RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series where drag queen RuPaul, as host and head judge, is in search of the "Next Drag Superstar" for the United States. It first broadcast in 2009 with eighteen complete seasons aired. During each season, drag performers apply to compete against each other through unique challenges. Based on the critiques given from the judges, they are progressively eliminated via a lip-sync contest, until only a few contenders remain. The selected finalists participate in a last episode from which a winner is determined to be given the title and any monetary prizes.