--- title: TIME 100: RuPaul on Identity, What He's Learned description: The world's most famous drag queen and TIME 100 honoree shares why he believes that people shouldn't take identity too seriously. canonical: https://time.com/4746895/rupaul-time-100-video/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-04-20T11:00:12.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-07-21T07:15:06.255Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: RuPaul on Why Identity Shouldn't Be Taken Seriously og:description: You better work og:url: https://time.com/4746895/rupaul-time-100-video/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b6fe27d3e291645/6988c36c8e060185cd469fda/time-100-2017-rupaul-miles-aldridge1.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: time-100-2017-rupaul-miles-aldridge og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: RuPaul on Why Identity Shouldn't Be Taken Seriously twitter:description: You better work twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b6fe27d3e291645/6988c36c8e060185cd469fda/time-100-2017-rupaul-miles-aldridge1.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # RuPaul on Why Identity Shouldn't Be Taken Seriously, But Loving Yourself Should > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Apr 20, 2017 11:00 AM UTC  Photograph by Miles Aldridge for TIME  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Apr 20, 2017 11:00 AM UTC [RuPaul Charles](http://time.com/4513643/dolly-parton-rupaul-bffs/) is the the world’s most famous drag queen, and for good reason. His beloved, Emmy-winning reality TV show [_RuPaul’s Drag_ _Race_ ](http://time.com/4476523/rupauls-drag-race-bob-the-drag-queen/)has brought drag to the forefront of pop culture — even if RuPaul would be the first to protest that drag will never be mainstream. However, it isn’t just the _Drag Race_ empire that’s brought RuPaul widespread acclaim: The [TIME 100 member](http://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/4736291/rupaul/) has also made a name for himself as an author, actor, recording artist and a bona fide business mogul, in addition to maintaining his status as [the uncontested supermodel of the world](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9LOrHU8JI). For all of his accomplishments, however, RuPaul’s approach to life is refreshingly light-hearted: don’t take yourself too seriously. In a video interview with TIME, he shares how drag culture helps to pare down what’s serious and not—especially when it comes to identity, life and love. “I learned early on—don’t take life too seriously,” he says. “There are things you should take seriously like loving yourself, allowing other people to love you, which is a big one. Most of the other things are really not that serious.” **MORE** [See Who Is on TIME’s List of the Most Influential People of 2017](http://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/) His work has reinforced that belief system: “Drag has always served a purpose,” he says. “The purpose is to remind people to not take themselves too seriously. We mock identity. A lot of people get angry… Identity is not to be taken seriously. We show people we’re shape shifters. We are God in drag. 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