The world of drag simply wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for the expertise and exuberance of RuPaul, who singlehandedly made the sometimes misunderstood performance art form a pop culture mainstay.

Whether it was singing “Supermodel (You Better Work),” starring in “The RuPaul Show” or starting “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” amongst countless other creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, there hasn’t been a shortage of the superstar’s numerous abilities to entertain and empower since the early 1990s.

But those who quickly sold out the Vic Theatre to see “Queen Of Drag” up close on “The House Of Hidden Meanings” Tour, titled after a memoir of the same name, got to see the man born RuPaul Andre Charles at his most vulnerable.

Dressed in standard street clothes rather than in character, the artist/actor/author was the latest to grace WBEZ’s always fascinating speaker series and this one will certainly go down in the history books.

That’s because faithful were treated to a thoroughly engaging hour where no interviewer or moderator was needed because RuPaul could easily do almost all of the talking, starting with an overview of a tumultuous childhood.

One simultaneously harrowing yet hysterically described tale revolved around his parents’ impending divorce and the time his mother poured gasoline on her womanizing husband’s car and threatened to light a match.

Thankfully, the drama simmered when the fire department and church ladies came, but the scars of numerous disappointing occurrences remained, like desperately waiting outside with his sisters every weekend for their father to visit, going so far as to say each approaching car would be his, despite never actually showing up.

Speaking through the lens of sobriety since 1999, RuPaul acknowledged these and many other ordeals contributed to personally justifying a lengthy stretch of substance abuse, though he cheekily referred to drugs as “laxatives” and rejoiced over being able to avoid arrest.

Fortunately, following years of therapy, a loving husband and daily spiritual mediations, he’s finally taking full care of himself and making a conscious effort to choose joy, especially when looking at the photo saved to the front of his phone screen taken as a five-year-old.

And he spread exactly that thanks to additional anecdotes and interactions, such as how setting out to follow in David Bowie’s androgynous footsteps resulted in an unplanned transition towards drag and greeting a couple who traveled all the way from Australia to celebrate their anniversary at this very show.

As the conversation naturally concluded, it became clear “The House Of Hidden Meanings” is a must-read for RuPaul regulars or really anyone looking to learn how to love themselves, and even if everyone can’t be a “Supermodel Of The World,” they can still uniquely express themselves no matter the format.

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For additional information on RuPaul, visit RuPaul.com.

For a list of upcoming WBEZ events and Jam Productions concerts, visit WBEZ.org and JamUSA.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Vic Theatre include Mclusky (Mar. 15); Dorian Electra (Mar. 16); Chelsea Wolfe (Mar. 19); ISMO (Mar. 23); Joe Pera (Mar. 30-31); Action Bronson (Apr. 3-4); Marc Maron (Apr. 5); Scary Pockets (Apr. 6); Mania – The ABBA Tribute (Apr. 7); Young Fathers (Apr. 11); Hippie Sabotage (Apr. 12); Jimbo’s Drag Circus (Apr. 13); Money Man (Apr. 17) and Justin William (Apr. 19). For additional details, visit JamUSA.com/Venues/The-Vic.