RuPaul dedicated his fourth Emmy Award to late Drag Race producer

Sep 16 2019
Written by Reiss Smith

RuPaul holding his Emmy Award, wearing a black jacket and a purple pussy bow

RuPaul holding his fourth Emmy Award for outstanding host. (Getty)

RuPaul paid tribute to Drag Race co-executive producer Jacqueline Wilson, who passed away recently, as he accepted an award at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2019.

The Drag Race legend made history on Sunday, September 15, when he won the Emmy for outstanding host for a reality or competition programme for the fourth consecutive time, matching a record held by Survivor‘s Jeff Probst.

He dedicated the win Wilson, who he said “we just lost recently”.

RuPaul broke the news that his “beloved colleague” had passed away on Wednesday, September 11.

“I could never express in words her invaluable contribution to the success of Drag Race, and to all the lives of those who were fortunate enough to have worked alongside her,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Love always, my friend.”

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Today was a rough one. I found out in the early hours this morning that Drag Race producer and friend to every Queen she met, Jacqueline Wilson, passed away yesterday. I’m sure you’ve seen lots of posts but I couldn’t let the day pass without honoring her for all she gave. Specifically for me, Jacqueline was a rock at Drag Race. She was there when I first rolled up in S2, she was there when I came back on 3, and she was my actual story producer on All Stars 3. I was so excited to have her as my person (no shade to any of the producers… I luv yall) but I was always proud to see a Black person killing the game and I wanted to be a part of her legacy. She was soft spoken, calm, but could get u together when she had to. She was sweet and had a great laugh and a Beautiful smile. And her sickning style…unmatchable. She would listen to me go on and on about Game of Thrones and never look over it … tho she probably was lol. She would come to the drag shows and always wanted some good T. I can’t believe she’s no longer here. No one gets to live forever, but I definitely wish Jacqueline had more time on Earth. But that’s out of my hands. I’m comforted knowing she is at peace and I send my heart to her family, friends (her bestie Meesh for sure), and to all her work fam at World of Wonder. You’re an Angel now for sure Miss Jacqueline ?

A post shared by Shangela (DJ) (@itsshangela) on Sep 11, 2019 at 5:08pm PDT

Wilson has been a part of Drag Race since its second year and recently finished working on the upcoming 12th season.

All Stars 3 finalist Shangela described her as a “friend to every queen she met”, while season 9 queen Shea Coulee called her a “fun and vibrant individual… committed to feeling the stories of so many queens”.

RuPaul plots world domination for Drag Race.

Backstage at the Creative Arts Emmys, RuPaul was asked about the future of Drag Race, which will soon launch its first UK-based season.

He hinted that fans should expect to see even more in years to come.

“How much bigger would I like it to get? How many countries are there?” He said.

“There are drag queens all over the place, I think we could do a lot of them.”

As well as Drag Race UK, the franchise is also gearing up to launch in Canada and Australia, and has already aired versions in Thailand and Chile.

But despite the show’s incredible popularity, RuPaul said that drag will never be mainstream.

“Drag is dangerous, drag is not politically correct,” he told reporters.

“I know that people say, ‘You’re mainstream,’ but drag will never be mainstream.

“It’s radical, it’s this idea that you are not your body, you are an extension of the power that created the universe. That’s drag. We are all god in drag.

“The ego says no, I’m whatever it says I am on my driver’s license. No, you are bigger than that.”