The Muppets have borrowed many motifs from vaudeville or burlesque, especially in their earliest variety show appearances. Drag, or female impersonation, was one of these recurring motifs, sometimes deliberately intended as such, or simply recycling a male puppet in a wig or dress for a specific sketch. The practice has its roots in many vaudeville comics who had female characters, as well as the concept of the pantomime dame (where matrons or ugly stepsisters in stage fairy tales were always men in drag).

Kermit the Frog in particular, in his earliest years, often donned a wig to lip synch to female vocalists such as Keely Smith or Rosemary Clooney. In an early appearance on The Today Show, the host complimented Jane Henson, performing the character opposite Jim Henson's Sam, on the "feminine" quality she brought to the character (though Jane tried to stress that the puppet was named Kermit, and normally male).

The Whatnots, Anything Muppets, Unisaurs, and many Muppet Monsters have appeared incongruously as both genders.

On still other occasions, instead of a drag performance, a puppet is refurbished or recycled as a differently gendered character, a practice done with both male and female Muppets, for example, Miss Kitty was recycled for the Whatnot Monster's love in the "All of Me" number in The Muppet Show episode 108.

Males in Drag

Picture	Character / Production	Notes
	Ace Hart Dog City Episode 104: Disobedience School	With Eliot Shag's help, Ace Hart accidentally changes into disguise #312 -- a tutu.
	Ace Hart Dog City Episode 104: Disobedience School	With Eliot Shag's help, Ace Hart accidentally changes into disguise #213 -- a Valkyrie costume.
	Akshar Kumar Galli Galli Sim Sim	Akshar Kumar, Bollywood movie star from India, in one of his many movie roles.
	Angelo The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora	Angelo stands in as Cat Cora for her birthday preparations, donning a blonde wig and dress while helping Gonzo and Fozzie make birthday treats.
	Animal Muppets Tonight Episode 109	Auditioning as a Miss Piggy replacement.
	Animal Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.	Among the "Volunteer Clean-Up" choices on Disneyparksgive.com, Animal dressed in a "French Maid" costume.
	Anything Muppet man Sesame Street	As part of the game show "To Tell a Face," a man poses as Baby Bobby's grandmother.
	B.P. Richfield Dinosaurs "Working Girl"	Now that his workers have abandoned the idea, B.P. Richfield is forced to wear a womans' outfit to meet the quota.
	Baby Bear Sesame Street Episode 3725	Baby Bear impersonates Prairie Dawn for a show, trying to play "her piano" (Rosita).
	Baby Gonzo and Baby Scooter Muppet Babies "The Muppet Broadcasting Company"	Baby Gonzo and Baby Scooter appear as an Andrews Sisters take-off, singing "Let's Hear It for Your Ears."
	Baby Rowlf and Baby Scooter Muppet Babies "Beauty and the Schnoz"	Baby Rowlf and Baby Scooter play the Woodsman's daughters in Kermit's version of Beauty and the Beast.
	Baskerville the Hound The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence	As Rowlf's dance partner.
	Beaker America's Got Talent	After a performance by Terry Fator and Kermit, Beaker, Animal and the Swedish Chef replace judges David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne and Pierce Morgan (respectively).
	Bear Halloween Bear	Bear dresses as Goldilocks for Halloween.
	Beautiful Day Monster Sesame Street	Beautiful Day Monster disguises himself as a baker and a little girl to trick Ernie out of four of the five cookies.
	Bert Sesame Street	Bert reluctantly plays the role of Princess Gwendolynda in the story "The Magic Apple."
	Bert A Muppet Family Christmas	Bert plays the role of "Mama" in the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas pageant.
	Bert The Perils of Penelope	Why does Bert have to be the one to play Penelope?
	Bert We're Counting on You, Grover!	Bert plays the role of "Jack's Mother" in a Jack and the Beanstalk pageant.
	Bert Elmo's Art Workshop	Bert wears a tutu in one of the game's many stickers.
	Bert The Sesame Street Dictionary	Bert dresses up as Little Bo Peep
	Bert Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Bert plays the part of the princess in "The Frog Prince."
	Bert Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Bert plays the part of the evil queen in "Snow White."
	Bert Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Bert plays the part of the curious queen in "Rumpelstiltskin."
	Bert The Sesame Street 1976 Calendar	Bert appears dressed as The Statue of Liberty.
	Bert The Little Red Hen	Bert portrays the Little Red Hen.
	Big Head Muppet Meeting Films	In "How to End a Meeting," Big Head disguised himself as a fat lady opera star as an attempt to find a way to get an unstoppable speaker off the stage. Outside of the Muppet Meetings Films, the redressed puppet was later recycled in the role of an actual female character on Sesame Street.
	The Big Bad Wolf Sesame Street Episode 3914	The Big Bad Wolf wears a blonde wig and plays the role of Goldilocks in the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" for the day since the real one is on vacation.
	Big Bird Fairly Furry Fairy Tales	Big Bird portrays Big Red Riding Hood.
	Big Bird Goldilocks and the Three Grouches	Big Bird portrays Goldilocks.
	Bill the Bubble Guy Muppets Tonight Episode 109	Bill dresses in a wig and snout to audition as Miss Piggy.
	Blögg Abby's Flying Fairy School	To earn their Fairy Godmother wings, the students must poof a gown on Blögg for the "Cinderella Challenge".
	Bob Sesame Street Episode 3595	Bob fills in for Prairie Dawn at a pageant. (YouTube)
	Bobo the Bear Muppets Tonight Episode 104	Bobo dresses as Little Miss Muffet in a Fairyland PD sketch to catch a spider accused of harassment.
	Bobut Aliens in the Family Episode 105	Bobut dresses in a wig to amuse Audrey and Wilt.
	Boober Fraggle Fraggle Rock "Boober's Quiet Day"	Caught in a web of lies, Boober dresses as The Old Gypsy Lady.
	Cookie Monster Sesame Street	In various sketches, including a Sesame Street News Flash and Monsterpiece Theater segment, Cookie Monster assumes the role of "Little Red Cookie Hood."
	Cookie Monster When Is Saturday?	Cookie Monster and Grover play dress-up in the attic.
	Cookie Monster Sesame Street	Cookie Monster plays the role of The King's daughter in the story "The King's Nose."
	Cookie Monster The Sesame Street Dictionary	Cookie Monster plays the queen who is eating bread and honey in the famed nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence."
	Cookie Monster Sesame Street News Flash	Cookie Monster plays the princess in "The Princess and the Cookie," a take on The Princess and the Pea, where Cookie Monster eats the mattress when he feels a cookie under them.
	Cookie Monster Cookie Monster Auditions for Saturday Night Live	Cookie Monster as Macarooner's assistant.
	Cookie Monster Cookie Monster Auditions for Saturday Night Live	Cookie Monster dresses up as Monster Gaga.
	Cookie Monster	Spoofing The Hunger Games for Entertainment Weekly, Cookie Monster plays Katniss Everdeen.
	Cookie Monster The Sesame Street Storybook Alphabet	Cookie Monster portrays Goldilocks.
	Count von Count Sesame Street	In an edition of "The Count's Fairytale Theater," The Count plays the part of Countilocks in the story "Countilocks and the Three Bears."
	Doglion Muppets Tonight Episode 208	Doglion wears a bow on his head and chases after Little Richard after the song, "I Hear You Knocking."
	Earl Sinclair Dinosaurs Nuts to War	Earl, Charlene and Roy form a female singing group to sneak into the army.
	Earl Sinclair Dinosaurs "Working Girl"	B.P. Richfield makes his workers dress as women in order to pass an inspection.
	The Elephant Sesame Street	Horatio the Elephant sometimes dons a tutu.
	The Elephant Sesame Street Episode 4041	The Elephant portrays the princess in the story of "The Princess and the Two Elephants".
	Eliot Shag Dog City "Springer Fever"	Eliot tries to channel his mother, dressing up as her.
	Elmo Sesame Street episode 4171	While Elmo and Abby Cadabby explain how they're same and different, Elmo imagines himself as a pink fairy monster.
	Elmo Elmo's World: Hair	Dorothy imagines Elmo wearing the same wig as Rapunzel. Earlier in the same episode, in the "Guess what Elmo's thinking about" segment, he comes into the room in a girly wig.
	Elmo Elmo's World: Dogs	Dorothy imagines Elmo as a circus dog in a tutu.
	Ernie The Sesame Street 1977 Calendar	Ernie plays the queen from "The Princess and the Pea."
	Ernie Sesame Street	With his new disguise kit, Ernie plans to fool Bert by dressing as Little Red Riding Hood.
	Ernie Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Ernie plays the titular character, making him "Little Red Riding Hood" in one segment.
	Ernie Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Ernie plays the titular character, making him "Rapunzel" in one segment.
	Ernie Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Ernie plays the titular character, making him "Cinderella" in one segment.
	Ernie Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Ernie plays the titular character, making him "Sleeping Beauty" in one segment.
	Ernie Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Ernie plays the titular character in the segment "The Princess and the Duck."
	Ernie Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Ernie plays the titular character, making him "Snow White" in one segment.
	Ernie and Bert Coconut Coast's Moonlight Macaroons ad	Ernie and Bert dance the hula in grass skirts and leis with flowers on their heads.
	Fozzie Bear The Muppet Show Episode 216	Fozzie weasels his way into more of the show by dressing as First Mate Piggy in "Pigs in Space."
	Fozzie Bear The Muppets Look at TV	Fozzie appears on the game show " To Tell a Spoof" to prove who's the real Miss Piggy.
	Gonzo The Muppet Show Episode 109	Gonzo tries out a female impersonation act.
	Gonzo The Muppets Look at TV	Gonzo appears on the game show " To Tell a Spoof" to prove who's the real Miss Piggy.
	Gonzo Wheel of Fortune	Gonzo asks Kermit, "do you think Vanna will let me keep the dress?"
	Grover Sesame Street	Grover becomes a fairy godmonster for narrating the story of "The Cursed Prince".
	Grover Global Grover	Grover appears in a lei, grass skirt, and floral headdress.
	Harry the Hipster Sam and Friends "Powder-Burn"	Harry plays Marshall Dilly's girlfriend Doggy.
	Johnny Fiama Muppets Tonight Episode 109	Johnny auditions for Miss Piggy's replacement.
	Johnny Fiama Muppets Tonight Episode 210	Johnny tries to dress up as an old lady to avoid getting hurt by Evander Holyfield.
	Kermit the Frog Various	Kermit appears in drag to lip-sync to "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," a sketch used on many variety shows.
	Kermit the Frog Sam and Friends Old Black Magic	Kermit appears as a female singer.
	Kermit the Frog What's My Line?	To disguise himself from the panel, Jim Henson puts a wig on Kermit and speaks in a female voice.
	Kermit the Frog The Muppet Show Episode 202	Kermit dons a wig and goes under the name "Ms. Mask" for a lady wrestling match.
	Kermit the Frog "Sesame Street News Flash"	Cinderella's Fairy Godmother tries to make a beautiful ball dress appear on Cinderella without success: the gown ends up on Kermit instead.
	Kermit the Frog Dolly	In a brief bumper returning from commercials, Kermit remarks: "Is it just me, or is this Dolly craze really catching on?"
	Kermit the Frog The Muppets Go Hawaiian	Kermit wears a grass skirt to dance the hula with Miss Piggy.
	Kermit the Frog Muppet Treasure Island (Muppet Sing Alongs)	Kermit dresses up as Carmen Miranda.
	Luis Sesame Street Episode 4140	Luis appears in a tutu when Zoe wishes everyone would wear tutus (the same thing happens to Big Bird, Chris, Oscar, Slimey, a Honker and Dinger, Grover, Mr. Johnson, and Telly).
	Oscar the Grouch Oscar's Book	Oscar puts on a blonde curly wig, and pretends to be "Melody", a new little girl who lives on Sesame Street. But when Big Bird sees "Melody", he invites everyone to meet their new neighbor, and Oscar gives up the charade.
	Otto the Automatic Entertainer The Muppet Show Episode 320	A blonde wig is slapped on Otto to play the part of a woman in Fozzie's magic comedy act.
	Pancho Contreras Plaza Sésamo Episodio 878	While babysitting a Multimuppet boy, Pancho dresses like his Multimonstruo mother to make him stop crying.
	Pepe the King Prawn V-Chip commercial	To show things that the V-chip will block, Pepe appears in a "see-through nighty."
	Pepe the King Prawn Muppets Tonight Episode 109	Pepe auditions for a Miss Piggy replacement.
	Pepe the King Prawn Muppets Tonight Episode 202	Pepe wears a dress as the assistant for a new act: Seymour tries to whip a cigar out of Pepe's mouth.
	Pepe the King Prawn Muppets From Space	While invisible, Pepe dances ballet in a tutu, until he becomes visible again.
	Pepe the King Prawn Disney Xtreme Digital	Pepe wears a tutu for his ballet "Prawn Lake."
	Pepe the King Prawn Late Night with Jimmy Fallon	Pepe wears his tutu again, though this time in combination with a top hat, for his line "Nine ladies dancing" in "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
	Pepe the King Prawn Muppets.com	On a promotional image for his character gallery, Pepe can yet again be seen wearing his tutu.
	Pferd Sesamstrasse Folge 2280	Pferd plays the role of Queen Nopfertete when the gang imagines building a pyramid in Egypt.
	Pferd Sesamstrasse Folge 2408	Pferd plays the role of Goldmarie in Wolle's test about snow, reenacting the the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale "Frau Holle."
	Pferd Sesamstrasse Folge 2480	Pferd pretends to be Wolle's aunt in order to get a piece of cake.
	Pferd Sesamstrasse Folge 2486	Pferd attempts to dress like Gundel Gackerburg to get Wolle to play hide-and-seek.
	Pferd Sesamstrasse Folge 2486	Pferd dresses up as a ballerina in a Die Grosse Sesamstrassen-Musikshow segment.
	Pferd Sesamstrasse Folge 2486	Pferd dresses up as a flamenco dancer in a Die Grosse Sesamstrassen-Musikshow segment.
	Pferd Eine Möhre für Zwei: Das Geheimnis der Blumenfabrik	Pferd dresses up as a cleaning lady in order to steal an evil business man's secret plans to destroy a park in order to build a plastic flower factory.
	Pferd & Rumpel Sesamstrasse Folge 2321	Pferd and Rumpel dress as Wolle's grandma.
	Pferd Sesamstrasse Folge 2285	Pferd portrays Rapunzel so Prince Wolle can bring him a carrot.
	pig Sesame Street episode 4227	A male pig helps demonstrate the word incognito by wearing a wig and tutu.
	Rizzo the Rat Disney pin	Rizzo the Rat impersonates Tinkerbell on a Disney pin.
	Rocco Sesame Street	Zoe often puts a tutu on Rocco.
	Rocco Sesame Street Episode 4097	Rocco portrays Goldirock in the story of "Goldirock and Baby Bear".
	Roy Hess Dinosaurs "Working Girl"	Roy and his other co-workers as forced to pose as women to appease the government's new policy of hiring women.
	Sal Minella Muppets Tonight Episode 212	Sal dons a wig and dress to act like Johnny Fiama's mother.
	Sal Minella It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie	Sal dons a wig and dress behind-the-scenes for unused scenes from The World in which Kermit was Never Born at Club Dot, shown during Inside Pepe's Studio on the MGM DVD release of the film.
	Scudge Sesame Street	Scudge appeared as Beautiful Day Monster's wife in the first season game show, "The Mr. and Mrs. Game", donned up in a wig and necklace.
	Seymour the Elephant Muppets Tonight Episode 109	Seymour auditions for a Miss Piggy replacement.
	Sid Turtlepuss Dinosaurs "Working Girl"	Sid is forced to be in drag to impress the government's new policy of hiring women.
	Mr. Snuffleupagus Sesame Street Episode 2226	Snuffy portrays Susan in a play about Miles' Adoption.
	Mr. Snuffleupagus Sesame Street Episode 3047, Episode 3887 and Episode 4088	Snuffy wears a tutu as part of his cloud costume.
	The Snuffleupagus Fairy The Sesame Street ABC Storybook	The Snuffleupagus fairy, despite being a male, wears a fairy-princess cap.
	Sprocket Fraggle Rock "Red's Blue Dragon"	Sprocket impersonates a female poodle.
	Stinky the Stinkweed Sesame Street Episode 4194	Stinky wears a tutu; the birthday present he received from Zoe.
	Sweetums The Muppet Show Comic Book: Muppet Mash issue #11	Sweetums serves as Miss Piggy's understudy's understudy's understudy.
	Telly Monster Sesame Street Episode 3926	In their play, Telly is given the role of the mother.
	Telly Monster Sesamestreet.org	Telly wears a pinafore, a decorative garment apron, while he dusts.
	Telly Monster Sesame Street Episode 4162	The Fairy Shoeperson gives Telly some ballet slippers that make him dance out of control.
	Traveling Matt Fraggle Rock "The Incredible Shrinking Mokey"	Traveling Matt gets an involuntary makeover by two young Silly Creatures.
	Wilkins Wilkins Coffee commercials	In various commercials, Wilkins plays a female role.
	Wontkins Wilkins Coffee commercials	In various commercials, Wontkins plays a female role.
	Wolle Sesamstrasse Folge 2321	Wolle plays the role of Little Red Riding Hood, as he imagines the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale, read to him by Nils.
	Wolle Sesamstrasse Folge 2408	Wolle plays the role of Frau Holle for his test about snow, reenacting the the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale of the same name.
	Wolle Ernie & Bert Märchensongs	In a series of fairy tale re-enactments, Wolle plays the part of a princess in "The Princess and the Duck" (The Princess and the Pea).
	Wolle Eine Möhre für Zwei: Das Geheimnis der Blumenfabrik	Wolle dresses up as a cleaning lady in order to steal an evil business man's secret plans to destroy a park in order to build a plastic flower factory.

Females in Drag

Picture	Character / Production	Notes
	Finchen Eine Möhre für Zwei: Das Geheimnis der Blumenfabrik	Finchen dresses up as a male, mustachioed postal worker in order to steal an evil business man's secret plans to destroy a park in order to build a plastic flower factory.
	Gabi Sesame Street Episode 3724	Gabi is given the role of the Alligator King in the pageant.
	Gabi Sesame Street Episode 3724	Gabi and Big Bird switch roles so that Gabi plays Alligator Kid #7.
	Linda Sesame Street (EKA: Episode 1032)	Linda, alongside Maria, appeared as Charlie Chaplin's reflection in a skit.
	Maria Sesame Street	Maria appeared regularly in pantomime skits as Charlie Chaplin.
	Miss Piggy I Love Liberty	Miss Piggy tries to get into the Muppets' re-enactment of the signing of the Deceleration of Independence by pretending to be George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
	Sylvia Sesame Street Episode 3856	Sylvia dresses as Oscar for Wormy Gras.