RuPaul's Drag Race Wiki
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RuPaul's Drag Race Wiki
RuPaul's Drag Race
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The first season of RuPaul's Drag Race, later referred to as The Lost Season, premiered in the United States on February 2, 2009, on Logo, and ended on March 23 of the same year. Nine contestants were selected to compete in the running of becoming "America's Next Drag Superstar."

The winner of the first season won a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics, was featured in a LA Eyeworks campaign, joined the Logo Drag Race tour, and won a cash prize of $20,000. One of the nine contestants to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race was determined by an audience vote via the show's official website. The results were announced in early September 2008. The contestant to win this honor was Nina Flowers from Bayamón, Puerto Rico (currently Denver, Colorado). The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "Cover Girl" from RuPaul's album Champion.

The winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race was BeBe Zahara Benet, with Nina Flowers placing as the runner-up as well as winning Miss Congeniality.

In Late 2013, Logo re-aired the first season, which was titled RuPaul's Drag Race: The Lost Season Ru-Vealed, and featured commentary from RuPaul.

Contestants[]

(Biographical information stated from during time of contest)

Rank Contestant Photo Age Location Ep. 1 Ep. 2 Ep. 3 Ep. 4 Ep. 5 Ep. 6 Ep. 7 Ep. 8 Ep. 9
Design Girl
Groups
Improv Advert Make
Over
Ball Recap Finale Reunion
1st
(Winner)
BeBe Zahara Benet BeBeZaharaBenetS1CastMug 28 Minneapolis, MN SAFE SAFE WIN HIGH BTM2 WIN RUN WINNER GUEST
2nd
(Runner-Up
& Miss
Congeniality)
Nina Flowers NinaFlowersS1CastMug 34 Denver, CO WIN HIGH
TEAM
HIGH HIGH LOW HIGH
Mini
Chall.
Winner
RUN RUNNER
UP
MISS
CON
3rd Rebecca Glasscock RebeccaGlasscockS1CastMug 26 Ft. Lauderdale, FL LOW HIGH
TEAM
HIGH BTM2 WIN
Mini
Chall.
Winner
BTM2 RUN ELIM GUEST
4th Shannel ShannelS1CastMug 29 Las Vegas, NV SAFE HIGH
TEAM
BTM2 LOW HIGH ELIM GUEST
5th Ongina OnginaS1CastMug 26 Los Angeles, CA HIGH WIN
Team
Captain
HIGH WIN ELIM GUEST
6th Jade JadeSotomayorS1CastMug 25 Chicago, IL SAFE SAFE LOW ELIM
Mini
Chall.
Winner
GUEST
7th Akashia AkashiaS1CastMug 24 Cleveland, OH BTM2 BTM2
Team
Captain
ELIM GUEST
8th Tammie Brown TammieBrownS1CastMug 29 Long Beach, CA SAFE ELIM GUEST
9th Victoria Parker VictoriaParkerS1CastMug 39 Raleigh, NC ELIM GUEST
The contestant won RuPaul's Drag Race.
The contestant placed as a runner-up.
The contestant was eliminated by RuPaul at the finale.
The contestant had immunity in this episode.
The contestant won the maxi challenge.
The contestant was a member of the winning team, but did not win the maxi challenge.
The contestant received mostly positive critiques, but did not win the maxi challenge.
The contestant received mostly negative critiques, but was not up for elimination.
The contestant was up for elimination and won the "Lip Sync For Your Life".
The contestant was up for elimination, lost the "Lip Sync For Your Life", and was eliminated.
The contestant was awarded the title of "Miss Congeniality" at the finale.
The contestant appeared as a guest, but was out of the running.

Episodes[]

Series # Episode # Title Airdate
1 1 Drag on a Dime February 2, 2009
2 2 Girl Group Challenge February 9, 2009
3 3 Queens of All Media February 16, 2009
4 4 Mac Viva-Glam Challenge February 23, 2009
5 5 Drag School of Charm March 2, 2009
6 6 Absolut Drag Ball March 9, 2009
7 7 Extra Special Edition March 16, 2009
8 8 Grand Finale March 23, 2009
9 9 Re-United! March 23, 2009

Episode 1: "Drag On A Dime"[]

Airdate: February 2, 2009

Synopsis: Nine contestants must re-invent their glam drag looks using thrift store clothing and tschotchkes from the 99-cent store. Guest judge Bob Mackie stops by to help RuPaul weed out the drag queen with the least style.

Entrance Order

1 Shannel
2 Nina Flowers
3 Rebecca Glasscock
4 Ongina
5 Victoria Parker
6 Akashia
7 Tammie Brown
8 Jade
9 BeBe Zahara Benet

Sexy Car Wash Photoshoot

Episode 2: "Girl Group Challenge"[]

Airdate: February 9, 2009

Synopsis: Wigs fly when the contestants split up into 2 rival girl groups, something guest judge Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child would know plenty about. Can the girls impress RuPaul with their lip-synching skills?

Girl Group Serving Fish 3D
Song "Say My Name" "Independent Women"
Choreography Ongina Jade
Hair Nina BeBe
Makeup Shannel Akashia
Costumes Rebecca Tammie

Reaction Selfies Photos
"You just found out your 10.000$ Louis Vuitton bag is a fake!"

"Sad news: Cher just announced that she's retiring, for real!"

"Somebody cut the cheese!"

Episode 3: "Queens of All Media"[]

Airdate: February 16, 2009

Synopsis: The queens are tested on their multi-media prowess as they show off their talents as newscaster, product spokesperson, and talk show host to RuPaul and guest judge Debra Wilson of MADtv.

Episode 4: "Mac Viva-Glam Challenge"[]

Airdate: February 23, 2009

Synopsis: Hoping to follow in the footsteps of MAC Cosmetics' first Viva Glam girl, RuPaul, the queens make their own Viva Glam screen test. Jenny Shimizu joins the panel to help judge the girls' drag queen status.

Episode 5: "Drag School of Charm"[]

Airdate: March 2, 2009

Synopsis: The contestants make over a group of female extreme fighters into their drag daughters. Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, makes a guest appearance to judge the girls' combat prowess.

  • Guest Judges: Lucy Lawless and Robin Antin
  • Mini Challenge: Exercise and endurance challenge
  • Mini Challenge Winner: Rebecca Glasscock
  • Mini Challenge Prize: Assign the partners for the Maxi Challenge
  • Maxi Challenge: Makeover a female fighter using MAC Cosmetics, supplies from Michael Levine Fabrics and shoes from Kitson LA
  • Maxi Challenge Winner: Rebecca Glasscock
  • Maxi Challenge Prize: Gift baskets from Curlisto worth $1,000
  • Bottom Two: BeBe Zahara Benet and Ongina
  • Lip Sync Song: "Stronger" by Britney Spears
  • Eliminated: Ongina

Episode 6: "Absolut Drag Ball"[]

Airdate: March 9, 2009

Synopsis: RuPaul makes the queens hit the floor in a good old fashioned drag ball inspired by Absolut's real fruit flavored vodka.

Absolut Ball

Contestant Flavor "Who Should Go Home Tonight?" Choice
Rebecca Glasscock Citron Shannel
Nina Flowers Mango Rebecca Glasscock
BeBe Zahara Benet Raspberry Rebecca Glasscock
Shannel Mandarin Herself

Finalists

Contestant Challenge Wins Up for Elimination
BeBeZaharaBenetS1CastMug
BeBe Zahara Benet
2
(Eps. 3, 6)
1
(Ep. 5)
NinaFlowersS1CastMug
Nina Flowers
1
(Ep. 1)
0
RebeccaGlasscockS1CastMug
Rebecca Glasscock
1
(Ep. 5)
2
(Eps. 4, 6)

Episode 7: "Extra Special Edition"[]

Airdate: March 16, 2009

Synopsis: Look back on the highlights, lowlights, and previously unseen footage from the first six episodes as we race toward the climactic grand finale!

  • Santino and Merle's Picks for Top Ten Fashion Moments (judging panel fashions only except noted otherwise)
    • 10. Tammie Brown, Episode One
    • 9. Jade, Episode Three. Judges compared her look to young Elisabeth Taylor, Barbarella and the movie "Valley of the Dolls". She also was similar to the lady from pages of science fantasy from 70.
    • 8. Rebecca Glasscock, Episode Two
    • 7. BeBe Zahara Benet, Episode Four. Squirrel's friends compared her to Grace Jones.
    • 6. Nina Flowers' Makeup throughout the season. Merle noticed that she has kabuki style in her makeup, and that she knows how to powder her face to pop out her eyes.
    • 5. Ongina, Episode Four
    • 4. Shannel, Episode Three. It reminded judges the movie "Showgirls".
    • 3. BeBe Zahara Benet, Episode Three
    • 2. Nina Flowers, Episode One
    • 1. RuPaul’s various judging panel gowns designed by Zaldy.

Episode 8: "Grand Finale"[]

Airdate: March 23, 2009

Synopsis: The last 3 queens face their final challenge while shooting the music video for RuPaul's new single "Cover Girl (Put The Bass In Your Walk)." Out artist Cazwell stops by to help the judges cast their final vote.

  • Main Challenge: Recording a verse and filming a spot for RuPaul's latest video.
  • Eliminated: Rebecca Glasscock
  • Top Two: BeBe Zahara Benet and Nina Flowers
  • Lip Sync Song: "Cover Girl (Put the Bass in Your Walk)" by RuPaul
  • Runner-Up: Nina Flowers
  • Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1: BeBe Zahara Benet

Episode 9: "Re-United!"[]

Airdate: March 29, 2009

Synopsis: In this reunion special, all nine contestants return to give their take on what happened during the show. Plus, the girls confront the judges...and each other!

  • Discussions: Ru asks Victoria if she enjoyed her short stay and if she felt she could've done well in the later challenges, Tammie discusses her quirkiness, Akashia's anger and tearful exit are touched on, and Jade voices her frustration with Rebecca and her joy in meeting the other girls. Ongina talks about her progression as a drag artist and her controversial outing as an HIV positive person in Episode Four. Shannel's overconfidence and her elimination against Rebecca are discussed. The girls talk about Rebecca's fakeness and attitude, causing arguments to ensue. Nina talks about finishing second and says the Oprah challenge was the toughest for her. Nina also says the audience reception for her has been favorable. BeBe talks about winning and the audience reaction in Cameroon. Ru asks BeBe if she was surprised that Rebecca made it to the final three and when asked for hands, most contestants feel she shouldn't have. Nina is surprised that Jade was eliminated over Rebecca and Jade takes the chance for closure by extending an olive branch to Rebecca. Ru gives the girls some viewer questions. Akashia is asked about upgrading her hooker style, Rebecca is asked about the friend she mentioned in the Mac Viva-Glam challenge, and Shannel is asked if her wig falling off in the episode three lip sync battle was staged. Ongina is asked about going from winning a challenge to lip syncing for her life, Nina is asked about what lead her to choose an androgynous drag style, and all of the girls are asked about hiding razor bumps and stubble. Merle and Santino are then brought out to discuss their experiences on the show. Merle talks about everyone's ideas of femininity and Santino discusses the fashion and his judging style. The girls are then allowed to get into the judges' heads and Shannel says she left the show because Santino made her feel like crap every week. The two argue and Ru intervenes to tell Shannel not to let someone else's opinion get her down. Ru says negativity exists and Tammie argues that they don't need to feed into it, arguing with Ru on the subject. Ru gets upset and takes the girls to task for taking the negativity too hard, telling them they need to build themselves up and not rely on others holding their hands.
  • Miss Congeniality: Nina Flowers

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Gallery pic
Check out the lookbook gallery to see the contestants' looks from each episode.

Videos[]

Meet the Queens[]

References[]

Navigation[]

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