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And Don't F%k It Up: An Oral History of RuPaul's Drag Race
A definitive history and celebration of the groundbreaking show RuPaul's Drag Race in its first decade, from a Burbank basement set all the way to the Emmy's, and every weave in-between, as told by its stars, producers and fans.
Told over the first ten years, And Don't F&%k It Up tells a cultural history through the stories of the people who lived it: the creators of the show, the contestants, the crew, the judges, and even some key (famous) fans. It begins with RuPaul's decades-long friendship and business relationship with World of Wonder Productions, the entertainment company that helped launch him into superstardom, and later talked him into giving a drag reality show a chance. From there, it follows the growth and evolution of the show—and its queens—through a decade of gag-worthy seasons, serving up all kinds of behind-the-scenes realness. With a history as shady and funny as it is dramatic and inspiring, And Don't F&%k It Up shows how RuPaul's Drag Race is a mirror reflecting the cultural and political mores of our time. Its meteoric rise to becoming a once-in-a-generation success story is explored here as never before, in intimate, exuberant, unfettered detail.
Told over the first ten years, And Don't F&%k It Up tells a cultural history through the stories of the people who lived it: the creators of the show, the contestants, the crew, the judges, and even some key (famous) fans. It begins with RuPaul's decades-long friendship and business relationship with World of Wonder Productions, the entertainment company that helped launch him into superstardom, and later talked him into giving a drag reality show a chance. From there, it follows the growth and evolution of the show—and its queens—through a decade of gag-worthy seasons, serving up all kinds of behind-the-scenes realness. With a history as shady and funny as it is dramatic and inspiring, And Don't F&%k It Up shows how RuPaul's Drag Race is a mirror reflecting the cultural and political mores of our time. Its meteoric rise to becoming a once-in-a-generation success story is explored here as never before, in intimate, exuberant, unfettered detail.
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First published June 6, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 13, 2023
This has absolutely no literary merit whatsoever but I’m here for all the tea, the shade, and the pink lemonade.
September 23, 2023
(Psst, real quick before I get started, I fucking hate that this has to be a thing now but please consider supporting the ACLU's Drag Defense Fund because it's getting real ugly out there.)
This will be the easiest review I ever write and you will ever read. Have you ever watched Drag Race ever or have you been curious about it or have you ever looked at this book and wondered if it's worth reading?
If any of the above applies then, yes, hunty. This is the book for you.
The first thing I want to get out of the way is this book was published in April of this year. Around the same time, the US version aired the finale of their 15th season and then their 8th season of All Stars. So, we're already behind, especially since All Stars is just touched on in the appendix. I assume more will be forthcoming, the first 10 seasons alone took up 400 pages, after all.
The basic setup is a season a chapter, with a prefix, a very brief (as mentioned) All Stars chapter, no international seasons (the cheek, the nerve, the gall, the audacity and the gumption!), and some concluding words. It's an oral history so you hear from the dolls themselves plus production. It was lovely to hear the queens at least somewhat untethered from production control discuss what happened as they experienced it and it was also interesting to hear production talk about their side of things.
Is it almost definitely tilted to make the show's creators look good? Duh. But it's still interesting to get their take on so many iconic moments.
Great collection of voices, too, with multiple queens from each season and there is goopery and or gaggery on almost every page. Fun fact: just about every Season 9 queen claims that they were the first to recognize the last queen to enter the workroom was in fact THE Stefani Germanotta.
Some queens I wish we could have heard from: Nina Bonina Brown, Alexis Michelle, Pearl (the stupid production feud with her needs to end), Willam (this stupid feud will never end and I both hate it and kind of live for it), Jade Jolie
Queens who were immediately identifiable even without context: Alyssa Edwards, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Laganja Estranja, Bob the Drag Queen, Bianca Del Rio
Speaking of Laganja, I live for her getting a second chance with the fandom and hearing her side of things. And I agree with her, her roast set was unironically hysterical:
If she had said this to me, I would have fallen out of my chair, taken a Boniva, crawled back up and tipped her with everything in my purse. Hope the BluBlockers fit, Ganj!
Look, I could keep babbling and gif the house down Versace boots take that thing off your face Gaga snatch my wig okurrr. But I'm not going to. Absolute must read. Here is producer Fenton Bailey reflecting on the show's legacy:
One of the most moving things.....is seeing queens on the show who remember watching the show before they knew what they wanted to do with their creativity and it inspired them to do drag. That is so moving because gay people struggle to find their place in the world and it isn't easy to be your authentic self. I think that the very idea that people could watch this show....and then identify for themselves a career and a vocation and succeed at it.....is better than any Emmy.
This will be the easiest review I ever write and you will ever read. Have you ever watched Drag Race ever or have you been curious about it or have you ever looked at this book and wondered if it's worth reading?
If any of the above applies then, yes, hunty. This is the book for you.
The first thing I want to get out of the way is this book was published in April of this year. Around the same time, the US version aired the finale of their 15th season and then their 8th season of All Stars. So, we're already behind, especially since All Stars is just touched on in the appendix. I assume more will be forthcoming, the first 10 seasons alone took up 400 pages, after all.
The basic setup is a season a chapter, with a prefix, a very brief (as mentioned) All Stars chapter, no international seasons (the cheek, the nerve, the gall, the audacity and the gumption!), and some concluding words. It's an oral history so you hear from the dolls themselves plus production. It was lovely to hear the queens at least somewhat untethered from production control discuss what happened as they experienced it and it was also interesting to hear production talk about their side of things.
Is it almost definitely tilted to make the show's creators look good? Duh. But it's still interesting to get their take on so many iconic moments.
Great collection of voices, too, with multiple queens from each season and there is goopery and or gaggery on almost every page. Fun fact: just about every Season 9 queen claims that they were the first to recognize the last queen to enter the workroom was in fact THE Stefani Germanotta.
Some queens I wish we could have heard from: Nina Bonina Brown, Alexis Michelle, Pearl (the stupid production feud with her needs to end), Willam (this stupid feud will never end and I both hate it and kind of live for it), Jade Jolie
Queens who were immediately identifiable even without context: Alyssa Edwards, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Laganja Estranja, Bob the Drag Queen, Bianca Del Rio
Speaking of Laganja, I live for her getting a second chance with the fandom and hearing her side of things. And I agree with her, her roast set was unironically hysterical:
If she had said this to me, I would have fallen out of my chair, taken a Boniva, crawled back up and tipped her with everything in my purse. Hope the BluBlockers fit, Ganj!
Look, I could keep babbling and gif the house down Versace boots take that thing off your face Gaga snatch my wig okurrr. But I'm not going to. Absolute must read. Here is producer Fenton Bailey reflecting on the show's legacy:
One of the most moving things.....is seeing queens on the show who remember watching the show before they knew what they wanted to do with their creativity and it inspired them to do drag. That is so moving because gay people struggle to find their place in the world and it isn't easy to be your authentic self. I think that the very idea that people could watch this show....and then identify for themselves a career and a vocation and succeed at it.....is better than any Emmy.
Read
March 23, 2023This is a fantastic read for any diehard fan of the show. I'd say my only complaint is that there are certain queens we don't get to hear from for each season. Although, I'm sure this comes down to some of them being too busy and some of them having bad relationships with the show. I would've personally liked to hear from William, Charlie, The Vixen, and Nina. It was weird getting their dramas and stories rehashed without their personal takes on the situations. But realistically there was probably no way any of them would've participated in this book. They also didn't spotlight how gross Sharon Needles is which is disappointing, I thought they would take a look at her negative legacy in the chapter about season 4 but they only light touch on it.
January 12, 2024
tldr: reading may be fundamental but this was ru-dimentary when it came to drag race details and divulgences. sashay away
hieeee! rupaul's drag race is one of my favorite shows. this collection of interviews from producers and franchise favorites promised a deep dive into the first 10 years of the drag race universe. party!
just between us squirrelfriends: i’ve already done had mineses when it comes to a serving of shade, secrets, and drag race herstory (s/o to r/dragracetea lol), but i still expected some pretty sickening stories to be shared since this is straight from the showrunners
unfortuantely, the tea was tepid at best
it was fun to hear some of the most beloved queens discuss their approaches and reactions to the most memorable moments from the first 10 years of drag race, but there wasn’t really anything new revealed in these interviews. it felt more like someone saying, "hey, remember when this queen did xyz? i thought it was funny too!"
i’m confident i could get these same details (and much more) from the personal tiktoks/podcasts/platforms of drag race queens and contributors
i wish the producers would stop taking themselves so seriously and just let loose (i said let loooooooose!) drag race’s legacy is vibrant and powerful, but the franchise didn't establish itself as the preeminent pop culture authority without making a few mistakes
the squeaky clean and surface level reflections that the book offers are almost an insult to the vulnerability the producers demand out of queens when they’re competing on drag race. i think appreciation for the franchise and the art of drag would only grow stronger if more of the grit and less of the glamour were shared
also, alec mapa’s attempts to imitate the tones of participating queens were . . . choices. i probably would have been more forgiving of the audio version if we could have heard from the participants themselves (and in this digital day and age, i know this is feasible)
thankfully this isn't rupaul's best book race — otherwise this book would absolutely be lip syncing for its life
hieeee! rupaul's drag race is one of my favorite shows. this collection of interviews from producers and franchise favorites promised a deep dive into the first 10 years of the drag race universe. party!
just between us squirrelfriends: i’ve already done had mineses when it comes to a serving of shade, secrets, and drag race herstory (s/o to r/dragracetea lol), but i still expected some pretty sickening stories to be shared since this is straight from the showrunners
unfortuantely, the tea was tepid at best
it was fun to hear some of the most beloved queens discuss their approaches and reactions to the most memorable moments from the first 10 years of drag race, but there wasn’t really anything new revealed in these interviews. it felt more like someone saying, "hey, remember when this queen did xyz? i thought it was funny too!"
i’m confident i could get these same details (and much more) from the personal tiktoks/podcasts/platforms of drag race queens and contributors
i wish the producers would stop taking themselves so seriously and just let loose (i said let loooooooose!) drag race’s legacy is vibrant and powerful, but the franchise didn't establish itself as the preeminent pop culture authority without making a few mistakes
the squeaky clean and surface level reflections that the book offers are almost an insult to the vulnerability the producers demand out of queens when they’re competing on drag race. i think appreciation for the franchise and the art of drag would only grow stronger if more of the grit and less of the glamour were shared
also, alec mapa’s attempts to imitate the tones of participating queens were . . . choices. i probably would have been more forgiving of the audio version if we could have heard from the participants themselves (and in this digital day and age, i know this is feasible)
thankfully this isn't rupaul's best book race — otherwise this book would absolutely be lip syncing for its life
July 13, 2023
For the true Super fans of Rupaul’s Drag Race. Made my heart so happy, Drag is joy ❤️
February 6, 2024
“Drag is not one thing. It is many things. It’s talent, it’s beauty, it’s art, it’s gender, it’s confusion. There’s so many levels that it touches upon that I feel like straight men, straight women, gay men, whatever, they can find a part of it and relate to or enjoy” (Ivy Winters, page 450). This quote really sums up much of RuPaul’s Drag Race and it’s widespread and growing appeal. This book does a great job telling the oral history through quotes from producers, RuPaul and the queens for the first 10 seasons of the show. It’s comprehensive and does a great job reviewing the major aspects of each of these seasons. I would have liked a deeper dive into the All Stars seasons but I also recognize that the hardcover book is 450+ pages so I’m glad something was included to hit some of the highlights from the All Stars seasons. I’d definitely recommend this book for any super fans of the show.
July 31, 2023
Fernandez’s oral history of the first 10 seasons of RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE is an immensely entertaining look at how a little TV show shot in a basement studio went from a cult favorite to a taste-making cultural juggernaut and global success.
This epic compilation offers first-hand observations from virtually all of the first 10 seasons’ contestants as well as RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Ronan Farrow, and others. Each season gets its own exhaustive chapter explaining the science of casting as well as eyewitness memories of meltdowns, catfights, conspiracy theories, and camaraderies.
As Bianca Del Rio notes, “It’s a pressure cooker of a show. It makes people crazy.” Discover the origin story of the phrase “She’d already done had herses”; Sasha Velour’s alternative plans for her iconic rose petal reveal; and the real story behind Willam being kicked off season four.
Loaded with heartbreaking and hilarious first-person confessions, this book’s a winner, baby! DRAG RACE fans and pop culture buffs will find this show bible irresistible.
This epic compilation offers first-hand observations from virtually all of the first 10 seasons’ contestants as well as RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Ronan Farrow, and others. Each season gets its own exhaustive chapter explaining the science of casting as well as eyewitness memories of meltdowns, catfights, conspiracy theories, and camaraderies.
As Bianca Del Rio notes, “It’s a pressure cooker of a show. It makes people crazy.” Discover the origin story of the phrase “She’d already done had herses”; Sasha Velour’s alternative plans for her iconic rose petal reveal; and the real story behind Willam being kicked off season four.
Loaded with heartbreaking and hilarious first-person confessions, this book’s a winner, baby! DRAG RACE fans and pop culture buffs will find this show bible irresistible.
July 31, 2023
This is a must-read for RPDR fans. The book did a great job hitting on each season’s key controversies and/or memorable moments.
I consume a lot of Drag Race content and I thought I knew just about everything about this show. But the author still somehow managed to surprise me.
For example, it makes perfect sense that Laganja was probably trying to follow Alyssa’s path when she was on the show. Another interesting tidbit in this book is that plenty of the season 4 contestants were breaking rules during production, not just Willam.
This was a really fun read.
I consume a lot of Drag Race content and I thought I knew just about everything about this show. But the author still somehow managed to surprise me.
For example, it makes perfect sense that Laganja was probably trying to follow Alyssa’s path when she was on the show. Another interesting tidbit in this book is that plenty of the season 4 contestants were breaking rules during production, not just Willam.
This was a really fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2024
colossal waste of time; there is almost no new information here other than producer opinions that actually obstruct more things than they shed light on. most of what was talked about regarding each season was just events we saw within the main episodes? and the quote format made everything so garbled and repetitive. flop
May 3, 2023
This is a fun trip down memory lane with a selection of Drag Race creators and queens who have competed. And, of course, RuPaul himself.
Honestly, it felt like each season's oral history was too short and missing a bunch of key players. In my opinion, the book would have benefited from including queens who may not be on WOW's "nice" list and a smaller scope. Why not oral history volumes for every five seasons? Not to mention that the first four all stars seasons got lumped together into one chapter. Give them their flowers!
Essentially, it's a fun, nostalgic read but doesn't dive very deeply into anything a diehard fan wouldn't already know.
I received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair review.
Honestly, it felt like each season's oral history was too short and missing a bunch of key players. In my opinion, the book would have benefited from including queens who may not be on WOW's "nice" list and a smaller scope. Why not oral history volumes for every five seasons? Not to mention that the first four all stars seasons got lumped together into one chapter. Give them their flowers!
Essentially, it's a fun, nostalgic read but doesn't dive very deeply into anything a diehard fan wouldn't already know.
I received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair review.
June 9, 2023
Great behind the scenes snapshot of RuPaul's Drag Race. Being an oral history, however, I wish that it had more than one narrator to give a more authentic voice. I realize it would have been difficult to get all the Queens to contribute, but the result is a flat presentation.
March 22, 2025
I'm not sure that an audiobook is the best venue for an oral history, it certainly wasn't the most fluid to get in to. Stitched together from what must've been hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of interviews with contestants, judges, hosts, producers, journalists, and enthusiasts, And Don't F%%k It Up truly winds through the first decade of RuPaul's Drag Race with great panache.
However, these stitched together snippets of story can be as short as a single sentence from each contributor - meaning that the audiobook is (in places) broken up every few seconds by the name of another queen or other interviewee. That was jarring for a while, eventually it fades, but not expecting that out of the bag took probably the first two hours.
That said - the dirt, the drama, the dreams that have been made by this show. The community forged. I came of age just as Drag Race was coming in to the main stream, it was something I was aware of, though not something I followed, but it is amazing the place this show has carved out in 21st century culture. The strides it has made, and the impact it has had in shaping visibility, and respectability for this art form.
Also, Alec Mapa, the reader for the audiobook - superb. Could not ask for a more enthusiastic narrator.
However, these stitched together snippets of story can be as short as a single sentence from each contributor - meaning that the audiobook is (in places) broken up every few seconds by the name of another queen or other interviewee. That was jarring for a while, eventually it fades, but not expecting that out of the bag took probably the first two hours.
That said - the dirt, the drama, the dreams that have been made by this show. The community forged. I came of age just as Drag Race was coming in to the main stream, it was something I was aware of, though not something I followed, but it is amazing the place this show has carved out in 21st century culture. The strides it has made, and the impact it has had in shaping visibility, and respectability for this art form.
Also, Alec Mapa, the reader for the audiobook - superb. Could not ask for a more enthusiastic narrator.
June 1, 2024
This was an interesting glimpse into the production aspects of Drag Race. It was glaringly obvious that some queens were not interviewed. For example, a good chunk of the season 4 chapter was about Willam, but Willam did not speak for herself. To hear from Willam about the book, listen to the Hot Goss episodes starting on July 21, 2023 for the book club segment
June 28, 2023
A must-read if you’re a big fan of the show!
July 5, 2024
A must-read for fans of the show! Loved going back and reliving all of the best moments over the past ten years of drag race and hearing the juicy behind the scenes details. I wish there was more focus on all the seasons equally because some are focused on for like 50 pages and others 20, and all stars barely at all. But a very fun read!!!
November 26, 2024
As a long time fan of the show this was such a quick enjoyable read. Time to binge it from the beginning
January 24, 2025
So so so sooooo much fun! I loved reading this. It was like taking a step back, rewatching seasons 1-10, and listening to the confessionals. 10 out of 10.
March 1, 2025
shantay you stay fr fr
July 2, 2024
Just beyond perfect. I love this show and Ru Paul so damn much. Both changed my life and I haven’t looked back since.
June 12, 2023
A must read for any fan of the show.
April 11, 2024
READING DIARY - 4
A nice summarization of the growth of the Drag Race enterprise. I wish there were more pictures of the queens to help identify them through the years but I guess that is what the Internet is for.
A nice summarization of the growth of the Drag Race enterprise. I wish there were more pictures of the queens to help identify them through the years but I guess that is what the Internet is for.
June 8, 2023
A fantastic read with lots of behind the scenes of the show. If you’re not a super fan though, this book would be super confusing for you. Really enjoyed it!
November 1, 2023
I feel like I just read a 496 page ad for Rupaul's Drag Race.
When I picked this book up, I did not realize this was a collarboration with World of Wonder, I thought it was one journalist who happened to get all the key players involved and interviewed for behind the scenes secrets. But nope instead it is overly produced and heavily edited, which is a main reason why I don't really watch the show anymore.
As a result of this being a collaboration with WoW, many people who were pivotal in the early years of the show, do not get to tell their perspective, whether it be for valid social reasons or petty behind the scenes in-fighting. Notable names that I found mentioned a lot and helped form the show but not interviewed include: Santino Rice, Mathu Andersen, Phi Phi o'Hara, Sharon Needles, Tyra Sanchez, Delta Work, Willam Belli, Courtney Act, Carmen Carrera, Pearl Liason and probably more that I can't think of off the top of my head. As a result, you have page long segments devoted to what Willam did to get kicked off the show, without interviewing Willam and other odd stuff. It's very weird and jarring and out of place.
Would be nice to one day see these interviews combined with interviews with the people mentioned above to get the true story.
I love how the book also tries to sanitize or glosses over completely aspects of the show that didn't age well, like the mail message before "she done already had herses" and whatnot. It feels very sanitized and I thought drag was all about being nitty and gritty, so why is this book so polished and glossy?
It's just such a letdown.
When I picked this book up, I did not realize this was a collarboration with World of Wonder, I thought it was one journalist who happened to get all the key players involved and interviewed for behind the scenes secrets. But nope instead it is overly produced and heavily edited, which is a main reason why I don't really watch the show anymore.
As a result of this being a collaboration with WoW, many people who were pivotal in the early years of the show, do not get to tell their perspective, whether it be for valid social reasons or petty behind the scenes in-fighting. Notable names that I found mentioned a lot and helped form the show but not interviewed include: Santino Rice, Mathu Andersen, Phi Phi o'Hara, Sharon Needles, Tyra Sanchez, Delta Work, Willam Belli, Courtney Act, Carmen Carrera, Pearl Liason and probably more that I can't think of off the top of my head. As a result, you have page long segments devoted to what Willam did to get kicked off the show, without interviewing Willam and other odd stuff. It's very weird and jarring and out of place.
Would be nice to one day see these interviews combined with interviews with the people mentioned above to get the true story.
I love how the book also tries to sanitize or glosses over completely aspects of the show that didn't age well, like the mail message before "she done already had herses" and whatnot. It feels very sanitized and I thought drag was all about being nitty and gritty, so why is this book so polished and glossy?
It's just such a letdown.
December 24, 2023
Did this as an Audible treat on my commutes in June. Bravo to Alec Mappa, who captures the essence of dozens of full-bodied characters we’ve come to love over the past 15 years. Absolutely adored the way this book weaved quotes together to create an invisible through line of plot. It was organized like a narrative rather than an encyclopedia which I was not expecting. As a die hard fan of this show, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of new info I brushed up against in listening to this book. Really fun read.
Could’ve used more RuPaul…hearing him speak about his business/marketing tactics juxtaposed with his punk upbringing and rebellious spirit is too intoxicating to miss. Also missed All Stars almost completely, and I noted a few slight inaccuracies so far as the herstory of the show. (Carmen Vs Yara as the actual first double-shantay, anyone)?
7.4/10
Could’ve used more RuPaul…hearing him speak about his business/marketing tactics juxtaposed with his punk upbringing and rebellious spirit is too intoxicating to miss. Also missed All Stars almost completely, and I noted a few slight inaccuracies so far as the herstory of the show. (Carmen Vs Yara as the actual first double-shantay, anyone)?
7.4/10
Read
October 17, 2023It’s giving capitalism.
Pros:
I did not want to rewatch the American seasons quite yet so this recap didn’t bother me too much.
Cons:
Some of the organization was jarring as the format is unique.
To those who watched drag race it was a recap that was unnecessary. For those who don’t watch drag race it spoils who wins ( you can still catch up).
Being a part of the World of Wonder company there were queens who were absent and it would be interesting to hear from them. Most likely cooler stories or controversial BTS from the sets were omitted.
Pros:
I did not want to rewatch the American seasons quite yet so this recap didn’t bother me too much.
Cons:
Some of the organization was jarring as the format is unique.
To those who watched drag race it was a recap that was unnecessary. For those who don’t watch drag race it spoils who wins ( you can still catch up).
Being a part of the World of Wonder company there were queens who were absent and it would be interesting to hear from them. Most likely cooler stories or controversial BTS from the sets were omitted.
January 12, 2024
Before reading:
I'm a strange Drag Race fan because I love the show but don't watch a single episode. I watch all the recaps/analysis I can, both official (Fashion Photo Ruview and The Pit Stop) and unofficial (Sibling Watchery, Race Chaser, Bussy Queen, etc.) but the actual episodes make me uncomfortable because I don't like to see people flounder publicly. I'll enjoy the highlights and lowlights without having to experience it in real time. I can tell you who bombed the Roast challenges but will not watch the actual roasts.
A long way to say I'm very excited about this book but also not sure how familiar I will actually be since this covers the first ten years. I have a passing recognition of pretty much everyone from season 5 on but I don't know much about the earlier seasons.
I hope it gives actual info and isn't too canned or polished.
Checking In (about 30% in):
The author was there from the actual beginning which helps with familiarity and I'm sure impacted how many people were interviewed for this book. There are a wide variety of people involved with the show that participated and that says a lot about their feelings about the show, especially since I'm only through Season 3 which means they're taking the time to share about things that happened 10-15 years ago.
Interesting tidbit: the first conception of the show had queens bringing someone with them as a "sidekick" (like a friend or designer). It would've changed everything if they'd done that so I'm glad they scrapped it but their reasoning was funny in this current time. They couldn't imagine doubling the number of people in the workroom which would've been 18 total; current seasons have almost that many individual competitors.
Checking In (about 50% in)
There is a lot of variety in this book thanks to the many people that were willing to be interviewed. It is skewing very positive about the show itself (I'm guessing the people that feel negatively about it either weren't asked or declined participation) but they are shit-talking their fellow competitors so it feels a little more authentic.
There's no reason to read this without some familiarity with the show but I will say you don't have to be a super fan with amazing memory. The book goes by seasons and spends a little time at the beginning giving a recap of who was on that season and some memorable touchpoints.
Checking In (almost done)
Still loving it. The photo inserts are nice too.
The interviews with Valentina made me roll my eyes, I can't believe how into the fantasy she is. Just one quote for example: "...I was really honored to do that because I knew it was gonna be daytime drag in a car. I know most queens look terrible in daylight and up close but I don't." You can be confident in yourself without having to put others down.
I didn't know Cynthia Lee Fontaine hadn't been feeling well and was diagnosed with liver cancer shortly after she left season 8.
Interesting tidbit: I can't believe Ginger Minj and Miss Fame are the same age!
The next chapter is "All Stars and Beyond" and there are only about 50 pages left so I don't think it will be enough. With how in-depth the 10 seasons have been I think the author either should've left All Stars seasons out or gone in-depth with them as well (and I would've preferred the latter because I think All Stars seasons, especially All Stars 2, were game changers in format and helping the popularity and longevity).
The End
I wish there had been more about All Stars.
I enjoy drag for the entertainment and variety and artistry but as a cis white straight Midwestern mom, it was lovely reading about so many people finally feeling seen and represented and less alone through the show.
Final Overall Thoughts
I realized I knew more than I thought. I could get a visual image of pretty much every queen and highlight they talked about. This book didn't disappoint so if you're in the demographic that would be interested, I think it's worth a read.
I'm glad there were supporters and believers that had the space and commitment to see the show grow as they worked through the various channels, formats, etc. to continually reinvent and showcase drag.
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
I'm a strange Drag Race fan because I love the show but don't watch a single episode. I watch all the recaps/analysis I can, both official (Fashion Photo Ruview and The Pit Stop) and unofficial (Sibling Watchery, Race Chaser, Bussy Queen, etc.) but the actual episodes make me uncomfortable because I don't like to see people flounder publicly. I'll enjoy the highlights and lowlights without having to experience it in real time. I can tell you who bombed the Roast challenges but will not watch the actual roasts.
A long way to say I'm very excited about this book but also not sure how familiar I will actually be since this covers the first ten years. I have a passing recognition of pretty much everyone from season 5 on but I don't know much about the earlier seasons.
I hope it gives actual info and isn't too canned or polished.
Checking In (about 30% in):
The author was there from the actual beginning which helps with familiarity and I'm sure impacted how many people were interviewed for this book. There are a wide variety of people involved with the show that participated and that says a lot about their feelings about the show, especially since I'm only through Season 3 which means they're taking the time to share about things that happened 10-15 years ago.
Interesting tidbit: the first conception of the show had queens bringing someone with them as a "sidekick" (like a friend or designer). It would've changed everything if they'd done that so I'm glad they scrapped it but their reasoning was funny in this current time. They couldn't imagine doubling the number of people in the workroom which would've been 18 total; current seasons have almost that many individual competitors.
Checking In (about 50% in)
There is a lot of variety in this book thanks to the many people that were willing to be interviewed. It is skewing very positive about the show itself (I'm guessing the people that feel negatively about it either weren't asked or declined participation) but they are shit-talking their fellow competitors so it feels a little more authentic.
There's no reason to read this without some familiarity with the show but I will say you don't have to be a super fan with amazing memory. The book goes by seasons and spends a little time at the beginning giving a recap of who was on that season and some memorable touchpoints.
Checking In (almost done)
Still loving it. The photo inserts are nice too.
The interviews with Valentina made me roll my eyes, I can't believe how into the fantasy she is. Just one quote for example: "...I was really honored to do that because I knew it was gonna be daytime drag in a car. I know most queens look terrible in daylight and up close but I don't." You can be confident in yourself without having to put others down.
I didn't know Cynthia Lee Fontaine hadn't been feeling well and was diagnosed with liver cancer shortly after she left season 8.
Interesting tidbit: I can't believe Ginger Minj and Miss Fame are the same age!
The next chapter is "All Stars and Beyond" and there are only about 50 pages left so I don't think it will be enough. With how in-depth the 10 seasons have been I think the author either should've left All Stars seasons out or gone in-depth with them as well (and I would've preferred the latter because I think All Stars seasons, especially All Stars 2, were game changers in format and helping the popularity and longevity).
The End
I wish there had been more about All Stars.
I enjoy drag for the entertainment and variety and artistry but as a cis white straight Midwestern mom, it was lovely reading about so many people finally feeling seen and represented and less alone through the show.
Final Overall Thoughts
I realized I knew more than I thought. I could get a visual image of pretty much every queen and highlight they talked about. This book didn't disappoint so if you're in the demographic that would be interested, I think it's worth a read.
I'm glad there were supporters and believers that had the space and commitment to see the show grow as they worked through the various channels, formats, etc. to continually reinvent and showcase drag.
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
August 25, 2023
At my home, we have a weekly tradition of tuning into the latest episode of the Emmy-winning sensation RuPaul's Drag Race. Our Friday nights often revolve around this show, with both the regular seasons and the riveting All-Stars episodes taking center stage. For those who have yet to become acquainted with the program, it is a captivating competition among a group of drag queens. They take on diverse challenges each week, showcasing their prowess in design, comedy, and production. The lowest-scoring two queens from every challenge engage in a lip-sync showdown, with the loser bidding adieu to the competition. Beyond its commendable representation of LGBTQ+ performers, the show's ingenious fusion of reality show genres has remarkably captured a broad audience, earning it well-deserved critical acclaim. As RuPaul's Drag Race solidifies its place in the cultural lexicon, author Maria Elena Fernandez presents a captivating oral history of the show's inaugural decade within the pages of her book, aptly titled And Don't F&%K It Up.
Centered on the first ten seasons, the book delves into the early years of the show, chronicling its modest origins and gradual evolution into an Emmy-acclaimed sensation. The initial season's unassuming nature struck me profoundly. It was a testament to its low-tech beginnings. Guided by the same production company that propelled him to stardom, RuPaul's initial apprehension towards hosting a reality TV show was palpable. However, as he gradually warmed up to the concept, the production team faced their own challenge: navigating the uncharted waters of reality TV production. Although the debut season may not have possessed the polished veneer of its successors, it unquestionably laid the groundwork and established the blueprint for the program's transformation into the iconic spectacle it has become today.
And Don't F&%K It Up masterfully weaves the rich cultural tapestry of RuPaul's Drag Race, painting a vivid portrait through the authentic narratives of those who brought its magic to life. With a meticulous journey season by season, the book draws from interviews with an ensemble cast: the dedicated production team, charismatic contestants, tireless crew, discerning judges, and even celebrity admirers. This collective chorus of perspectives harmonizes into an intimate insider's panorama, replete with intriguing backstage anecdotes and revelations. The profound impact of the show on its participants and the wider drag community is staggering. Many former contenders have blossomed into accomplished drag performers, while the show itself has propelled the art form into mainstream consciousness. Amidst a backdrop of political discord and attempts to stifle this vibrant queer expression, RuPaul's Drag Race stands resilient—a potent antidote to intolerance. It serves as a weekly testament to embracing your authentic self and shunning societal expectations. As RuPaul's catchphrase eloquently puts it, "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?"
Centered on the first ten seasons, the book delves into the early years of the show, chronicling its modest origins and gradual evolution into an Emmy-acclaimed sensation. The initial season's unassuming nature struck me profoundly. It was a testament to its low-tech beginnings. Guided by the same production company that propelled him to stardom, RuPaul's initial apprehension towards hosting a reality TV show was palpable. However, as he gradually warmed up to the concept, the production team faced their own challenge: navigating the uncharted waters of reality TV production. Although the debut season may not have possessed the polished veneer of its successors, it unquestionably laid the groundwork and established the blueprint for the program's transformation into the iconic spectacle it has become today.
And Don't F&%K It Up masterfully weaves the rich cultural tapestry of RuPaul's Drag Race, painting a vivid portrait through the authentic narratives of those who brought its magic to life. With a meticulous journey season by season, the book draws from interviews with an ensemble cast: the dedicated production team, charismatic contestants, tireless crew, discerning judges, and even celebrity admirers. This collective chorus of perspectives harmonizes into an intimate insider's panorama, replete with intriguing backstage anecdotes and revelations. The profound impact of the show on its participants and the wider drag community is staggering. Many former contenders have blossomed into accomplished drag performers, while the show itself has propelled the art form into mainstream consciousness. Amidst a backdrop of political discord and attempts to stifle this vibrant queer expression, RuPaul's Drag Race stands resilient—a potent antidote to intolerance. It serves as a weekly testament to embracing your authentic self and shunning societal expectations. As RuPaul's catchphrase eloquently puts it, "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?"
December 30, 2024
The book is, essentially, just a collection of transcribed interviews with a couple of queens, producers and show-related personalities from the first 10 seasons of Drag Race — it really has no literary "quality" to it. The minimal amount of writing done by the author is riddled with errors, inconsistencies and bad attempts at including "drag" lingo into the text. The amount of content for each season varies, and many major talking points are completely ignored (especially in the All Stars "chapter").
I would recommend the book to a casual fan of the show, as most of the behind the scenes "tea" could/should be known by even a casual follower of the queens outside of the show. However, I don't think that the said casual fans of the show would care to know more about it than they already do (note the descriptor "casual").
The author's past work as a journalist is noticeable in the style and presentation of the book, and, if anything, if you know these queens, you can "hear" them while reading their answers to Fernandez' questions. I enjoyed reading anything from Raja, Shea Couleé, Jinkx Monsoon, Bianca Del Rio and Raven, who gave great information and good insight on their respective seasons. However, any paragraph from Laganja Estranja, Alyssa Edwards and Eureka is a skip — they never say anything of substance, yet their parts are always the longest, and sometimes even unreadable. In fact, a lot of the quotes (from other queens) bring nothing to the text, and in reality, about half the book is filler — no information, just vibes. Furthermore, a lot of producers of the show were interviewed as well, and there are a couple of instances where, if you're more than just a casual fan, you can tell they're blatantly lying.
Overall, I would not recommend the book — it should have been a 2-hour documentary with the queens and producers.
I would recommend the book to a casual fan of the show, as most of the behind the scenes "tea" could/should be known by even a casual follower of the queens outside of the show. However, I don't think that the said casual fans of the show would care to know more about it than they already do (note the descriptor "casual").
The author's past work as a journalist is noticeable in the style and presentation of the book, and, if anything, if you know these queens, you can "hear" them while reading their answers to Fernandez' questions. I enjoyed reading anything from Raja, Shea Couleé, Jinkx Monsoon, Bianca Del Rio and Raven, who gave great information and good insight on their respective seasons. However, any paragraph from Laganja Estranja, Alyssa Edwards and Eureka is a skip — they never say anything of substance, yet their parts are always the longest, and sometimes even unreadable. In fact, a lot of the quotes (from other queens) bring nothing to the text, and in reality, about half the book is filler — no information, just vibes. Furthermore, a lot of producers of the show were interviewed as well, and there are a couple of instances where, if you're more than just a casual fan, you can tell they're blatantly lying.
Overall, I would not recommend the book — it should have been a 2-hour documentary with the queens and producers.
July 10, 2023
With novels, you can surprise me (usually, within reason), but for non-fiction like this I have a pretty-good sense of what I expect and want from it ... and this matched my expectations perfectly. Enough people were interviewed that you ended up with many varying viewpoints, most of the essential people participated (Ru-Paul, Michelle, other judges, producers, winners like Jinxx, BeBe, Bianca, Aquaria, and others, all-stars and fan favourites like Latrice, Trixie, Bendela, etc.) so aside from a few omissions (which immediately make me worry: is so-and-so dead?) we had dozens of opinions at offer.
And they were usually very specific opinions (and recollections). The book is at its best when recounting actual events—did Shannel's headpiece come off on purpose? Who started such-and-such a fight?—rather than how Drag Race made one feel, or its legacy, etc.
It was hard to want to read anything else before bed while this was ongoing (or even to want to set it down to go to sleep) so in a sense it's a relief that I'm done! It's not quite 5 stars because I can't imagine reading it again just for fun the way I do my all-time favourites, but it was a delightful breezy read nonetheless.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
And they were usually very specific opinions (and recollections). The book is at its best when recounting actual events—did Shannel's headpiece come off on purpose? Who started such-and-such a fight?—rather than how Drag Race made one feel, or its legacy, etc.
It was hard to want to read anything else before bed while this was ongoing (or even to want to set it down to go to sleep) so in a sense it's a relief that I'm done! It's not quite 5 stars because I can't imagine reading it again just for fun the way I do my all-time favourites, but it was a delightful breezy read nonetheless.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
December 24, 2023
This a fun, easygoing listen about the first ten years of RuPaul's Drag Race and how it came to be. The history is recorded in oral form, which lends itself to a plurality of voices, perspectives and humor. As far as information goes, die hard fans will tell you it's pretty complete, although because it comes from the machine that makes the show itself, it lacks some introspection and criticism to when the show has had its few stumbles. There is a tone of reverence throughout, just as the show reveres its main star and executive producer. While there are better books on discourse about Drag Race out there, I did enjoy the behind-the-scenes commentary of how the show, its traditions and what has given the show its own personality came to be. I also enjoyed certain tidbits from the queens about their ingenuity, relationships within the show and things we didn't see on camera. However, as the books goes on the introspection becomes slimmer and each passing chapter after Season 7 feels like a read through a Wikipedia article, just info we know and not much else. I don't know if this is because by then the show was a well-oiled machine or if it's because newer queens who came to the show as fans are more self-produced and with less grit than the ones that came from hosting gigs at bars. All in all, for those interested in the particular recipe of the show, or for fans wanting to get a little bit more info this could be a nice read.
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