RuPaul was born in San Diego, the son of Ernestine "Toni" (Fontenette) and Irving Andrew Charles. His parents were from Louisiana. He was named by his mother; "Ru" in his name came from roux which is the term for the base of gumbo and other creole stews and soups. According to "Finding Your Roots", his DNA composition is 70% African and 30% European. When his parents divorced in 1967, he and his three sisters lived with their mother. He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.