RuPaul

Queen of Manhattan. Supermodel of the World. Patron saint of Wigstock. Who else can we be talking about but RuPaul?

The legendary drag queen has recorded with Elton John, appeared in The Brady Bunch Movie, Crooklyn and The B-52's Love Shack video, had his own TV talk show and released a Christmas album called Ho Ho Ho, an autobiography called Lettin' It All Hang Out and even a RuPaul doll, not to mention numerous hit singles and albums. This is what you call cultural penetration.

Still, most of that happened back in the '90s, when RuPaul was the first transvestite supermodel -- along the way helping to raise millions for AIDS charities through MAC's Viva Glam campaign -- and his song Supermodel (You Better Work) was a worldwide dancefloor smash. Things are a bit different now.

"Audiences have changed, because attention spans are shorter," RuPaul said over the phone from a tour stop in Lake Tahoe last week.

"I blame it on the Ritalin given to kids in the '60s and '70s. But I was away for several years, and the kids who come to see me now were babies when they first heard of me, and they're very appreciative -- as am I.

"In terms of drag and culture, we're living in a very conservative time. Things are shaking up a bit in America because the Republican party is coming unravelled, but they aren't what they were in 1992, when I broke onto the scene. There just aren't as many outlets for an artist, and it's difficult."

Still, RuPaul is still going strong, working on a remix album as well as the soundtrack to his as-yet-untitled film project -- "an exploitation movie that exploits everybody, with lots of gratuitous nudity, violence, hairdos and costumes.

"At this point in my creative life, that's where the excitement lies -- in trying new angles," he explained.

"I mean, my goal is not to become more famous. I'd like to make more money, but being more famous -- I've done that!"

RuPaul is bringing his live show to the Ultra Supper Club tomorrow. There's no band, but RuPaul makes up for the savings on equipment and musicians with his stacks of costume and makeup trunks.

"Yes, I have lots of costume changes," he promised.

"The music and background vocals are on a mini-disc, and I sing live. I was in bands early in my career -- and that was, no pun intended, quite a drag. 'Cause I still had to load the van up and sit through a soundcheck for the drums, which is not exactly a laugh riot, I can tell you."