Confession: since it arrived on Netflix, I've become wholeheartedly obsessed with RuPaul's Drag Race. For anyone who haven't seen the show, a cast of 14 talented drag queens compete for the coveted title of America’s Next Drag Superstar and a cash prize of $100,000. Regulars Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews join RuPaul around the judges’ panel to decide who stays and who “sashays away.”
While on the surface the show doesn't have much related to online dating, underneath all of the rhinestones and epic towers of hair, there are some excellent lessons that you could apply to your love life.
- If you get knocked down, get up again.
Drag Race is not an easy competition to win. Whether it's falling down in seven-inch heels or flubbing a challenge, one of the most inspiring parts of the show is when the drag queens don't quit. If they don't do their best, they wake up the next day and check out again. Exactly the same can be said about dating. You're going to have bad days and experience setbacks. The bottom line is not to allow them to keep you down. Get up, dust yourself off and going.
- Don't let tensions simmer.
Experiencing conflict? Talk. It. Out. When you don't communicate with the people you're dating (or perhaps your fellow drag queens) and permit tensions to simmer, the conflict can become explosive. Make use of your words. Be direct but kind.
- Accentuate your very best assets.
Ru's queens are masters at accentuating their finest assets — be it physical or personality wise. So, you do not have a supermodel body but you're hilarious? No problem. When you are within the dating arena, focus on why is you awesome so that as RuPaul says, “work it.”
- Always come from a place of affection, but don't hesitate to obtain real.
As RuPaul says, “my goal would be to always come from a place of love but sometimes you just need to break it down for any #[email protected]%^&*.” Quite simply, include kindness but make sure you still are putting yourself first and honoring your boundaries.
- Self-love is key.
Far too often we get into situations thinking that external forces (dating, finding yourself in a relationship) will let us feel better about ourselves. But life and love aren't effective this way. Like RuPaul says at the end of each episode, “if you cannot love yourself, how the hell are you going to love someone else?” Love and look after yourself first. The rest follows.