RuPaul’s Drag Race: Breaking Down Barriers with First Transgender Winner – Kylie Sonique
We are all keenly aware that RuPaul’s Drag Race is one of the most progressive shows in history, if it doesn’t already possess the title.
But the show hasn’t represented the trans-community very well, up to now.
During its first decade on the air, the show received a lot of flak from the trans-community but, with Kylie’s win, this is all behind them.
Fans will remember that RuPaul made some very transphobic remarks back in 2018 which put him in a very regressive light and there was a “Drag race Revolt.”
In an interview with Vox RuPaul had made some statements that many current and former contestants at the time didn’t agree with.
RuPaul’s Drag Race: ‘It Changes Everything We’re Doing’
In the interview, the reality tv star hand indicated that Peppermint, who made it to the finals of Season 9 after coming out transgender on the show, would not have been allowed to compete if she had already started her gender-affirming surgery.
He said, “It changes everything we’re doing.”
RuPaul’s response was probably not what was expected. There was a lot of disappointment from many levels of the LGBTQ community.
Peppermint had feared that coming out transgender would have gotten her banned from the Drag Race World and had been relieved that it didn’t happen that way, gave a very ambiguous response:
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Ready to Make Transgender History
All that aside, RuPaul ultimately learned from the experience because jumping forward to 2021 and the show has made history.
Fans will remember that Sonique has first appeared on the show 11 years ago in Season 2.
In the 11 years since she has clearly learned a lot about drag and she was able to apply it smashingly on the show for the win.
On September 2 RuPaul declared Kylie Sonique Love the winner.
The race was close, and it came down to a split-second change made by Love.
The task at hand was for contestants to produce an additional verse to Rupaul’s song, This is Our Country, in front of Judges.
Love had decided to take this moment to address the disrespect that she had experienced as a transgender.
RuPaul’s Drag Race: ‘My Foot Caught in my Dress’
She wore an American-flag styled dress for her performance and did smashingly until she nearly fell flat on her face but, amazingly turned the fumble into a body roll that ended with her striking a pose.
Kylie later tweeted a video of her performance and fumble recovery, writing, “Oh my GOD!!!! I slipped on my boa and my foot got caught in my dress, I seen everything going in slow motion and what learned in gymnastics was when you fall you roll out of it, and make it look good! I love y’all so much for the support I am honored to be your new queen! TBC.”
Production for Season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race began in May, and it has been decided that it will be airing on VH1, but a premiere date has not yet been revealed.
