RuPaul's Drag Race: The First Season

The first season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on February 2, 2009, on Logo in the United States. The show was hosted by the iconic RuPaul and featured nine contestants competing to become 'America's Next Drag Superstar.' The winner of the season was BeBe Zahara Benet.

Challenges and Lip Syncs

Throughout the season, the queens faced various challenges that tested their creativity, talent, and charisma. In one episode, they were tasked with creating an outfit made from items found at a thrift store. Another challenge involved a sexy carwash photoshoot. The queens also participated in a lip-sync battle, where Akashia won against Victoria 'Porkchop' Parker.

Judges and Guest Judges

The season featured guest judges who critiqued the performances of the contestants. These included singer-songwriter María Conchita Alonso, Absolut Vodka marketing executive Jeffrey Moran, dancer and choreographer Robin Antin, and director and choreographer Frank Gatson.

Runway Challenge Winner and Miss Congeniality

Nina Flowers won the runway challenge in one episode, while Akashia was declared the winner of the Lip Sync for the Crown. Nina Flowers was also voted Miss Congeniality by an audience poll on the show's official website.

Prizes and Tour

The winner of the first season received a cash prize of $20,000, $5,000 worth of MAC Cosmetics, was featured in an LA Eyeworks campaign, and joined the Logo Drag Race tour. The runner-up, Nina Flowers, did not receive any prizes but gained popularity among fans.

Re-Airing and Legacy

In late 2013, Logo re-aired the first season with commentary from RuPaul. This season is notable for being one of the only seasons to not feature the 'Snatch Game' challenge. The theme song used in each episode was 'Cover Girl' by RuPaul's album Champion.

Overall, the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race set the stage for the show's successful run and established BeBe Zahara Benet as its first winner.

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