Ep 1. Drag on a Dime
- TV14
- February 2, 2009
- 43 min
-
7.3 (378)
"Drag on a Dime" is the first episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 1, which premiered in 2009. This episode introduces us to 9 drag queens who are vying for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar and a cash prize of $20,000.
The episode starts with a brief introduction of the contestants: Nina Flowers, Akashia, BeBe Zahara Benet, Jade Sotomayor, Shannel, Ongina, Tammie Brown, Victoria "Porkchop" Parker, and Rebecca Glasscock. RuPaul then sets the ground rules for the competition, which involves a series of challenges that test the queens' creativity, charisma, and lip-syncing skills.
The first challenge of the season is "Drag on a Dime," where the queens have to create a high-fashion look using only materials they can find at a local thrift store. The catch? They only have a budget of $1.99. The queens scramble to find the best deals and create their outfits, with some struggling more than others.
Once the queens have completed their looks, they present them on the runway to the judges: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Santino Rice. The judges critique each queen's outfit, praising some for their creativity and resourcefulness and criticizing others for their lack of polish and finishing touches.
After the runway, the queens face their first lip-sync challenge. Akashia and Victoria "Porkchop" Parker are selected to compete against each other for the chance to stay in the competition. The two queens lip-sync to RuPaul's song "Supermodel," with Akashia ultimately coming out on top and Victoria "Porkchop" Parker becoming the first queen to sashay away from the competition.
The episode ends with RuPaul announcing the winner of the "Drag on a Dime" challenge: Nina Flowers. Nina is awarded immunity for the next challenge and receives high praise from the judges for her innovative and polished outfit.
Overall, "Drag on a Dime" sets the tone for the rest of the season, introducing us to the queens and the challenges that they will face. It's a fun and exciting start to the competition, showcasing the creativity, humor, and heart that makes RuPaul's Drag Race such a beloved show.
