The drag queens reality competition is back today. Flashback on 12 years of fierce fashion tech.

By Ludmilla Intravaia

On the occasion of the return of Rupaul's Drag Race season 12, today, on the American channel VH1 (see trailer below), flashback on the bling tech highlights of the famous reality TV show, launched in 2009.

* Rupaul’s Drag Race season 3 (2011) 

 In episode 2 of this season, Shangela chose to embellish her skirt with Christmas tree garlands LEDs, a decision in the tone of this episode dedicated to Christmas (see below).

 In episode 3, the contestants had to lend their (lack of) talent to the trailers for the movie Drag Queens in Outer Space, as shown in the video below.

From the Sci-Fi inspired runway, we will remember Phoenix, with her cyborg eye and Carmen Carrera who blinded Rupaul "by so much science" (video below).

In episode 11, the queens were given the green light by Rupaul to embark on any wig extravaganza. Manilla Luzon followed her instructions to the letter with light-emitting diodes.

* Rupaul’s Drag Race season 4 (2012) 

From the first episode, the candidates were put to the test. In a “Rupocalypse” atmosphere, they were photographed, in unstable equilibrium on a turntable, while members of the Pit Crew sprayed them with paint.

No doubt, this “Rupocalypse” photoshoot was an hommage to a well known fashion tech moment : the final of the British designer Alexander McQueen's fashion show N ° 13, Spring-Summer 1999, in London, in 1998, staging two painting robots for industrial production line and a mannequin swiveling in front of them, while her dress was offered to their jets of colors (read this Boudoir Numérique paper : "A spray of fashion tech at the MTV Awards").

* Werq the Word (2017)

Acid Betty wore a bright stage outfit, including laser light-up gloves, during the North American tour of Rupaul’s Drag Race in 2017. Check it out below.

* Rupaul’s Drag Race season 10 (2018)

In episode 4 of this season, Dusty Ray Bottoms made a luminous wig for her runway.

Unfortunately, under the show spotlights, the LEDS went a little unnoticed.

* RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular (2018)

Shangela was wearing another luminous silhouette in this Christmas special, broadcast on VH1, on December 7, 2018 (read this Boudoir Numérique paper : “Fashion tech Christmas”).

On September 7, 2019, Acid Betty walked on the pink carpet of the second New York edition of the famous drag queens convention, in a transparent silhouette, illuminated with LEDs.

Watch Acid Betty on the Queens Walk below.

* Rupaul’s Drag Race UK (2019)

In the English version of Rupaul's Drag Race which crowned The Vivienne, the queens and their dancers worn LEDs sneakers for the finale of the last episode of the season (read this Boudoir Numérique paper : "Fashion tech lights up Rupaul's Drag Race UK").