Las Vegas just got a little more fabulous — again. “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!” has officially sashayed past its 1,000th performance, cementing its glittering heels in the neon-lit pavement of Sin City history. What began as a short-lived flop in 1994 has transformed into a legacy of sequins, stardom, and sheer queer power.
The celebration at the Flamingo Las Vegas was nothing short of an eleganza extravaganza, with queens like Asia O’Hara, Jaida Essence Hall, Morphine Love Dion, and Plane Jane serving high camp and higher heels. Hosted by the indomitable Ginger Minj, the show didn’t just bring down the house — it razed the Strip with pure, unfiltered drag excellence. Even fans at home got in on the action thanks to a live stream on WOW Presents Plus, because nobody puts baby drag fans in a corner.
But this wasn’t just a party — it was a moment. RuPaul’s original Vegas residency at the Sahara Hotel in 1994 barely lasted a couple weeks. Back then, he was still riding the glitter wave of “Supermodel (You Better Work),” but Vegas wasn’t quite ready for the glamazon revolution. Fast-forward 30 years, and the world has finally caught up. Drag is no longer the punchline or the underground secret. It’s center stage, spotlighted, and earning standing ovations nightly.
And right by Ru’s side through this glittering saga? Jamal Sims — once a backup dancer for that 1994 Sahara stint, now co-director and choreographer of the live show. Their journey is a sparkling tale of queer perseverance: Sims, a closeted Black gay man at the time, credits RuPaul for showing him that living authentically was possible — and profitable. “That was the first time I saw a gay person live like a ‘normal person,’” Sims said, calling it a life-altering moment.
From Gift Shops to Glory
This milestone isn’t just about performances. It’s about the evolution of drag and how queer artistry can thrive even in places once reserved for Vegas royalty like Céline Dion and Elton John. Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey — now media moguls behind the Drag Race empire — were once slinging RuPaul merch from folding tables at the Sahara. Today, they helm a multi-platform drag dynasty.
That’s the heart of this story: transformation. Not just wigs and costumes, but real, personal, and societal transformation. RuPaul and company took a marginalized art form and turned it into a full-blown mainstream institution. And the impact on the LGBTQ community? Massive. This show has employed countless queer creatives, inspired generations to live out loud, and offered visibility in a world that still too often sidelines our stories.
“Drag artists used to impersonate pop stars,” one performer joked backstage. “Now we are the pop stars.”
The Legacy of Werk
RuPaul, reflecting on the journey during the 1,000th show, gave a heartfelt speech celebrating the community that made it all possible. From crew to queens, the message was clear: queer resilience is not just alive — it’s thriving under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Drag isn’t just glitter and gags. It’s protest, it’s art, it’s family, and now, it’s history — the kind you can buy tickets to and see eight nights a week. As queer people continue to face attacks across the U.S. and globally, this residency isn’t just entertainment. It’s resistance in rhinestones.
So here’s to Ru, Jamal, the queens, and the thousands of fans who’ve screamed “YAS!” from the front row to the nosebleeds. Drag Race Live isn’t slowing down — and neither are we.
Viva Drag Vegas, baby.