The Werk That Remains: Drag and the Mining of the Idealized Female Form

RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR) has been praised for bringing drag out of the shadows of underground gay subculture to mainstream reality TV audiences. The show is said to have challenged not only heteronormativity but gender normativity as well. It, however, has not escaped criticism. This essay examines RPDR and the many ways in which the show reinforces cultural norms associated not only with race and ethnicity but also with the body. Despite statements by RuPaul Charles, during the show, in many ways, cultural norms of body size remain largely unchallenged, although queering of gender and sexuality is celebrated. Using analysis that spans all seven seasons of the show, and certain episodes of its spin-off RuPaul’s Drag U, we highlight the heteronormativity implied in the sizism presented. We show that even in a space dedicated to queering gender norms, the idealized female form is still the aspirational goal for judges and contestants alike.