options

Image source/ contestantsdragFilming for RuPaul's Drag Race is not exactly known for its inclusive dietary options. There is apparently no vegetarian choices when it comes to the provided dinners. So, the veggies of the cast are left picking out the vegetable sides or taking the parts of the meal with no meat.

24. Drama on social media

Image source/ contestantsdragSocial media is full of drama - always. And it is definitely no exception when it comes to the contestants on the Drag Race be it before or after the show. Often, it is online arguments between contestants who feel that they were unfairly positioned on the show.

25. A 2/3 day week

Image source/ blogspotWhen we see a week on the show it is not actually a seven-day week at all. The filming for the entire week is done over a 2- or three-day period. Instead of prolonging filming into manageable days they prefer to pack the days full of intense filming because it cuts production costs massively.

26. The cocktails are watered down

Image source/ wordpressThe Untucked run down of the show is still going strong. And remember when the contestants all sit in the back room sipping on glamorous cocktails? They're not quite as glamorous as they seem. They are very watered down and are more for appearance than anything.

27. Unpopular Viewing

Image source/ stevescaliseRuPaul's Drag Race has definitely made its fair share of unpopular decisions when it comes to the structure of the show. One of these was when there was the coupling up challenges, but fans felt that queens who should have been saved were eliminated. Then they introduced those who had been eliminated coming back and pick their top two which did not go down well with fans.

28. Sahara Davenport's death

Image source/ EnewsSahara Devenport was a queen on one of the seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was eliminated and did not win the show, nevertheless, her legacy remained due to her making such a massive impact on the show. Sadly, she died a couple of years later due to a heart condition.

29. Alaska's mega tantrum

Image source/ pinterestAlaska had a major tantrum. She was doing very well on the show and had won the majority of competitions - 4 out of the 6. But she realised her time might have come to an end and she was in danger of going home. She offered another contestant 10,000 dollars to stay in.

30. Roxy Andrew's Preferential Treatments

Image source/ gaytimesRoxy Andrews stayed in the competition a long time...longer than some people thought she should have. However, she had a very good technique of keeping her friends on her good side so that they would never eliminate her. For example. Alaska said, “Roxy lent me the shirt that I’m wearing. How could I send her home?”