”There’s not a lot of gigs, there’s an over surge of queens,” said Season 15 contestant Salina EsTitties in an interview with PRIDE. “There’s no answer. I think it’s just the economy and I think gay bars and spaces are struggling as a whole.” Despite stating that much of the fanbase is younger and that Drag Race alums would rather their fans not know this inconvenient truth, Salina underscores the importance of community support in these challenging times, support that we, as fans, can provide to our beloved queens.
Los Angeles, CA – January 15: Cast members from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” arriving at the 75th Primetime … [+]
Following Salina’s PRIDE interview, popular Youtuber Bussy Queen highlighted another Drag Race alum, this time from the Belguiqe spin-off, Chloe Clark. Chloe talked in depth on the X app about having an empty schedule despite putting the last of her savings into her drag, with other queens echoing her sentiments. Despite these challenges, the resilience of these queens is truly inspiring.
Many queens on Drag Race are still able to find success; however, with the show going into its 17th season and with the franchise expanding internationally with 10 spin-offs and several other all-star seasons, contestants must find new ways to break through to the fanbase. Even with these challenges, numerous success stories give hope to the queens and fans alike.
While the drag scene is saturated with talent, social media has helped revolutionize the scene, allowing many queens to succeed through virality. Twin contestants Sugar and Spice, who appeared alongside Salina on Season 15, gained fame long before Drag Race by building a large following on TikTok’s social media app. Even in previous seasons, queens like Jasmine Masters, initially eliminated in the third episode of Season 7, have managed to attract a significant fan base. Some of these fans may not have watched her season when it aired. Still, they grew to appreciate her entertaining personality and humor showcased in her now-viral videos, some of which are quoted even by non-Drag Race fans. In 2019, Jasmine was even recognized by GIPHY for her popular “and I oop—” GIF. Through her lives on Instagram she, like other queens who have found similar success, has been able to connect directly with their audience and build their fanbase. Other queens, like season 6 favorite Vivacious, have connected with her fans by playing into their love of her ornate headpiece “Ornacia” and DJing during her lives, expanding her reach and offering new and independent connections that go beyond the confines offered by “traditional” drag gigs.
LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 20: Cast member of season seven of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Jasmine Masters … [+]
We’ve also seen queens who didn’t win the show, like the Vixen from season 10, carve out their own place in the industry by putting on touring shows like “Black Girl Magic” and collaborating with other famous queens from the franchise, like All Stars 4 winner Shea Coulee and season 1 winner BeBe Zahara Benet, to create the first installation of the stellar “Nubia” tour.
Outside of the success that social media has to offer, queens have taken to X to add their point-of-view-related gigs after the show. With the continued growth of Drag Race, both domestically and internationally, the fanbase continues to grow, and queens still have the hope of finding their niche and ability to thrive. Drag Race as a show is constantly evolving. If the queens’ recent conversations offer any indicator, how drag is done in the entertainment industry is also changing.
Queens like Salina Estitties and Chloe Clark have helped bring a conversation about what life is like after drag race to the forefront. Like any reality TV show, Being on Drag Race doesn’t guarantee a career after the show for its contestants, but it does open doors where others weren’t before, and that’s what the show is about. Every single contestant has already shown their merit by walking into the werk room, and we as fans can do what we can to support them, even if it’s just by sharing their stories and point of view.
