Ross Mathews is proud how ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ is contributing to a ‘culture shift’ around the world
The show took home four Emmy Awards over the weekend
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Ross Mathews says he is proud how RuPaul’s Drag Race is contributing to a ‘culture shift’ around the world.
Over the weekend, the popular show took home the Emmy Award gong for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program and at the Creative Arts Emmys the weekend before, the VH-1 show won awards for Outstanding Hairstyling, Outstanding Costumes and Mama Ru won the Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program category for the fourth year in a row.
While accepting the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, Ru Charles gave a passionate speech calling for people to register to vote.
“Speaking of voting and love, go and register to vote.” #DragRace‘s @RuPaul urges the public to register to vote while accepting the award for best competition series https://t.co/WmT1Fmyol4 #Emmys pic.twitter.com/Z2qthMvs20
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 23, 2019
RuPaul’s Drag Race has just finished its eleventh season and will be back for a twelfth later this year and following the win, regular judge and Attitude cover star took to Instagram to post about the Emmy Award.
He wrote: “OMG!!! This is so surreal. Last year was a dream.
“This year it’s like we’ve never woken up. I am so proud and grateful that our show has been recognized again.
“I wish I had a time machine to show this to myself at 9 years old. He would’ve just said, “WOW!”
Now Ross tells Attitude’s October issue – out now to order globally and download to any device – why he thinks the show has been as successful as it has.
He says: “What I love about the show is that, if you really look — even back at season one — it hasn’t changed that much. It’s evolved but the essence of the show has stayed the same.
“Its voice has maintained an authenticity throughout. Culture has shifted and caught up with it. What makes me most proud is how it’s contributing to a culture shift around the world.
“People are talking about drag culture and LGBTQ culture in a welcoming way. It’s not uncommon to be in a straight hub somewhere around the world and have some macho guy say that he loves Yvie Oddly, or have a big debate about who should’ve won.”
The Attitude cover star also goes on to explain how the show has ‘really helped’ with dismantling ideas about masculinity within the gay community.
He continues: “We need to celebrate each and every one of us. RuPaul’s Drag Race has really helped with that because we show all different types of queens, all different types of people, every letter in the rainbow.
“Maybe that has really helped highlight just how varied we are within our community.”
Read Ross’s full interview in Attitude’s October issue, available to download and to order globally now.
Buy now and take advantage of our best-ever subscription offers: three issues for £3 in print, 13 issues for £19.99 to download to any device.
