RELATED: Mark Burnett: Reality TV's $500 Million Winner. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / FilmMagic / Getty. It took him 14 years to get a pay rise. I spent more coming into this competition than I did as the down payment on my house, Kameron says, her tone serious now. College tuition money. Its cultural. Theres a visible shock on my face at being called ratchet., This points to the additional hurdles that Black contestants have to overcome. Though the pressure of looking like a million bucks weighs on each queen that walks into the competition, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity cajoles competitors to readily dig into their savings. Read on for a list of all of the contestants who have left Drag Race UK season 4 so far, including who was eliminated in Week 9. I dont want to see any (f'n) H&M!". A post shared by RuPaul's Drag Race (@rupaulsdragrace). And so the price reflects that. After interviewing several former contestants on the show, a reporter for Vice concluded that most participants are spending anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 on their get-ups for the show. Thats what everyday people do, and you are a star. How Much Do The Contestants On RuPaul's Drag Race Make Per Episode. According to Vice writer Rachel Miller, who has spoken to many of the show's past queens, contestants spend anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 on each season. The rules acknowledge that they may not always be enforced, but it says thatfailure to enforce the rules on one occasion, or in connection with a particular Participant, shall not preculde enforcement on someone else or at another time. Ever wondered how much the contestants get paid for Love Island Australia 2021? I have to get my stuff made custom if I want my gown to touch the floor, my sleeves to touch my wrist, Bob the Drag Queen said. While this was met with exuberant expressions when it was announced to the queens on the first episode, fans and Drag Race alumi can't help but look back the eminence growth. Season 11 . Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. RuPaul's Drag Race U.K. is jumping the pond to its original U.S. network home, Logo, and will premiere Friday, October 11, at 8/7c on the cable network. For 12 runway looks, thats $5,400. One queen is named the week's winner, while the two bottom queens compete in a lip-syncing competition to avoid elimination. And Drag Race contestants received $400 per episode, according to a contract obtained by Reality Blurred. I rented from a costume shop in Queens, and it cost $500, she said. Fans can soak up drag glory in September in New York or in Los Angeles in May, . I put it on the line because this is so important.. (You just need to wear a suit!) Yeah, my garments just arent gonna stand up to their outfits. After a rough calculation, Mic estimated that she spends somewhere around '$45,000 alone on wigs'. " RuPaul's Drag Race " Season 14 will crown America's next drag superstar on April 22 when the finale airs on VH1. Winning a maxi challenge now nets a $5,000 cash prize, but that only began in Season 12 in 2020; before that, it was gift certificates for wigs and jewelry, and, eventually, in Season 11, nice vacations. After being on Drag Race, When touring, recording, merchandise and endorsements are factored in, top queens are earning in the low to mid-six figures annually,Jacob Slane, Partner and Associate Manager atProducer Entertainment Group(PEG) told Billboard. 2. Back in the olden days of Drag Race -when very first, nine fresh faced queens walked into the scarcely decorated World of Wonder set in February 2009 - the scale of the show was completely different. Filming Drag Race. But despite the number of pricey designer looks on the runway each week, its not really accurate to say that someone can simply buy themself a win (or even a better-than-average run) on Drag Race. A shining example of a queen who came into the competition with little financial resources is season 8 and All Stars 3 fan favorite, the late Chi Chi Devayne. British comic Mary O'Connell emerged as the Creative Fund: Comedy Edition season's big winner and she talks to us about how she got bitten by the comedy bug, recounts her experience on the . Following a Drag Race run, many queens use their boosted incomeas well as any prize money they took hometo re-invest in their drag career. The tops and bottoms then receive critiques from the four judges (typically including a celebrity guest judge) on their runway outfit, hair, and makeup, as well as on their performance in the maxi challenge. ), It's an unfair playing field, BenDeLaCreme, of Season 6 and All Stars 3, told VICE. Contestants on the Drag Race get paid by episode. Put another way: the value of her wardrobe was far more than the $5,000 she spent. She then also won All Stars 7 and was crowned the Queen of All Queens, taking home the . Theres an odd line that says the cast is responsible for providing their own food, drink, clothing and personal items. Their own food and drink, really? Bob the Drag Queen, winner of Chi's season, told Vice, "If I went back on Drag Race now, Id probably be spending $2040,000." Twelve $500 custom runway outfits (which, again, is on the low end) plus wigs and accessories adds up to $7,800. Several people I talked to for this article said that they dont love the proliferation of designer looks on the runway because, in many cases, queens are using money not to simply elevate their drag, but to become a different queen entirely. Go ahead and get that H&M dress or that ASOS jacket and do something with it. Photo courtesy of Sam Branman. Sasha, who won Season 9, said the most expensive item she wore on RuPaul's Drag Race was the medieval tapestryinspired look topped with a bloody horn she put together for a Sexy Unicorn runway challenge. A post shared by RuPaul's DragCon (@rupaulsdragcon). And it does seem to be money well spent, even without winning $100,000; contestants who appear on the show get an increased profile, which leads to more gigs and better booking fees. They're also expected to do interview and photoshoots as part of their time on the show. I had never spent $500 on a costume. She was runner-up that week. By commenting below, you confirm that youve read and agree to those rules. Former contestants announced that they spent anything between 2,900 and 30,000 to create jaw-dropping looks, so contestants have risked a lot for the . Dont waste my time. Joe Black had been eliminated in Episode 1, then unexpectedly brought back to replace a different contestant after the shows mid-season seven-month COVID hiatus, but had been forced to sell all of his costumes during lockdown. In response, Joe stage-whispers, Aiiitch and emmmmm, and then laughs. During casting for season eight, the process required applicants to sign this contract before they even filled out the application or uploaded a video. What does the winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' receive? Earlier in the episode, Joe had sung and danced his way through the Eurovision girl-group challenge wearing a pink knee-length dress with a high neck and puffy sleeves. But if I make it all the way, its going to be this expensive rental. If a contestant enters on the first day and . (Meanwhile, because of British TV standards, Drag Race UK contestants dont win cash prizes at all.). Johnny and I didn't sleep for two weeks, she said. I personally could give a shit if my drag looks more expensive as long as I have a roof over my head, and, like, a future, Yvie said. There is a three page exhibit attached to the agreement with the production protocol, and its a list of rules. RuPaul herself was reported to make $50,000 per episode all the way back in 2013. Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for World Of Wonder Productions. Though her bubbly, humble personality and abundant talent hoisted her into the Top 4 of the competition, this is not the case for queens that are similarly unfortunate. To share our perspectives and exchange ideas in a welcoming, supportive space, Ive created these rules for commenting here. You are here: Home. @bbciplayer. As the shows profile has grown, so too, it seems, has the budget needed to feel competitive. Jan 7 2023. Apr 23 2022. Season 10 winner Aquaria told VICE that she doesnt remember exactly what she spent on her wardrobe, but guessed that it was around $5,000. I created reality blurred 22 years ago as a place to collect interesting links I found. Series 2 (2016) was won by Nick Cummings and Ayo Adesina who took 50k each. Mostly, those are prohibitions of certain behaviors (such as drug use, photography, and physical violence) and dont get into specifics of the competition. Oh! the second mermaid, Kameron Michaels, replies knowingly. In spite of some of the more conservative numbers quoted, it appears to me that some contestants on RuPauls Drag Race are very likely spending upwards of $15$20,000 on their wardrobes but winners are not necessarily spending the most money on their wardrobes, or splurging on a bunch of custom pieces. Aquaria attends the Drag Race Season 10 finale. If a queen returns in an additional season, such as Shangela . 1 thing about this: Its a competition, all-star queen Trinity Taylor told Alabama.com. Photo via VH1, Despite the difficulties of putting together multiple outfits in a very short time span without spending a lot of money, judges (and fans) still expect the queens to look like they belong at what is often called the Olympics of drag. Contestants might be told their runway outfits look cheap or arts-and-craftsy. On the rare occasion they push back on this criticism, they arent likely to receive much sympathy. I was like, If I go and get eliminated first, at least I can say I was on it, get a couple gigs, get an increased booking fee, and keep working. RuPaul's Drag Race. The RuPaul's Drag Race winner opens up about her spending, saving, and very glamourous splurging. I've already packed all my bags, I'm already here.. Ru has always had a soft spot for those girls., Still, it isnt necessarily fun to be the broke but charming queen who is regularly in the bottom because of her runways. The high point for a synthetic would be up to about $1000, Zlotnik said. Some of it just comes down to taste, Branman said, pointing to Season 13s Utica as a recent example of someone whos got it. 22 things you didn't know about 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. Then she and her drag sisters made all of her looks from scratch. And it got worse. To wit: Alyssa Edwards starred in a reality show about her Dallas dance studio. Drag Race contestants can make a pretty penny per episode, depending on the season and their placement. And because of that lack of expression, and that lack of exposure to different forms of expression, I think that sometimes we are just confined to that which we know., Contestants of color might also not have the kinds of connections to designers and other queens that make all of this easier. The third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK will be available on BBC iPlayer weekly from Thursday 23 September. There are typically a couple of design challenges during a given season, wherein queens have to make their looks from scratch on the spot. To say that VH1's smash hit RuPaul's Drag Race has taken the world by storm would be a complete understatement. And you make beauty out of that. Mondo Guerra, a Brooklyn-based designer and Project Runway alum who has outfitted queens like Blair St. Clair, Jackie Cox, and Olivia Lux for RuPauls Drag Race, told VICE that a simple custom dress of hisi.e., a straightforward silhouette without any rhinestonescosts $700$800. In signing the contract, the participants also give away rights to anything they do on the show, including "characters, songs, and anything they say about themselves.". But it really gets to the heart and the history of what drag is: You pull it together from what you have. The series, which begins in February, will see queens from Drag Race franchises around the world compete against each other . But, like any business venture that involves startup costs, investing in a Drag Race appearance is a risk, and contestants have no way of knowing if theyll be eliminated first, or forgotten after the season ends. Nor is not having it., For me, it was [worth it]definitely, 100 percent, Heidi, who recently released GAP, her first single, said. Cast members are paid $400 per episode for their first season, and their pay increases 5 percent for future seasons: $420 per episode for their second season, $441 for their third, and so on. The queens came with costumes they'd made themselves and rarely breached the costly pricey of contestants nowadays. Throughout the time of filming, the competitors are also kept very closed off from the outside world. Is the competition classist? The men of the Pit Crew are typically dressed only in their underwear, assisting RuPaul and contestants in various challenges on the show. 4 Contestants Are Paid Per Episode. Not every reality show contestant earns asalary. Unfortunately, the stars of Married at First Sight don't exactly make bank for their time in the marriage experiment no matter how much drama, backlash or wine-throwing comes their way.. MAFS Australia contestants are only paid $150 per day for the show.Source: Nine. Im not even gonna say how much money I spent to get here, because it is She doesnt finish her sentence and instead twists her overdrawn hot pink ombre lips into a frown you could see from space. That was a lot more expensive, she said. The first mermaid looks like she loves Lush bath bombs and Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, and can usually be found swimming around in the waters of Paramus, NJ: A gold headpiece decorated with larger-than-life pearls keeps her flowing, cotton candy colored hair off her face, so her hot pink eyebrows, thick black eyelashes, and fuschia mouth are fully visible as she speaks. While most of the queens who spoke to VICE had budgets that were on the lower end, a little back-of-the-napkin math shows that a lot of queens are likely spending way more. As the onslaught of negative critiques from the judges panel towards homemade or store-bought costumes grew much harsher, prospective contestants began running to local fashion designers the second they got the call to be on the show. Last years event generated $9 million in sales, not to mention the $40 entry fee paid by 40,000 people. What Prize Does The RuPaul's Drag Race UK Winner Get? Not every dedicated viewer is a fan of the shiftand not every queen who appears on the show can keep up. It's just what you do with that in the future that really makes the difference., That said, its probably not the best use of thousands and thousands of dollars if youre not really serious about your drag career. His salary was reportedly upped to 180,000 in . Sussex resident Dakota Schiffer is making Drag Race her-story as the first UK trans contestant. Meanwhile, Joe Black got loads of love and support from viewers, and from H&M itselfthe retailer sent Joe a cake and flowers, along with free clothing. Still, phrases like a great eye or can pull off anything are the sort of fashion-industry compliments that are often only applied to people who fit a certain mold: thin and tall, for starters, and likely also white and able-bodied. Contestants agree to participate in sponsor integrations, which includes naming, identifying, wearing, using, describing, demonstrating or interacting with sponsors products or services. While its impossible to know exactly how much every queen spends to go on the show, Id estimatebased on conversations with several former contestants and the designers who often dress themcontestants are spending anywhere from $4,000 on the low end to upwards of $20,000 on the higher end. For Season 6, the fan site TARFlies found that the team placing 11th and eliminated first was given $1,500. Some even higher. Popular Days. I spent more on this competition than I did on college, Cracker replies solemnly, and a moment of silence falls over both queens. How Much Do Drag Race Contestants Get Paid Per Episode. 1. For example . Heart appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10, finishing in eighth place, and was a finalist on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 4. While this means that there's a total of $200,000 up for grabs, some fans may be shocked to learn that going on the show is no guarantee of a pay-out. In the first-ever UK series in 2015, there were four winners - Lauren English, Emily Dredge, Stephen Hardiker and Martin Cole. However, the serious money making happens postseason, which is the gift that keeps on giving. . David Petruschin (born April 8, 1979), best known as Raven, is an American drag queen, iconic make-up artist, and reality television personality from Riverside, California.Raven was a fixture in the Southern California nightclub scene before gaining international prominence for appearing in both the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the first season of All Stars. Contestants on RuPauls Drag Race earn a salary more in line with what someone might receive on Amercian Idol. Season 11 winner Yvie Oddlywho was regularly criticized by her fellow contestants for wearing trashtold VICE she spent $14,000 on her famously cheap-looking wardrobe: $2,000 of her own money (all of my bank account), $5,000 that her creative partner put on a credit card, and $7,000 that the bar where she worked sponsored her with. Because that really is the heart of drag history. So it's safe to assume that the ABC and previous GSN iterations of The Chase worked out salaries for their Chasers, but like many TV show . Which means if your lip sync for your life performance falls short youll have to sashay away and miss out. Trans women and queer men couldnt walk into a department store and buy dresses. You came out wearing a finger wave wig, and something I probably could have bought off the rack at Primark, no joke, Michelle says. Its just not gonna happen., In the moment, it feels very like, This is what I brought, she continued. When I went to Drag Race, I actually had only 33 cents in my bank account the day I showed up, she said in an episode of Gap Chat, her Wow Presents streaming show. Meanwhile, it has been widely speculated that the Masked Singer UK judges earn between $250,000 and $500,000 (around 186,000 to 372,000) to appear on the show. Latrice Royale attends 'RuPaul's Dragcon' at Los Angeles Convention Center on May 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. I could tell that I was the cheapest person there. 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The mechanisms of Drag Race make it almost impossible to not spend a fortune. Are the bigger budgets making the show better or worse? If youre just a drag queen that just wants to do drag brunch and, you know, it would be cool to get on Drag Race, Monique Heart said, Im gonna tell you not to go, cause youre gonna embarrass yourself. Destaques; Timeline; Bio; Pataco Maps; Acompanhe; PT; EN; ; Crditos; Privacidade That's an astounding amount seeing as how she only spent around $4,000 her first time around. Girl. She created nearly all of her costumes herself, along with the help of some friends. This is where the charisma really pays off. Im sitting up here spending between $4,000 and $5,000 on everything. The couple took the subway to Manhattans Garment District every day to buy fabric, and then came home and sewed all night. DeLa echoed this. Uncategorized. It was created in 2000 byAndy Dehnart, who's still writing and publishing it today. Were looking for Great Britains next superstar. As we all know, the winners split 50k between them, and the majority of the cast will go on to secure a wealth of sponsorship . And regardless of what a Black queen wears or how she presents herself, she might not be viewed as elevated or expensive., I was called ratchet on the show, famously by Michelle and Derrick, Bobwho, to be clear, does not do ratchet (or banjee) dragsaid. And there's other queens who can afford it, and literally can just be like, Make me 10 amazing outfits, and then they pack them in the suitcase and show up.. The glamour of the contestants' outfits and make-up suggests opulence and wealth, so it's easy to assume that those competing are among the rich and powerful. I literally came from poverty to where I am now. If you've already cut the cord, you can watch . If you break it down to how many hours they're filming every day it's absolutely nothing!" According to The Daily Star, 2019's Islanders will receive 250 per week to appear on the show. On "Big Brother," for example, Page Six reports competitors getting $1,000 per week of filming. There's nothing I can do about it. RuPaul's Drag Race has become one of the most popular reali. They usually have no dialogue on the show, mainly appearing as "eye candy" for viewers and contestants. While the show can give participants a popularity boost, some wonder if it's enough to fully fund a rise to stardom. Kameron Michaels on RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked. The biggest pitfall of Drag Race to its queens- among the long hours of filming and impending hateful tweets from the fandom - seems to overwhelmingly be the expenses of competing. The full contract is below, annotated with my analysis, but first, here are some key parts of the contract: All reality blurred content is independently selected, including links to products or services. And this goes to all of you up here: If it is from H&M, you better glitter the fuck out of it, and make it something special. And I don't want to discredit anyone who spends a lot of money if it takes that amount of money to achieve what they want to achieve. During Episode 5s critiques, judge Michelle Visage took issue with contestant Joe Blacks look from the weeks maxi challenge. The glamorous styles showcased in "Drag Race" come at a cost. If I went back on Drag Race now, Id probably be spending $2040,000, she said. For those wishing to Drag Race with RuPaul, the out-of-pocket expense can be surprising. So how much money can you make while on the show? Applying to the show means that the production company has the option to require me to appear in one season, but it also includes options for five more seasons, which producers can decide upon six months after the final episode airs.