WOW Presents Plus
WOW Presents Plus: supporting and educating the LGBT+ community
WOW Presents Plus, the subscription-based streaming service that houses all of the multiple RuPaul’s Drag Race franchises, does so much for the LGBTQ+ community. From giving underrepresented groups a global media platform to highlighting LGBTQ+ topics that aren’t talked about enough in mainstream media, it is truly revolutionary. So, where did it all begin?
WOW Presents Plus is the programme streaming service that sits under the World of Wonder (WOW) production company based in LA. This was founded in 1991, the year the infamous competition-reality television show RuPaul’s Drag Race launched. World of Wonder (WOW) has since been a prolific producer of hit series for many networks including Bravo, HBO, and VH1. Think Backyard Envy, Million Dollar and Candidly Nicole. Owned by filmmakers and life and creative partners Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, known for movies Party Monster and The Eyes of Tammy Faye, this brilliant duo decided to host dedicated digital content for the LGBT+ community all in one place.
Cue WOW Presents Plus. On its launch day in 2017, Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey released a statement explaining, “For more than 20 years, World of Wonder has created programming and experiences that give a voice to the outsiders and the marginalized. As the marginal moves into the mainstream, the time has come for us to curate a platform for our audience with content fans will devour, featuring stars that deserve to be on television round-the-clock.”
And that’s exactly what it does; it gives underground topics and content a global stage, giving people in the community the content they want to see. Something that was heavily lacking in this capacity pre its launch, which was just another way for LGBTQ+ people to feel overlooked.
Now, the service offers a wide spectrum of original series, including shows like Painted with Raven, a makeup competition where contestants take part in paint challenges from their bedrooms to win $25,000. Within the show, topics such as mental health and professional pressure as a person within the LGBTQ+ community are discussed, giving viewers something to potentially relate to and learn from. Both educational and inspiring, there’s Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce, which looks into a particular musical subculture from the New Orleans underground. And more recently, Kerri Kares has launched, which follows openly trans drag queen Kerri Colby talking about important issues surrounding trans people such as transitioning, relationships and self-care.
To say WOW Presents Plus is serving the LGBTQ+ community is an understatement. It’s so much more than digital content; it’s creating a safe space for people to educate themselves on issues that they may not otherwise have exposure to in such an accurate and honest way. People can find themselves through the incredibly brave and powerful people featured in the programmes, which make you both laugh and cry on each episode.
Visit WOW Presents Plus here.