Last night, David and I cracked open a bottle of Absolut Mango and raised a glass to toast the season finale of the amazingly fabulous LOGO competitive reality TV program RuPaul’s Drag Race. As I mentioned on the blog previously, I was a late-comer to the show but managed to catch-up in time to really enjoy the series and watch as America’s Next Drag Superstar was crowned queen on last night’s finale ep:

For those of you who aren’t aware, LOGO aired an 8-ep season of RuPaul’s Drag Race which is a little bit Project Runway, a little bit America’s Next Top Model and a lotta bit fabulosity. Each week, drag contestants from around the world competed to become America’s Next Drag Superstar in the hopes of following in RuPaul‘s trailblazing footsteps. I’m not kidding when I say that RuPaul’s Drag Race is the most entertaining competitive reality TV series that I’ve seen in a while … it was a great substitute for Project Runway (which has been kept off the air due to legal wrangling). Last night, RuPaul crowned her successor. After the jump, find out who won …

America’s Next Drag Superstar is Ms. Bebe Zahara Benet:

Last night Minneapolis, Minnesota and Cameroon native, Bebe Zahara Benet, was declared by RuPaul as the winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” In the finale episode the contestants were faced with their final and one of their toughest challenge: to perform and rap in RuPaul’s new music video for his dance hit single “Covergirl (Put the Bass in Your Walk .) The final three had that opportunity to sit down with the divine RuPaul for an intimate dinner fit-for-a-queen before they faced the judges one last time and ultimately “lip synch for their lives.” It all lead up to Bebe reigning supreme as runners-up Nina and Rebecca were asked to “sashay away.”

As the newly crowned queen of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Bebe will headline the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” ABSOLUT® “Real Fruit” tour across the nation this summer. Bebe will headline top venues during a series of fashion-forward events in Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and other cities to be announced. Click HERE for more details. Additionally Bebe will receive a feature photo spread in PAPER Magazine, a portrait by renowned photographer Greg Gorman for the l.a. Eyeworks legendary designer eyewear campaign and $20,000 cash prize courtesy of Absolut Vodka and M.A.C Cosmetics.

This show is so fun and I’m so glad that Bebe (from CAMAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!) won the top prize. I was really torn between her and Nina Flowers (who was a fierce beyotch and a spectacular drag queen) but I think my heart was with Bebe. It is a really great thing that a show like this can find success on TV. While I realize that the show may not ever reach the popularity of a show like Project Runway, it has managed to generate enough of a buzz that many people know about, watch and promote the show. If you look back at RuPaul‘s career in the 90′s, it’s really very spectacular that she was able to find any mainstream success at all. She released albums, she had her own talk show and she performed with huge stars. It occurred to me that RuPaul found her success in the Clinton years and now that we’re back to having a Democrat in the White House, mebbe it’s time that drag can come out of the closet to play again. I have so much respect for any drag performer for all of the hard work they do to bring entertainment to their audiences. It cannot be easy to be a man in women’s shoes, in more ways than one. Much love and congrats goes out to Bebe Zahara Benet from Camaroon on her win. I cannot wait until RuPaul’s Drag Race comes back for a second season!!!

The series finale will, undoubtedly, reair on LOGO and VH1 this week … you must catch it if you can. OR you can just click HERE and watch it in full online.

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