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RuPaul Wins His First Emmy: "I Feel Like I'm in a Dream"

"I'm in a state of shock," the RuPaul's Drag Race host tells E! News' Erin Lim

By Zach Johnson Sep 12, 2016 12:05 PMTags
Watch: RuPaul in Shock Over "Drag Race" Emmy Win

RuPaul was the queen of the Creative Arts Emmys.

In July, the RuPaul's Drag Race host received his first-ever Emmy nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, and on Sunday, he won that award, beating American Idol's Ryan Seacrest, Dancing With the Stars' Tom Bergeron, Hollywood Game Night's Jane Lynch, Little Big Shots' Steve Harvey and Project Runway's Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. No one semmed more surprised than Ru himself. "I'm in a state of shock right now. I really did not expect this," he exclusively told E! News' Erin Lim during the Winners Walk backstage. "Honestly, I feel like I'm in a dream and it's not really happening."

So, where will Ru keep his award?

"It's still seeping in now. I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I really don't."

RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on Logo in 2009, and earlier this year, the series was renewed for a ninth season (airdate TBD). RuPaul credited its contestants for his win, saying, "This so special for me because of the 100 plus girls who have so graciously told their stories on our show, who have traveled the world as ambassadors of...dancing to the beat of a different drummer."

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RuPaul Thanks You For His Emmy Nomination, But Is More Excited That He Still Even Has a Job

Visibility leads to acceptance, as the LGBT-oriented program has proven over the years. So while it was indeed a big night for RuPaul, he wanted to dedicate his award to "young people around the world, who see our show in Italy or South Africa, Australia or Japan, who know now that there's a way to navigate this life successfully on your own terms."

The cult series was also nominated in another category: Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program category. However, The Wiz: Live!'s Rachel Attridge, Dana Burkart, Rory Powers and Paul Tazewell beat Zaldy Goco, RuPaul's Drag Race's costume designer.

The 2016 Creative Arts Emmys will be televised Saturday at 8 p.m. on FXX.

Watch E!'s live 2016 Emmy Awards red carpet coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, September 18th