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Parents' Guide to

RuPaul's Drag Race

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Drag queen contest is campy, fun, has positive messages.

TV Logo , VH1 Reality TV 2009
RuPaul's Drag Race Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 12+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Sarah D.
Sarah D. Parent of 10 and 13-year-old
April 2, 2023
age 8+

Excellent Family Show

Drag Race is one of the few shows I watch with my kids (ages 13 and 10). It showcases an ancient art form and all the contestants know, understand, and acknowledge that they got to where they are by standing on the shoulders of those that came before. There is a reverence for previous generations of performers. They also openly discuss overcoming hardships and bigotry by forming new family structures. What could be more positive?? There is a lot of sexual innuendo that will fly right over the heads of anyone under 15. It’s a breath of fresh air away from violent content, which I personally don’t have the stomach for. Because the competition can get fierce, I do think it’s important to watch this show WITH children under 14 to help them make sense of the exact way the queens compete with one another. (As a queer person I can culturally contextualize this for them.) My children and I talk a lot about how editing creates characters and a storyline and doesn’t tell the whole story. Overall, the pure spectacle of it can’t be beat!
NothingLogicalHere
NothingLogicalHere Parent of 9 and 11-year-old
September 13, 2022
age 16+

Adults only

Drag Race is an entertaining show, no question about it. My issue is with the themes. There has never been a reality show that intertwined child activities with the adult sexual innuendo and tone that this does. It's also an inherently negative show, with it's biggest smiles always sharing the stage with a mean comment. When the contestants ask for help, the judges offer only sarcasm - how is this helpful? Anyway, I'd still recommend it for mature teens and adults.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE is a reality competition designed to find America's next drag superstar. Hosted by actor/model/drag queen RuPaul, the series follows 12 male performers as they compete in a variety of designing, modeling, dancing, and acting challenges to show off their drag queen personalities and style. To move to the next round, they must electrify a panel of judges made up of RuPaul, journalist Merle Ginsberg, Project Runway finalist Santino Rice, and weekly guest celebrity judges like Kathy Griffin and Kim Coles. The two contestants who least impress the judges must face-off in a lip-synching performance to remain in the competition. The winner receives $25,000, a lifetime supply of makeup, a public relations contract, and the opportunity to be featured in various advertising campaigns.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (41 ):

This series combines the fashion design drama of Project Runway with the modeling excitement of America's Next Top Model. It creates an entertainingly voyeuristic glimpse into the performance art world of drag queens. There's plenty of over-the-top stuff, but rather than simply treating drag performers as people to be laughed at and/or scorned, the show also focuses on the hard work and talent that goes into drag performances.

RuPaul's Drag Raceisn't for everyone, and there's enough strong language, sexual innuendo, and over-the-top and behavior to make it an iffy choice for younger viewers. But it does offer some positive messages about overcoming adversity and about self-acceptance. In the end, the series' goal is to celebrate people who are willing to follow their passions and be true to themselves.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about stereotypes. Do the contestants in RuPaul's Drag Race reinforce or undermine stereotypes typically associated with the LGBTQ community? How are other communities stereotyped, both in the media and out of it?

  • Over the years, notable actors like Milton Berle, Tony Curtis, Tom Hanks, and Robin Williams have famously performed in drag in films and on TV. Do you think their characters and performances are looked at differently than the ones given by the contestants here? If so, why?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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