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BeBe Zahara Benet is a Cameroonian-American drag performer, television personality and musician and one of the contestants of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Where she would be crowned America’s First-ever Drag Superstar.

BeBe later returned as one of the contestants for the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars where she placed 3rd/4th.

Drag Name Origin[]

According to BeBe, she's always had a fondness for the name and thought it really reflected and suited her character. "Zahara", ties her to her African roots, her origin. And "Benet" refers to her French side, also because she partially grew up in France.[2]

Track Record(s)[]

BeBe Zahara Benet
Statistics USA Season 1 USA All Stars
Season 3
Ranking: 1st Place
(Winner)
3rd/4th Place
Maxi Challenges Won: 2 (Eps. 3, 6) 2 (Eps. 5, 6)
Mini Challenges Won: 0 0
Times as Team Captain: 0 0
Times in Bottom: 1 (Ep. 5) 1 (Ep. 7)
Episode Eliminated N/A Episode 8

Memorable Quotes[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1[]

  • "I bring a lot of international influence, and right now I really feel like I'm ahead of the game."
  • "I want to win this because there is pride and dignity in what we do. Dressing up for a living does not make us less of a man."
  • "Obviously, I was coming to compete to win, but then you come and then you find people that you get along with so well, you know, and you just build that friendship."
  • "When I first walked into the competition, I told myself that I was going to stay true to myself and that has taken me all the way up to the Final Three".
  • ♪ "Face, face, face, I give face, beauty face, you can't take? It's ok, watch my body go insane! Everyone keeps looking at me, you know I am stirring up heat, If you wanna come for me and you feel the need, come right now now and walk the beat!" ♪ (BeBe's verse in "Cover Girl")

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 3[]

  • "Mother, another day; another slay. Who's first?" (to RuPaul)
  • "I'm not going to read Morgan McMichaels, life already has." (BeBe reading Morgan)
  • "Everybody, I'm the only African here. But why does it look like with Kennedy Davenport you can sponsor her for 30 cents a day?"(BeBe's reading Kennedy)
  • “Mother, she looks homeless.” (In the Reading is Fundamental mini challenge about Thorgy Thor)
  • "Hahaha, bitch you got jokes!"
  • "Paramedics! Paramedics, make sure she's okay because I was not ready!" (reacting to Aja's dip in the Variety Show)
  • "Miss Thorgy drew the...a very like, you know, a picture of what the...*laughs*...she drew a picture!"
  • "That's the gag of the season."
  • "So RuPaul, when are we going to FUCK?" (as Grace Jones on All Stars 3's Snatch Game)
  • "Oooh, the drama in the pageant!"
  • "Bitch, I'm a performah!"
  • (Tearfully) "I am going to send Aja home."
  • "Rrrrra-ka-ta-ti-ti-ta-ta, yeah, I'm pussy, bitch! Ooh la la la la la la, c'est bon, c'est bon! Do-go-choco-la-ta-la, you can't take my snatch, drag it up, wild it up, give me more, bring it to the ball!" (BeBe's verse in "Drag Up Your Life")
  • "Who's Ornacia? I don't know who that is."
  • "Mirror, mirror on the wall I'm the fiercest of them all Face, face, face, body and all Another day, another slay Meow meow, savage beauty Steppin' out on a mission Get fierce, stay ready The OG's back for another crown" (BeBe's verse in "Kitty Girl")

Trivia[]

  • She is the first...
    • ...winner on RuPaul's Drag Race, and therefore America's first Drag Superstar.
    • ...queen to hail from Africa, from Cameroon.
    • ...black contestant to win RuPaul's Drag Race.
    • ...queen to win 2 ball challenges on 2 separate seasons.
    • ...international queen to win a regular Drag Race season.
    • ...winner to compete in an All Stars season.
    • ...queen on the show with a three-word drag name.
    • ...queen to win two maxi-challenges.
  • After winning, BeBe moved from Minneapolis to Brooklyn, New York.[3]
  • Her first drag performance was alongside Cyndi Lauper in The Gay 90s bar after moving to Minneapolis in 2000.[4][5]
  • She is the only winner to earn a $20,000 cash prize, the lowest winning cash prize in series history.
  • Bebe shares her birthday with Chad Michaels.
    • Coincidentally, they both won the first season of two separate RuPaul's Drag Race series.
  • As the winner of Season 1, she was given a featured cameo in the music video for RuPaul's song "Cover Girl (Put The Bass In Your Walk)". The version of the song featuring Bebe was included in RuPaul's 2009 album, Jealous of My Boogie - The RuMixes.
  • According to BeBe, she never received her prize of $5,000 worth of MAC Cosmetics, though did receive everything else in the prize package.[citation needed]
  • On both seasons she competed in, she won 2 main challenges, placed high once, and was up for elimination once at the final 5.
  • She lip-synced alongside both Kalorie Karbdashian-Williams and Miz Cracker during the Season 10 finale.
  • Aja revealed on Trinity The Tuck's Podcast 'Werk' that BeBe had chosen Trixie's lipstick in Episode 6 of All Stars 3.
  • BeBe is on "Drag Me Down the Aisle" together with Drag Race-alumni Jujubee, Thorgy Thor, and Alexis Michelle.
  • BeBe has a movie about her called "Being BeBe", which premiered at the Tribeca Festival from June 19th to June 23rd of 2021.

Gallery[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1 Looks[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 Looks[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 Looks[]

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3[]

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3 Looks[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Looks[]

Videos[]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020 Nubia: Amplified Themself OutTV original [6]
2021 Being Bebe Themself Documentary about Bebe's life [7]

TV[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 1 Themself Contestant (Winner) [8]
2010 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 2 Themself Episode: "The Main Event Clip Show" (Special guest)
2011 RuPaul's Drag U Themself Episode: "Nominated by Loved Ones"
Episode: "Mama Mia, I Need Help"
[9]
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 5 Episode: "Reunited!"
Episode: "RuPaullywood or Bust" (Archive footage)
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 8 Themself Episode: "Keeping It 100" (Special guest)
Episode: "Grand Finale"
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Season 3 Themself Contestant (3rd/4th place) [10]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 10 Themself Episode: "10s Across the Board" (Archive footage)
Episode: "Grand Finale"
2019 Vice Live Themself Guest [11]
2019-2020 Dragnificent! Themself Also known as 'Drag Me Down the Aisle' [12]
2019 The Rachel Ray Show Themself Guest [13]
2020 Infinity Train Sashay Episode: "The Parasite Car" [14]
2022 Nubia Amplified: The Series Themself Panelist [15]

Web series[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 WOW Shopping Network Themself Guest [16]
2014 Transformations Themself Guest [17]
2015 Drag Queens React Themself Guest [18]
2018 Whatcha Packin' Themself Guest [19]
2018 Hey Qween! Themself DragCon L.A. 2018 (Special) - Guest [20]
2019 Follow Me Themself Episode: "Pangina Heals" [21]
2020 Bobbin' Around Themself Episode: "Nubia" [22]
2020 Binge Themself Podcast by Entertainment Weekly [23]
2021 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire presents Drag Queen Summer Glamp Themself Produced by Jack Daniel's [24]

Music Videos[]

Year Title Artist Ref.
2009 "Cover Girl" RuPaul ft. Bebe Zahara Benet
2009 "I'm The Sh*t" BeBe Zahara Benet
2010 "A Little Respect" (HMI Redux) Erasure [25]
2010 "Cameroon" BeBe Zahara Benet
2014 "Face" BeBe Zahara Benet
2017 "Fun Tonite" BeBe Zahara Benet
2017 "Get Fierce (Lose Yourself)" BeBe Zahara Benet
2018 "Jungle Kitty" BeBe Zahara Benet [26]
2018 "Jolene" Dolly Parton [27]
2018 "Little Drummer Boy" BeBe Zahara Benet [28]
2020 "Banjo" BeBe Zahara Benet [29]
2020 "Body On Me" BeBe Zahara Benet [30]

Discography[]

EP's[]

Year Title Notes
2014 "Face"
2017 "Kisses & Feathers"
2020 "Broken English"
2021 "The Christmas Chantuese"

Singles[]

Year Title Album Notes
2009 "I'm The Shit" Non-album single
2010 "Cameroon" Non-album single
2012 "Dirty Drums" Non-album single
2014 "Face" Non-album single
2017 "Fun Tonite" "Kisses & Feathers"
2017 "Starting A Fire" "Kisses & Feathers"
2017 "Get Fierce (Lose Yourself)" "Kisses & Feathers"
2018 "Dirty Drums / Cameroon All Stars Mix" Non-album single
2018 "Jungle Kitty" Non-album single
2020 "Banjo" "Broken English"
2021 "Fever" Non-album single

Appearances/Features[]

Year Title Artwork Notes
2009 "Cover Girl" RuPaul ft. BeBe Zahara Bonet "Jealous Of My Boogie - The RuMixes"
2018 "Drag Up Your Life" RuPaul Feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 3
2018 "Kitty Girl" RuPaul Feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 3
2018 "Little Drummer Boy" "Christmas Queens 4"
2021 "Winner Winner (Chicken Dinner Remix)" Ft. Yvie Oddly, Brad Kemp, Shea Coulée

External Links[]

References[]

  1. With drag under attack, “Being BeBe” personalizes a performer’s journey | Gay City News — June 19, 2022
  2. Meet BeBe Zahara Benet! | Youtube — September 24, 2013
  3. Being BeBe | Apple TV
  4. RuPaul's Drag Race's BeBe Zahara Benet Talks About Her Style Evolution | Minnesota Monthly — February 1, 2018
  5. From Cameroon to Mpls. to international drag star: BeBe Zahara Benet serves face | MPR News — March 30, 2018
  6. OUTtv Media Group Teams With Producer Entertainment Group Launch First LGBTQ+ Apple TV Channel | Deadline — March 29, 2021
  7. Tribeca Adds Online Screenings to 2021 Festival Lineup | The Hollywood Reporter — May 3, 2021
  8. Let the Prizes Begin! | World of Wonder — March 31, 2009
  9. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' spinoff: Class is in session | LATimesBlogs — February 26, 2010
  10. Bebe Is The 10th Queen On 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3' & The Other Queens Should Be Shaking In Their Stilettos | Bustle.com — January 25, 2018
  11. 'VICE LIVE' Meets Drag Queens BeBe Zahara Benet and Alexis Michelle | Vice.com — March 7, 2019
  12. 'Drag Me Down The Aisle' Is The New Drag Queen Wedding Show You Need To See | Scary Mommy. — February 15, 2019
  13. A Drag Queen's Guide To Getting Fuller, Luscious Lips With Makeup In Minutes | RachelRayShow.com — June 21, 2019
  14. 'Infinity Train' Season 2 Review: A Delightful Blend Of Science Fiction And Whimsy | SlashFilm.com — January 17, 2020
  15. Nubia Amplified Episode One Black Cultural Appropriation | OUTtv — March 1, 2022
  16. BeBe Zahara Benet on WOW Shopping Network | Youtube, WOWPresents — April 18, 2014
  17. James St. James and BeBe Zahara Benet: Transformations | Youtube, WOWPresents — April 23, 2014
  18. Part 3 | Youtube, WOWPresents — August 25, 2015
  19. Whatcha Packin': BeBe Zahara Benet | Youtube, RuPaul's Drag Race — March 19, 2018
  20. Hey Qween with Bebe Zahara Benet, Jonny McGovern, & Lady Red Couture at DragCon LA 2018 | Youtube, WOWPresents — June 18, 2018
  21. FOLLOW ME: Pangina Heals | Youtube, WOWPresents — May 20, 2019
  22. Bobbin' Around!- Nubia | Youtube, Bob The Drag Queen — March 8, 2020
  23. Drag Race's BeBe and Ongina reveal the truth behind season 1's infamous filter | Entertainment Weekly — July 2, 2020
  24. Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire and RuPaul's Drag Race Alums Celebrate Pride | MurfreesBorrow Post. Jack Daniel's. — June 17, 2021
  25. How RuPaul’s Drag Race Queens Became the Hottest Music Video Accessory | WMagazine.com — March 5, 2019
  26. Bebe Zahara Benet revives Jungle Kitty for her gag-worthy new video | GayTimes.com — May 29, 2018
  27. Watch ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Stars Perform Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ | Rollingstone.com — December 12, 2018
  28. WATCH: BeBe Zahara Benet’s ‘Little Drummer Boy’ is the only version that’s necessary now | Queerty — December 13, 2018
  29. Watch Cameroonian Drag Artist Bebe Zahara Benet's New Music Video for 'Banjo' | Okayafrica.com — April 20, 2020
  30. First Out: New Music From Mxmtoon, Billy Porter, Shea Diamond & More | Billboard — April 24, 2020

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