Born and raised in San Diego, California, RuPaul later studied performing arts in Atlanta, Georgia. He settled in New York City, where he became a popular fixture on the LGBTQ+ nightclub scene. He achieved international fame as a drag queen with the release of his debut single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)", which was included on his debut studio album Supermodel of the World (1993). He became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics in 1994, raising money for the Mac AIDS Fund and becoming the first drag queen to land a major cosmetics campaign. He later received his own talk show on VH1 called The RuPaul Show, which he hosted for over 100 episodes while co-hosting the morning radio show on WKTU with Michelle Visage.
RuPaul's Drag Race was created in 2009 and has gone on to produce fourteen seasons in the United States. The show has also seen success internationally, with several international variants of the show being made, such as RuPaul's Drag Race UK and Canada's Drag Race. This has also inspired several spin-offs of the main show, including RuPaul's Drag U, RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race. He is also featured as a host on other reality television series such as Skin Wars, Good Work, and Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul.
RuPaul has made appearances in films such as Crooklyn (1994), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), television shows such as Girlboss (2017), Broad City (2017), and Grace and Frankie (2019). He later created and starred in his own Netflix original television series AJ and the Queen (2020). In addition, he has also published three books: Lettin' It All Hang Out (1995), Workin' It! RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (2010), and GuRu (2018).
RuPaul is considered the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States. For his work on RuPaul's Drag Race, he has received 12 Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the most-awarded person of color in the history of the Primetime Emmys. Outside of film and television, he also continues to write and record music; he has released fourteen studio albums as of 2022, and received a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.
Glamazon
RuPaul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She’s on the prowl – She rocks this town.
Who’s that girl? – A fly ferocious lady.
Get up and dance.
Get up. Get up and
Sashay! Shantay!
Panther on the runway!
All the girls say,
"Sashay! Shantay! Panther on the runway!"
Do it. Do it. Oh.
All the boys say, "Welcome to the jungle!"
She's so wild! So animal!
She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual!
She's like a female phenomenon. She's a glamazon.
A female phenomenon. A glama-z-a-a-on.
She's so wild! So animal!
She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual!
She's like a female phenomenon. She's a glamazon.
A female phenomenon. A glama-z-a-a-on.
Nobody do it like her.
She's taking names and kicking.
Ask! You shall receive.
What do you need?
It's all right.
It's all about the body.
Tonight's the night!
Get up. Get up and...
Sashay! Shantay!
Panther on the runway!
Do it. Do it.
Oh.
All the girls say,
"Sashay! Shantay! Panther on the runway!"
Do it. Do it. Oh.
All the boys say, "Welcome to the jungle!"
She's so wild! So animal!
She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual!
She's like a female phenomenon. She's a glamazon.
A female phenomenon. A glama-z-a-a-on.
She's so wild! So animal!
She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual!
She's like a female phenomenon. She's a glamazon.
A female phenomenon. A glama-z-a-a-on.
LadyBoys and girls,
And those who dream to rule the world!
Smokey eyes! Cherry lips!
Stilettos on! Now break it down.
Oh, oh! Oh, oh!
Oh, oh! She's a glamazon.
Oh, oh! Oh, oh!
Oh, oh! She's a glamazon.
(Get up and) Sashay! Shantay!
Panther on the runway!
Do it. Do it.
Oh.
All the girls say,
"Sashay! Shantay! Panther on the runway!"
Do it. Do it. Oh.
All the boys say, "She's so bloody tall."
She's so wild! So animal!
She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual!
She's like a female phenomenon. She's a glamazon.
A female phenomenon. A glama-z-a-a-on.
She's so wild! So animal!
She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual!
She's like a female phenomenon. She's a glamazon.
A female phenomenon. A glama-z-a-a-on.
RuPaul’s song Glamazon is an anthem for confident women who turn heads wherever they go. The song’s lyrics are all about embracing your sexuality and flaunting your body, exemplified in the line “She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual!” The woman in question is described as a “glamazon,” a term that originated in the drag community to describe a fierce, confident, and larger-than-life woman. The song encourages everyone to get up and dance, and repeats the phrase “sashay, shantay” which is a common phrase used in drag culture to mean “strut your stuff.”
The chorus of the song is catchy and memorable, repeating the line “She’s a glama-z-a-a-on” as a way to emphasize the woman’s powerful presence. The verse about LadyBoys and girls who dream of ruling the world is a nod to the LGBTQ+ community who often feel marginalized in society. Overall, Glamazon is an empowering song that celebrates confident women who are unapologetic about their beauty and sexuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody wants her – Ms. Sexy in the city.
Everyone is attracted to her, as she exudes sexiness and confidence while living her best life in the city.
She’s on the prowl – She rocks this town.
She is confidently asserting herself and taking charge of her environment as she glides through life.
Who’s that girl? – A fly ferocious lady.
Others are curious about this stunning and powerful woman who commands attention and respect wherever she goes.
Get up and dance.
This song is meant to inspire and motivate people to dance and celebrate themselves and their individuality.
All the girls say, "Sashay! Shantay! Panther on the runway!" Do it. Do it. Oh. All the boys say, "Welcome to the jungle!"
People of all genders are excited and amazed at the confidence and beauty of the woman depicted in the song, with some likening her to a powerful jungle animal and others admiring the grace and poise of her movements.
She's so wild! So animal! She's gonna work that sexy body! So sexual! She's like a female phenomenon. She's a glamazon. A female phenomenon. A glama-z-a-a-on.
The woman in the song is compared to a fierce and powerful animal, using her sexuality and physicality to dominate and inspire others in a way that is truly unique and awe-inspiring.
Nobody do it like her. She's taking names and kicking. Ask! You shall receive. What do you need?
The song asserts that this woman is entirely one-of-a-kind, and is always taking charge and asserting herself wherever she goes. She is confident and bold, and is not afraid to ask for what she wants in life.
It's all right. It's all about the body. Tonight's the night! Get up. Get up and...
The song encourages people to celebrate their bodies and their individuality, not worrying about what other people think and living life to the fullest.
LadyBoys and girls, And those who dream to rule the world! Smokey eyes! Cherry lips! Stilettos on! Now break it down.
The song is inclusive and welcoming to all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, and encourages everyone to express themselves bravely and confidently.
Oh, oh! Oh, oh! Oh, oh! She's a glamazon. Oh, oh! Oh, oh! Oh, oh! She's a glamazon.
The song reiterates that this woman is truly special and unique, deserving of the highest level of admiration and respect due to the confidence and sexiness she exudes.
All the boys say, "She's so bloody tall."
Even the men who are typically seen as confident and dominant are humbled and impressed by the woman's tall and commanding presence.
Contributed by Elena M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.