RuPaul’s Drag Race continues to outdo itself year after year and shows no signs of slowing down after the show garnered 10 Emmy nominations for the 16th Season.
“Luckily, we have such a deep pool of queen talent across the country,” EP Mandy Salangsang said during a virtual panel for Deadline’s Contenders Television: The Nominees. She was joined by executive producer and judge Michelle Visage, judge Ts Madison and choreographer Jamal Sims. “Every season, of course, brings so much variety, so much diversity, such unique and new talent and vision with these talented queens.”
“When people interview me, they ask, ‘What makes this season different than any other?'” Visage says. “The queens do it differently. Each year group is an incredibly talented, gifted group of individuals who bring so much to this platform.”
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As a judge, Visage takes a tough love approach to criticizing the queens. “I’m the mother of a queer child,” she says. “I’m on this earth as an ally… to help make this world a better place for all people, but especially LGBTQIA+ people, because they have it harder on this earth… It’s really tough out there if they want to be in this game for more than 15 minutes. I want them to show that all of themselves while they have the moment, because you don’t know if they’re going to be here for a week or 13 weeks. So I think they should put everything on the line in every single episode.”
Ts Madison’s approach to judging may be different, but her motivation also comes from the same reason of advocating for the queer community. “When I judge the girls, I always judge them from the perspective of ‘I am a self-made star,’ so that they have the opportunity to have a stage that reaches the whole world,” Madison says. Having that stage is incredibly important to Madison, who says, “This is our show, our queer community show. I remember this happening recently at the airport, I got on the plane and thought about it and I was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s no other show that’s ours except RuPaul’s Drag Race.’”
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Although it is nothing new for RuPaul’s Drag Race After several Emmy nominations, the series is nominated for the first time this year for Outstanding Choreography for a Variety or Reality Program. The recognition goes to Sims, a long-time member of the Drag racing Family.
“I have to say, this is a huge honor because other Emmy-nominated dance programs are professional,” says Sims. “We have to remember that we’re not working with professional dancers here on the show. They’re contestants, and some of them have never had dance training before. So for me, it feels like I’m part of the competition. I actually want each of them to succeed when I choreograph, and that’s what’s so important.”
“I just want to give Jamal his flowers because he works tirelessly and endlessly,” Visage adds. “Some of the queens have never stepped foot in their lives and he makes sure they have it so they feel comfortable and can perform at their best. He does so much more than he lets on.”
“He just brings enthusiasm and energy and instills faith in these queens that he helps them believe and knowledge that they can deliver,” says Salangsang. “And they really do.”
Check back on Monday to watch the panel video.
