The amazing talent of RuPaul now stretches more than two decades after he burst onto the scene back in 1993 with the No. 2 Billboard Dance Chart hit single “Supermodel (of the World).” He has released six albums, been in more than 20 films such as The Brady Bunch Movie, Too Wong Foo…Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and But I’m a Cheerleader. He hosted his own talk show on VH1 in the mid-’90s called The RuPaul Show and guested on dozens of other television shows.
He has authored two books, Lettin’ It All Hang Out and Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Style. RuPaul was also a MAC cosmetics spokesperson who raised millions of dollars for the MAC AIDS Fund. All that just for selling lipstick! And in 1999, RuPaul won the GLADD Vito Russo Award for his contributions in making a significant difference in promoting equality for the LGBT community.
In this exclusive interview, Ru talks candidly about his new album, Born Naked, RuPaul’s Drag Race and shares a day in the life of RuPaul.
Boy Mike: Hi Ru. It’s been a long time.
RuPaul: Boy Mike, you old geezer. (Laughs.)
Oh you! How are ya?
I’m doing fabulous, darling.
I haven’t talked with you in like two years.
It’s been a long time.
You were born here in San Diego and some of your family still lives here. Do you get down here very often to see them?
Not as often as I would like. But I get to see them. They come up here (to Los Angeles) a lot. We see each other once every two months or so.
Any words for your San Diego readers?
Enjoy the loveliness of that city. It’s very easy to take it for granted. But trust me; it’s not as beautiful in other places on this planet.
What one word describes how you are feeling today?
I feel excited. I’m so excited for the new season of Drag Race and my new album Born Naked that come out on the very same day. I’m just bursting at the seams.
So, tell me about your new album.
It’s called Born Naked and it has so many genres of music on it. It’s mostly a duets album. I have guests like Big Freida, Michelle Visage, Martha Wash, Frankmusik and many more.
So, how many girls are competing in Drag Race this year?
It’s 14. We’ve got a great group of gals this year who are just amazing. It just gets better every year. It’s just the nature of boys who are overtly creative. It’s the nature of this creature that can be so interesting and so beautiful to watch. And so every year, I’m never disappointed.
What if some of your fans don’t get Logo TV on their cable systems?
Well, ya know you can get it on Logo’s Web site and they have a new free app where some fans have already seen the first episode.
Who are you having on the show as celebrity judges this year?
We’ve got Paula Abdul, Adam Lambert, Cheryl Lee Ralph, Neil Patrick Harris and his partner David Burtka and Khloe Kardashian. This list just goes on and on. It’s so much fun. They all had a blast doing the show.
At what point in your career did you finally tell yourself that you had made it?
Ya know I believe it was when I did The Arsenio Hall Show 20 years ago. Ya know it’s funny I am actually taping a new appearance today. Wow, 20 years!
Will you be in drag or out of drag?
I’m not gonna be in drag. Ya know, the only time you can get me in drag is if you pay me. Cash money. (Laughter.)
So, you’ve done many movies. Do you have any dream roles?
Well, I’d love to do a Drag Race movie. I’d love to put all our girls, which at this point are 75 girls, all in one movie. That would be my dream.
Describe a day in the life of RuPaul.
Let me just describe my day yesterday. I got up and exercised then did my Tweeting. I had to sequence the new album because we mastered it yesterday. And then do my regular business. I learned some lines for an audition I had yesterday. I went in for the audition at Paramount for a sitcom. It always weirds me out to see other famous people going out for the same role as me. And you’re like, wait a minute, that’s so and so going for the same role. Then, I had a conversation with Lucian, my producer, because he was in the studio mastering the new album. So, I left there and had lunch. And then I got ready to go onto the set of this other film I am working on at Manhattan Beach where I worked until 1 o’clock in the morning. Went home to bed. Woke up at 6:30 the next day and started all over again.
What does the word ‘diva’ mean to you?
Oh it’s the word that people use because they can’t think of anything else. (Big laugh!)
Of the famous people you know, who do you consider the ultimate diva?
Oh Judge Judy by far.
Do you have any advice for teens who are discovering their sexuality?
Well, it’s important for teens regardless of discovering their sexuality to know thyself. That is the most important word, most important message for everybody. If you’re a teen or an adult, know thyself. Be willing to invest in getting to know yourself. And to not judge harshly what you find out about yourself. Because sometimes it’s not what you would expect.
What would you like engraved on your tombstone once you’re dead and gone?
“You better WORK!” or, “You’re born naked and the rest is drag.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race entered an unbelievable sixth season on Logo TV while on the same day, Feb. 24, RuPaul dropped his latest album, Born Naked. For more information about RuPaul go to www.rupaul.com or http://logo.to/1fUM3bm
