History Series / RuPaulsDragRace

* TeethClenchedTeamWork:

* TookALevelInJerkAss:

** ''Drag Race UK'', the British version of the show, which began in late 2019 and assembles queens from across the four Home Nations of the United Kingdom; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Despite initial fears of a simple rehash, the show has garnered a strong following both at home and abroad -- mostly due to the difference in British versus American drag. British drag has its roots in more raw, less glamorous venues (pubs, working-men's clubs, etc), and lacks the look-based pageant/ballroom culture of the US drag scene, which lends the UK iteration a tone that is a little grittier, more humour-based, and full of outrageously shocking language. And since there's no big cash prize, the queens are more able to have fun and not outgun each other like their American counterparts.[[note]]In some ways, the US and UK drag scenes (before drag became more universally mainstream) are relatively antithetical and each other's {{Foil}}. It's not a universal truth, but historically, in the prominent ball culture and pageantry of the American drag scene, the 'rich lady' lifestyle is celebrated and aspired to, with queens, often from (very) humble backgrounds, wanting to be like the rich, ''Series/{{Dynasty}}''-style women they portray -- see ''Film/ParisIsBurning'' for additional insight. However, the British drag scene, especially with classic pub queens, compères and the venerable institution of the [[{{Pantomime}} pantomime dame]] in mind, has its origins in ''making fun of'' and sending up the affectations, cattiness and airs and graces of the aspirational women of the middle-classes, who would have (certainly in the past) been a higher step up on the British social class ladder than the more humble drag performers (and their appreciative audiences). There's nothing the British love more than poking fun at class distinction and, for the working-class, indulging in a spot of ''épater la bourgeoisie''.[[/note]] Ru has clearly leaned into the British setting in a big way, and along with a newly badged, [[BritishRoyalGuards Queen's Guards]] themed "Brit-Crew", he has tasked the queens with a multitude of British-themed challenges and main-stage looks: "[[Film/MyFairLady Day at the Races]]," "[[Series/DowntonAbbey Downton Draggy]], "[[Franchise/JamesBond Bond Girl Glamorama]]", "[[UsefulNotes/{{Wimbledon}} Wimbled'Hun]]" and of course, '''THE''' (former) Queen herself, UsefulNotes/Elizabeth II. When Ru quizzes The Vivienne on the subject, she perfectly sums up all of the above: ''"I want to go to the pub on a Sunday, get a pint, and have someone like Baga make me laugh."''

The ''Drag Race'' franchise has also expanded internationally, although Ru only hosts and judges series with her name on them. This started with Chile's ''The Switch Drag Race'' in 2015, ''Drag Race Thailand'' in 2018, and ''Series/RuPaulsDragRaceUK'' in 2019. ''Canada's Drag Race'' and ''Drag Race Holland'' followed in 2020 (the latter of which having the distinction of being the first to complete production and air during the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic) while further new additions in 2021 included ''Series/RuPaulsDragRaceDownUnder'', ''Drag Race España'', ''Drag Race Italia'', and spiritual spinoff ''Series/QueenOfTheUniverse''. ''Series/DragRacePhilippines'' and ''Drag Race France'' joined the family in 2022, as well as the new ''Versus the World'' format, functioning as an international ''All Stars'' with seasons based in the UK and Canada franchises. Even more spinoffs premiered throughout 2023, including the likes of ''Drag Race Belgique'', ''Drag Race Sverige'', and ''Series/DragRaceMexico'', ''Drag Race Brasil'', and ''Series/DragRaceGermany''.

** ''Canada's Drag Race'', the Canadian version of the show began in 2020. Like the UK version above, the show maintains the same overall premise, but with its own twists. The Canadian iteration is further removed from the original than the UK version, as for one, Ru is absent from the judging panel and only appears OncePerEpisode via video message to deliver the weekly challenges. The judges are made up of ''Drag Race US'' (but Canadian) alumna Brooke Lynn Hytes as the lead judge, alongside fashion model Stacey [=McKenzie=], actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and a weekly guest judge. In tone, the series is fairly similar to the US version, but the [[CanadaEh levels of hysteria are toned down somewhat]], and due to Canada being a francophonic nation there is also a liberal smattering of [[EveryoneLooksSexierIfFrench French chic]] via the Québecoise queens and memorably hilarious challenges like ''Night of a Thousand [[Music/CelineDion Celines]]''. While the US version has been criticized for favoring contestants with high wardrobe budgets over anything else, the Canadian version has had more unpolished looks but strong performances and lip syncs.

* CanadaEh: ''Canada's Drag Race'', which premiered in July 2020, and wasted little time in playing up Canadian cultural references. The Werk Room doorway has a giant maple leaf around it. One of the queens even walked the runway while eating ''cheese curds.'' There was even a Music/CelineDion-themed runway.

** ''Drag Race Italia'' (2021 -- present): The eighth international spinoff, based in UsefulNotes/{{Italy}}, and the fourth in Europe. Hosted by drag queen Priscilla with TV personality Tommaso Zorzi and actress Chiara Francini as permanent judges.

** ''Series/RuPaulsDragRaceDownUnder'' (2021 — present): The sixth international version, the first in Oceania, and the second to be hosted by [=RuPaul=], featuring queens from UsefulNotes/{{Australia}} and UsefulNotes/NewZealand. Michelle Visage returns as one of the judges alongside Aussie comedian Rhys Nicholson.

* HomeFieldAdvantage: Every now and then, a lip sync will feature a song that very obviously plays to one queen's strengths over the other's. Some examples include Latrice vs. Kenya (to "[You Make Me Feel Like A] Natural Woman," a grand, soulful song right up Latrice's alley), Jinkx vs. Detox (to "Malambo No. 1," a campy, retro song perfect for Jinkx), and Cheryl vs. Blu (to a Girls Aloud song, which [[CelebrityImpersonator Cheryl]] obviously slayed).

*** Season 16’s Xunami Muse recently broke this record at 6 consecutive safe weeks.

* Creator/JinkxMonsoon (winner, Season 5)