History Creator / RuPaul

* IAmNotSpock[[invoked]]: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses. However, this can be seen as being played straight as far as his drag persona; in more recent years the only only time he dresses in drag regularly is for his main show ''Drag Race'' (and even then, only for the last third of an episode), otherwise in all of his other shows (''Drag U'', ''Gay for Play'', ''Skin Wars'') he appears exclusively out of drag.

* IAmNotSpock[[invoked]]: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses.

* ''RuPaul Is: Starbooty!'' as Starbooty

Ru was born in 1960 in San Diego, UsefulNotes/{{California}}. His affectionately-foulmouthed mother gave him his distinctive name to encourage him to become a star, because as she put it, "Ain't no motherfucker alive got a name like that!" At the age of 15, he moved with his older sister to UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, where he started his performing career, dabbling in drag, acting, and singing in his glam rock back Wee Wee Pole. And selling used cars by day. After nine years in Atlanta, Ru moved to New York City in 1984 with fellow drag queen Lady Bunny to go for the big time. In addition to taking the crowded NYC drag scene by storm, his first mainstream appearance was as a backup dancer in Music/TheB52s' video for "Love Shack." From there, he made several friends in the media and became known to the general public for his [[OneSceneWonder brief]] but [[HeyItsThatGuy memorable]] bit parts in films.

* TropeCodifier: Even before ''Drag Race'', Ru has been ''the'' face of Drag in the North America. He's basically the [[TransAtlanticEquivalent American equivalent]] of Dame Edna.

* GLBTFanbase: For obvious reasons, [=RuPaul=] is practically a deity in queer pop culture. Many drag queens cite him as their inspiration to do drag.

* GLBTFollowing: For obvious reasons, [=RuPaul=] is practically a deity in queer pop culture. Many drag queens cite him as their inspiration to do drag.

Ru is also a recording artist, having released ''ten'' studio albums as of 2016. His debut single [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9LOrHU8JI "Supermodel (You Better Work)]]" was the theme song for MAC commercials during his years as their spokesmodel, and became a minor US chart hit in 1992. He's also collaborated with the likes of Music/EltonJohn, Taylor Dayne, and Martha Wash.

Ru was born in 1960 San Diego, UsefulNotes/{{California}}. His affectionately-foulmouthed mother gave him his distinctive name to encourage him to become a star, because as she put it, "Ain't no motherfucker alive got a name like that!" At the age of 15, he moved with his older sister to UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, where he started his performing career, dabbling in drag, acting, and singing in his glam rock back Wee Wee Pole. And selling used cars by day. After nine years in Atlanta, Ru moved to New York City in 1984 with fellow drag queen Lady Bunny to go for the big time. In addition to taking the crowded NYC drag scene by storm, his first mainstream appearance was as a backup dancer in Music/TheB52s' video for "Love Shack." From there, he made several friends in the media and became known to the general public for his [[OneSceneWonder brief]] but [[HeyItsThatGuy memorable]] bit parts in films.

Ru was born in 1960 SanDiego, UsefulNotes/{{California}}. His affectionately-foulmouthed mother gave him his distinctive name to encourage him to become a star, because as she put it, "Ain't no motherfucker alive got a name like that!" At the age of 15, he moved with his older sister to UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, where he started his performing career, dabbling in drag, acting, and singing in his glam rock back Wee Wee Pole. And selling used cars by day. After nine years in Atlanta, Ru moved to New York City in 1984 with fellow drag queen Lady Bunny to go for the big time. In addition to taking the crowded NYC drag scene by storm, his first mainstream appearance was as a backup dancer in Music/TheB52s' video for "Love Shack." From there, he made several friends in the media and became known to the general public for his [[OneSceneWonder brief]] but memorable bit parts]] in films.

'''[=RuPaul=] Andre Charles''', known mononymously as '''[=RuPaul=]''', is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, supermodel, entrepreneur, and {{drag queen}}. By far ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' preeminent face of drag in North America and much of the western world, he's been a pop culture fixture for much of the 90's and later became known as the creator and host of ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace'', which not only revived his own career, but has become partly responsible for bringing the art of drag into mainstream popular culture since its debut in 2009. Outside of that show, he's famous for his many, ''[[HeyItsThatGuy many]]'' bit acting roles in American film and television, as well as being the first ever drag queen supermodel (for MAC Cosmetics).

Ru was born in 1960 UsefulNotes/SanDiego, California. His mother gave him his distinctive name to encourage him to become a star, because as his affectionately foul-mouthed mama put it, "Ain't no motherfucker alive got a name like that!" At the age of 15, he moved with his older sister to UsefulNotes/Atlanta, where he started his entertaining career, dabbling in drag, acting, and singing in his glam rock back Wee Wee Pole. And selling used cars by day. After nine years in Atlanta, Ru moved to New York City in 1984 with fellow drag queen Lady Bunny to go for the big time. In addition to take the crowded NYC drag scene by storm, his first mainstream appearance was as a backup dancer in Music/TheB52s' video for "Love Shack." From there, he made several friends in the mainstream and became known to the general public for his [[OneSceneWonder brief but memorable bit parts]] in films.

'''[=RuPaul=] Andre Charles''', known mononymously as '''[=RuPaul=]''', is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, supermodel, entrepreneur, and {{drag queen}}.

Perhaps ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' preeminent face of drag in the United States, he's best known as the creator and host of ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace'', which has become partly responsible for bringing the art of drag into mainstream popular culture since its debut in 2009. Outside of that show, he's famous for his many, ''[[HeyItsThatGuy many]]'' bit acting roles in American film and television, as well as being the first ever drag queen supermodel (for MAC Cosmetics).

Ru is also a recording artist, having released ''ten'' studio albums to date. His single [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9LOrHU8JI "Supermodel (You Better Work)]]" was a minor US chart hit in 1992, and he's collaborated with the likes of Music/EltonJohn, Taylor Dayne, and Martha Wash.

* ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace'' (2009 -- present) {{as himself}}

* HeyItsThatGuy: Ru has appeared in many films and televisions shows as either one (or both) of his personas, to the point where people unsavvy to the drag race would at least recognize him by and/or face.

* TropeCodifier: Ru has essentially become ''the'' face of Drag in the United States, partly thanks to the mainstream proliferation of ''Drag Race'' in popular culture; he's basically the [[TransAtlanticEquivalent American equivalent]] of Dame Edna.

Perhaps ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' preeminent face of drag in the United States, he's best known as the creator and host of ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace'', which has become partly responsible for bringing the art of drag into mainstream popular culture since its debut in 2009. Outside of that show, he's famous for his many, ''[[HeyItsThatGuy many]]'' bit acting roles in American film and television.

'''[=RuPaul=] Andre Charles''', known mononymously as '''[=RuPaul=]''', is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, entrepreneur, and {{drag queen}}.

'''[=RuPaul=] Andre Charles''', known mononymously as '''[=RuPaul=]''', is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, and {{drag queen}}.

* ''Gay for Play'' (2016 -- present) as himself (out of drag)

* ''Gay for Play'' (2016 -- present) {{as himself}}

* MainstreamObscurity[[invoked]]: Has gone on record as stating that despite the great leaps and bounds drag has taken towards acceptance in popular culture, that it'll never become truly "mainstream". A large part of this is due to the fact he says no matter how popular his show ''Drag Race'' or drag in general may become, it will ever be taken seriously by the masses, and will always be seen in some aspect in a humorous light.

* PlatonicLifePartners: With Michelle Visage, one of his closest friends. They co-hosted ''The [=RuPaul=] Show'' together, and he brought her onto ''Drag Race'' when Merle Ginsberg left. They also host the ''What's The Tee?'' podcast together, and she's typically the emcee of ''Drag Race'''s annual touring show.

* MainstreamObscurity: Has gone on record as stating that despite the great leaps and bounds drag has taken towards acceptance in popular culture, that it'll never become truly "mainstream". A large part of this is due to the fact he says no matter how popular his show ''Drag Race'' or drag in general may become, it will ever be taken seriously by the masses, and will always be seen in some aspect in a humorous light.

--> '''[=RuPaul=]:''' "
It's not my passion. The only time you will ever see me in drag is when I am ... what? Getting paid. It is my job."

* IAmNotSpock[invoked]: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses.

* IAmNotSpock: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses.

* IAmNotSpock:[[AvertedTrope]] Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses.

* IAmNotSpock[[AvertedTrope]]: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses.

* IAmNotSpock[AvertedTrope]: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses.

* IAmNotSpock: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his name, and not just an pseudonym he uses.