RuPaul is a groundbreaking icon in not just the drag world but the entertainment industry in general, so you know he has some stories to tell.
(Drag queens are typically referred to as one pronoun when in drag and one that accords with their gender identity out of drag; RuPaul has famously said he doesn't much care which pronouns are used, so we'll be using them interchangeably.)
Now, he's bringing those stories to light—RuPaul announced that she's written a memoir, The House of Hidden Meanings, set to release next year. And from the sounds of it, the boundary-shattering diva is laying it all bare.
RuPaul announced the endeavor in a stripped down, makeup- and wig-free video posted to X, formerly Twitter, explaining just how much it required of him to write the book.
The time has come\u2026 to announce my memoir, The House of Hidden Meanings. Writing this book left me gooped, gagged and stripped raw. I\u2019ve learned that vulnerability is strength, but so far, all I feel is nervous as hell, yet super excited to share it with y\u2019all. When all is said\u2026— RuPaul (@RuPaul) 1696425060
In her caption, RuPaul wrote:
"Writing this book left me gooped, gagged and stripped raw."
"I’ve learned that vulnerability is strength, but so far, all I feel is nervous as hell, yet super excited to share it with y’all."
In his video, Ru shared how digging deep meant the book took more than two years to write.
“After two and a half years, it’s finally here. My memoir. I’m so excited and so anxious at the same time because I really reveal so much of myself."
"This world today, it feels so hostile and it’s such a scary place to be vulnerable in, but...I did it. So get ready!”
But if you're expecting it to be all glitz, glamour and gowns, think again.
The book is said to cover just the first 40 years of Ru's pre-RuPaul's Drag Race life, delving into his turbulent childhood, discovery of drag as an art form, and the love story between him and husband Georges LeBar.
The cover photo alone telegraphs that the book will be about the person beneath the image—it features Ru with facial hair, staring seriously and confidently right down the lens.
Ru is of course an icon to many LGBTQ+ people—and straight people too—so of course her announcement video had many people online very excited.
\u201cgooped, gagged and stripped raw\u201d is an instant classic i fear— matt (@matt) 1696435508
@RuPaul Vulnerability is a superpower \ud83e\uddb8\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\ud83d\udcaa\ud83d\udc8b xxx— \ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc2c \ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc1e (@\ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc2c \ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc1e) 1696445237
@RuPaul Pre ordered mine just before I took off to London. Actually ordered 2 one for me and one for my bestie.— John Barrowman MBE (@John Barrowman MBE) 1696470671
@RuPaul That laugh thru the tears - so iconic \ud83d\udc95— High in Drublic (@High in Drublic) 1696426941
I\u2019m interested Ru is an black Gay icon and we need to appreciate them while they are still here— Tyjisoo (@Tyjisoo) 1696481019
Ending my text strings with \u201cwriting this has left me gooped, gagged and stripped raw\u201d— Koco Caine\u2019s Straw (@Koco Caine\u2019s Straw) 1696425710
@RuPaul Yaaas mama ru— Alexa\ud83c\udf65 (@Alexa\ud83c\udf65) 1696448800
@RuPaul I\u2019ll be reading! \ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffb— Brauli (@Brauli) 1696453458
@RuPaul Looking forward to this\ud83d\udc99— \u2119\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd68\ud835\udd56\ud835\udd63\ud835\udd64 \ud835\udd60\ud835\udd57 \ud835\udd44\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd5f (@\u2119\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd68\ud835\udd56\ud835\udd63\ud835\udd64 \ud835\udd60\ud835\udd57 \ud835\udd44\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd5f) 1696426361
@RuPaul We will be reading, mama \u2764\ufe0f— \ud835\ude90\ud835\ude8a\ud835\ude8b\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude9e (\ud835\ude9d\ud835\ude8a\ud835\udea2\ud835\ude95\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude9b\u2019\ud835\ude9c \ud835\ude9f\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude9c\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude97) (@\ud835\ude90\ud835\ude8a\ud835\ude8b\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude9e (\ud835\ude9d\ud835\ude8a\ud835\udea2\ud835\ude95\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude9b\u2019\ud835\ude9c \ud835\ude9f\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude9c\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude97)) 1696429350
Ru's memoir is slated to release March 5, 2024, so get those pre-orders in.
Because as Mama Ru has famously taught us, reading is what? FUNDAMENTAL.
@GovPressOffice/X
