If you haven’t been watching either RuPaul’s Drag Race or Queer Eye, you need to add them to your must-watch list ASAP. 
With Neo Nazi’s marching in the streets, bombs being mailed to prominent black families in Austin, women’s rights being challenged at every turn, and mass shootings happening near every day, shows like Drag Race and Queer Eye have become essential watching and a means of escape. Even though they are reality shows, one a competition and one a makeover show, they are at the heart about radical self love.
Watch Drag Race and Queer Eye for these lessons in your real life:
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Failure Is Not The End
If you watched the most recent season of Drag Race All Stars, you know that fan-favorite Shangela lost to folk comedian and rouge abuser, Trixie Mattell. And yes, Shangela was ROBBED (#NotMyAllStar) but winning Drag Race is not the pinnacle of being on this show. Life outside of Drag Race is often more lucrative and where the show/life really starts for these contestants. After the finale upset, I hit Shangela’s website to see what she was up to and happened to find her tour page. Let me tell you, gurl has a more ambitious tour schedule than most rock bands. She’s booked around the world at events, concert, colleges and everywhere in between. Just because she didn’t win a reality competition, does not mean it’s the end of the road for Shangela, it’s honestly just a stepping stone to the next big win, and that’s a life lesson I need to hear.
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It really does get better
Whether it’s Drag Race or Queer Eye, hosts and contestants share personal stories of growing up ‘different’ than the people around them and how they were bullied or in some cases physically harmed for being who they are. But like most subtle high school geniuses, life really begins in adulthood and their participation in shows like Drag Race and Queer Eye are a balm to the soul for many and an encouragement to those in the middle of the struggle.
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Friendship and Loyalty
Queen Eye has taken “… For the Straight Guy” out of their name because in this revamped season, they make over a fellow gay man. He’s not out to his step-mother and seems to have not fully accepted himself. The Fab Five do one of their best makeovers. They not only give him some new clothes and a fresh haircut, they model acceptance and love amongst themselves for him to see.
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Acceptance (not tolerance)
Shows like Drag Race and Queer Eye are not about tolerance. We can tolerate a lot of stuff. These shows are really about acceptance. Accepting others whoever and whatever they may be and accepting ourselves, flaws and all. THAT is a message we need right now. In the midst of a heavy political climate, and the culture of us vs them, these shows are about acceptance and radical self-love no matter the odds. And THAT is good television.
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Love Yourself
As RuPaul ends each show, “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?” Yes Ru. Yes. Words to live by.
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Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10 NOW on VH1 and Queer Eye on Netflix
