RuPaul Andre Charles is an American drag performer, actor, TV host, and recording artist. The most commercially successful drag queen in the United States gained worldwide fame as the host and judge for his own reality competition television series RuPaul’s Drag Race. The show has won 9 Primetime Emmy Awards, three of which were awarded to RuPaul for hosting.

Needless to say that back in the ’80s, RuPaul’s unusual appearance didn’t really help him to climb the ladder of success. RuPaul struggled as a musician and filmmaker, but since he was never short on ideas, he’s always found a way to stand out. He participated in underground cinema, worked as a club dancer, and even sold pictures of himself as postcards.

His outfits made him popular, but his attitude toward life is what made him truly remarkable. By embracing his true self and encouraging millions to do the same, RuPaul has become an inspiring pop culture icon. He has supported LGBTQ+ rights and has fought for equality throughout his career, and been a model of longtime love with his husband Georges LeBar.

In 2017, RuPaul was included in the annual Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and became the first drag queen to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Here are 20 RuPaul quotes on self-confidence and success:

That is the key to navigating this life—don’t take it too seriously. That’s when the party begins.

Negativity is basically laziness. It takes a lot of hard work to remain positive, but positivity always pays off.

We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.

When you become the image of your own imagination, it’s the most powerful thing you could ever do.

To win at life and to win in this competition, you have to be willing to die a thousand deaths and be reborn a thousand times.

Success is something between you and yourself. I think only you know where you’ve come from and how far you wanna go.

If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?

Biggest obstacle I ever faced was my own limited perception of myself.

Fulfillment isn’t found over the rainbow—it’s found in the here and now. Today I define success by the fluidity with which I transcend emotional land mines and choose joy and gratitude instead.

It’s very easy to look at the world and think, this is all so cruel and so mean. It’s important to not become bitter from it.

If you want to be invited to the party, you better have something to bring.

I feel like you’re being sabotaged by your inner saboteur.

Unless they’re paying your bills, pay them bitches no mind!

You may not get the role you auditioned for, but make a lasting impression and they’ll remember you for something else later.

It’s not the word itself, but the intention behind the word.

Racism has nothing to do with race. It is the ego’s way of making you feel ‘better than’ .

Look at me – a big old black man under all of this makeup, and if I can look beautiful, so can you.

When the going gets tough, the tough reinvent themselves.

To limit yourself to one thing, it’s your business. But you have a choice.

I believe in using all the colors in the crayon box.