"RuPaul's Drag Race" looks to crown the next superstar drag queen

We've been seeing quite a few variations on the talent-based reality competition show lately. Bravo has translated the Project Runway formula to cooking, decorating, hair styling, modeling and dance. Animal Planet has ventured into the genre with Groomer Has It, and this fall The CW will introduce Stylista, where people will compete for the chance to be a fierce fashion magazine editor like Alexis Meade.

As the genre clearly isn't gay enough already, RuPaul is getting into the mix with an upcoming series on Logo (AfterElton's parent company) called RuPaul's Drag Race, which hopes to crown the next superstar drag queen. Ru will appear in and out of drag in the show, playing the dual role of mentor (out of drag) and as the supreme authority in all judging (in drag). That already sounds pretty inspired.

Auditions are being held online at RuPaul'sDragRace.com where hopefuls can upload videos, blog posts and photos and visitors can vote for their favorite. The online voting will eventually determine the finalists who will be on the show. Do you think you or somebody you know has what it takes?

RuPaul certainly doesn't mince words in this throwdown quote:

"Tell Tyra that the Queen has returned, and while you're at it have Heidi clear the runway. I'm going to pump some 'realness' into reality. To be a winner on this show the contestants need to be a fashion designer, an American Idol, and a top model all rolled up into one. And they definitely have to be smarter than a fifth grader."

It's been too long since we last had Ru on TV with The RuPaul Show on VH-1, hasn't it?

Even better this comes from the fabulous World of Wonder guys who gave us the likes of The Eyes of Tammy Faye (which was narrated by RuPaul), Tori and Dean: Inn Love and Transamerican Love Story. They delivered a massive disappointment with the unpunished homophobia on Viva Hollywood!, so here's hoping RuPaul's Drag Race makes us forget that blemish on their history.

The series is expected to hit the airwaves early next year.