Support your local drag queen: What 3 queens — from ages 10 to 87 — think about RuPaul's Drag Race

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The TV show RuPaul's Drag Race may have brought drag into the cultural mainstream, but one performer says it hasn't meant more money in her clutch purse.

"Drag has not evolved in terms of financing in the last 20 years; we're still getting paid the same rates that people were getting paid 20 years ago," said Uma Gahd, co-founder of House of Laureen, a drag theatre company.

The Montreal-based drag queen explained that contestants on the reality TV show can win fans all over the world and make a lot of money in the process. But she said that drag queens working in bars and nightclubs can be paid around $75 a night to perform three songs.

That's "not a lot of money to find someone to style a wig for us, to buy all of our hundreds of dollars of makeup, a pair of shoes and a dress, plus accessories," she told The Current's guest host Katie Simpson.

"It's … important for people who enjoy drag to support their local drag artists because, you know, we're not making as much money as them and it's hard," said Gahd, aka Ryan Sauvé.

"It's a very expensive career and we need that support."

Contestants on the show compete in challenges that involve everything from acting and comedy to runway looks and lip syncing. They are eliminated one by one, week after week, until a grand finale where show creator RuPaul Charles crowns "America's next drag superstar." It has run for 11 seasons, as well as four All Stars seasons, where contestants from previous seasons return for another shot at the crown.

This year, the show featured its first Canadian contestant, Brooke Lynn Hytes, originally from Toronto. She reached the season finale, which aired Thursday, but lost out to Denver-based Yvie Oddly in the final lip sync.

Watch some of Canadian drag queen Brooke Lynn Hytes' best bits on RuPaul's Drag Race

Toronto drag queen Michelle DuBarry said it's wonderful that the show is giving people a launch pad for their careers — but its mainstream popularity is a far cry from when she started out.

"The general public didn't know anything about it, period," said DuBarry, who at 87 has been performing in drag for more than 50 years.

DuBarry, whose real name is Russell Alldread, explained that she used to perform in underground shows that tried to stay out of sight. When locations were outed, hundreds of people could turn up, "out to see the queers," she said.

They were often raided by police who would "pick on us for being dressed up," she added.

Nemis Melancon started doing drag when he was seven, with a little help on hair and make-up from his mom, Jessica Melancon.

Now, at the ripe old age of 10, his character Queen Lactatia has a global following.

"As a 10-year-old drag queen, I've gotten so much support — from even people around the world that I don't know," he said.

"I really can't imagine a world where barely anybody supported me."

Click 'listen' near the top of this page to hear the full conversation.

Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Danielle Carr and Gary Francis.