How to Get Cast on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

Throughout “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which premiered in 2009 on Logo TV, competitors from around the country put their DIY looks, attitudes, and ferocity to the test for the judges’ panel. Those who pass muster sashay through a series of challenges demonstrating their skills as a drag performer: the quadruple threat of “charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.” Eliminations are possible at every turn, and once contestants are whittled down from roughly a dozen to three or four, a winner is chosen. Each champion queen is given several prizes—during the most recent seasons, they received $100,000 in cash, a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics, and a crown and scepter from Fierce Drag Jewels. The show has also launched several spinoffs, including “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked!” The first episode aired on Feb. 2, 2009, and the show has been renewed for Season 17.

RuPaul, of course, has been a main judge on “Drag Race” since the beginning. And while fashion editor Merle Ginsberg and designer Santino Rice also sat on the panel at the start, the roster has changed and expanded over the years. Now, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, and TS Madison share duties. As for the queens, we don’t have a definitive list yet, but here’s who’s been rumored to be competing on Season 17:

• Acacia Forgot (Los Angeles)
• Arrietty (Seattle)
• Crystal Envy (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
• Hormona Lisa (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
• Jewels Sparkles (Tampa)
• Joella (Los Angeles)
• Kori King (Boston)
• Lana Ja’Rae (New York City)
• Lexi Love (Louisville, Kentucky)
• Lucky Starzzz (Miami)
• Lydia B. Kollins (Pittsburgh)
• Onya Nurve (Cleveland)
• Sam Star (Birmingham, Alabama)
• Suzie Toot (Fort Lauderdale)

“Drag Race” has a history of welcoming A-list guest judges. From the late, great legends Debbie Reynolds and Cloris Leachman to hitmakers like Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, we expect Season 17 will also feature an array of stylish stars on its panel.

Since Season 5, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has been cast by CDs Goloka Bolte and Ethan Petersen, who’ve also cast unscripted reality shows like “Million Dollar Listing” and “Say I Do.”

When it comes to finding the right personalities for the energetic and vibrant show, it’s crucial for RuPaul and the casting directors to find people who are genuine and charismatic. As Bolte told us about the audition process, “The queens have to make a casting video that tells us who they are, shows us their skill set, and also includes a few challenges to help give us an idea of their creativity and how they would do on the show. And then the really fun part is that we get to watch all of the submissions and do a really deep dive and find queens who have the potential to be strong competitors and who bring something fresh, unique, and authentic to the table. The videos are incredible. The talent in the drag community is really outstanding.”

She said, “We pore over these tapes. We’re looking for authenticity; we’re looking for big personalities; we’re looking for people who seem like they have the ability to compete in all of these different spaces. [We’re also looking for a person who’s] a really great narrator and [has the] ability to tell a story and also be able to represent the show really well. Our whole message is love, acceptance, and inclusivity. We want our cast to be really diverse as well. So we’re always kind of weighing that in. But we watch the tapes and then we watch them again and we watch them again. It’s a very, very fun but very challenging process.”

Petersen emphasized how important it is that each contestant has a compelling, inspiring life story that brought them to this point. “In the audition videos, they are telling us who they are and the obstacles they’ve had to face and overcome, which make them such strong characters. That’s something the audience truly responds to,” he told us. “People watching the show relate to these queens. It helps these people feel included and like they can be better people because of these stories they’re seeing on television.”

“When we start casting for a new season, I’ll sit down with the team and compare lists, look at who we loved from past auditions and who we feel might be ready this time around,” Bolte told Variety. “We love finding those queens who’ve never applied before, or who might be huge talents but aren’t active on social media, and encouraging them to make a tape. Sometimes they just need a little nudge.” 

Bolte continued, “We have to think [about] how the [queens] we cast will represent and be a voice for the drag community.” Petersen added, “We are in a world where ‘Drag Race’ [has become] a beacon of hope for a lot of people, and in these scary times for our community, it’s important to put people on the show that are going to fight and be examples to help evoke change.”

Aspiring contestants submit video auditions (approximately 20 minutes long) that are viewed and taken into consideration by RuPaul and his team. Video submissions are the primary showcase when it comes to the selection process each season; casting directors watch the videos together, whittle them down to a list of potential queens, and present that list to RuPaul and the producers at World of Wonder for further analysis.

Bolte said, “It’s all the video. With the amount of different things that we need to see from people, we just couldn’t do it in person. We need to give them a chance to really highlight their performances, the things that they can do, and show their creative chops, even in just making the video.”

Potential queens can register and audition on the show’s official casting site during the open application period. Applicants are asked to fill out basic personal information, provide social media links, and answer a series of in-depth questions.

The auditioner then receives an email containing a casting/audition agreement release, which must be signed to move forward, and instructions for video submissions. The video, which must be of good audio and visual quality, should feature contestants showing their true selves and why they deserve to make the cut, outlining everything from skills to creativity. 

“When you audition enough people, you realize everyone does the exact same thing…. They behave in a way that they think I want them to behave,” RuPaul told Vanity Fair. “But the people who stick out are the ones who are authentic and are really just being themselves…. The person behind the table is really looking to see different notes of your own personality and how it could fit into whatever it is they’re doing, whatever it is you’re auditioning for. The truth is, just be yourself. Be yourself. There’s nothing more boring than someone who’s putting on a facade that isn’t authentic.”

While there’s been no confirmation as to whether or not Season 17 of “Drag Race” has begun filming, we do know the application submission window closed on Jan. 5, 2024, and the season likely will not debut until early 2025.

While “RuPaul’s Drag Race” isn’t casting at this time, the audition process, which exists primarily online, includes an online questionnaire, participant agreement form, video submission, and interviews with the casting directors (for those who make it to later rounds). Keep an eye on World of Wonder’s official casting page for updates, and follow “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on X and Instagram for the latest news.

Tell your story. “We want the people that feel like, ‘Oh, I could never be on television,’ because those people have amazing stories sometimes,” Petersen said. “In reality television, unscripted, that’s what people really respond to, people with very unique lives and stories. We actually enjoy interviewing people who have never done this before. It’s our job as the casting directors to make them feel comfortable during the interview process, to open up to us, a complete stranger.”

Similarly, Bolte said, “I also think that when you’re going through the application process, put yourself out there. If you’re filling out an application, tell your story. Share about your personality; tell us funny stories. Some people really half-ass them. It’s unscripted TV. We want them to be themselves. You can’t be a fake character throughout an entire TV show, so be yourself, or be you after a really strong cup of coffee—the energetic version of yourself when you’re set up for an interview. If you’re kindhearted, show that side of yourself. And if you’re loud and over the top, bring it on. We’re ready.”

Authenticity is key. RuPaul told us, “When I see someone who is authentic in a way that they’re not trying to put on something that they’re not, that’s when my ears prick up. I think, ‘Oh, who’s that?’ Because there’s an authenticity about them. A lot of times on our show, I’ll see auditions from the contestants, and I can tell they’re trying to behave in the way that they think I want them to behave, which is the complete opposite of what I’m looking for. I want to see them. I want to see their own rhythm and their own frequency, not some affected version of themselves.”

After all, as RuPaul noted, it’s important to “know thyself.” He said, “And that’s not just for performers—that’s for everyone on this planet. Don’t be afraid to live in your own body. Know thyself. You see so many people on their smartphones trying to escape themselves. They can’t stand to be in a room by themselves in their own thoughts. Your job, whether you’re in show business or not, is to find your rhythm, find your frequency.”

Pour your heart into all you do. Jan, who made a splash as a contestant on Season 12, said of the submission process: “It was my first time auditioning, and it’s a labor of love. You are really, really showcasing yourself, and you have to put it into a 20-minute video and showcase all of the talents that you have. It’s difficult; it’s very rigorous. And at the end of the day, only a certain amount of girls are getting picked for it. You really pour your heart and soul into this tape—performances, outfits, looks, interviews. It takes a month to do that, and you’re not focused on anything other than making the tape. It was definitely more stressful than I thought it would be. But obviously worth it. And I learned so much about myself, too. I learned how I was in front of cameras; I learned what I liked and what I didn’t like, and how I could change my performances for the camera to show people, really, who I am.”

But don’t forget that learning often means making mistakes—and that’s OK. “Don’t be afraid to be ugly and go to those places, because if you’re surrounded by people who you trust—like a director, a teacher—they’ll be able to coach you and help you refine those skills,” Jan continued. “And it’s so clichéd, but do more so the director can pull you back. You never want somebody to feel like you’re doing less than. So give it all you got. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to fall on your face.”