The eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 7, 2016. Returning judges include RuPaul and Michelle Visage, along with Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley, who shared judging responsibilities on an alternating basis. Twelve drag queens competed for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". The prizes for the winner are a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The full list of contestants was revealed during the NewNowNext Awards on February 1, 2016.[1] The song "U Wear It Well" from RuPaul's album Butch Queen was featured in promotion for the show. On March 31, 2016, it was announced LogoTV renewed the show for a ninth season.[2] It was the last season to solely be played on Logo, as the show moved to VH1 for its ninth season.[3]
The theme song played during the runway segment every episode was "The Realness", and the song played during the closing credits was "Die Tomorrow", both songs from the album Realness.
Twelve new queens enter the workroom. For the first mini-challenge, the queens do a photoshoot with past winners. Robbie Turner wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create an outfit based on a design challenge from a past season.
Acid Betty: Make Dat Money from Season 3 Episode 13
Bob the Drag Queen: Gone with the Window from Season 2 Episode 1
Chi Chi DeVayne: The Glitter Ball from Season 6 Episode 11
Cynthia Lee Fontaine: The Sugar Ball from Season 5 Episode 11
Dax ExclamationPoint: The Hello Kitty Ball from Season 7 Episode 11
Derrick Barry: The Queen Who Mopped Xmas from Season 3 Episode 2
Kim Chi: The Hair Ball from Season 3 Episode 11
Laila McQueen: RuPocalypse Now! from Season 4 Episode 1
Naomi Smalls: Float Your Boat from Season 4 Episode 6
Naysha Lopez: Drag on a Dime from Season 1 Episode 1
Robbie Turner: The Bitch Ball from Season 4 Episode 11
Thorgy Thor: Face, Face, Face of Cakes from Season 3 Episode 7
On the runway, Acid Betty, Derrick Barry and Kim Chi receive positive critiques, with Kim Chi winning the challenge. Laila McQueen, Naomi Smalls, Naysha Lopez and Robbie Turner receive negative critiques, with Naomi Smalls and Robbie Turner being safe. Laila McQueen and Naysha Lopez lip-sync to "Applause" by Lady Gaga. Laila McQueen wins the lip-sync and Naysha Lopez is the first queen to sashay away.
Farewell Message: "Dear Ladies + Monsters. It was a pleasure meeting you all! Play the cards you are dealt + Turn DA PARTY! P.S. I ❤️ U Layla [sic] xoxo! The Beauty! Naysha Lopez ❤️"
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have a Latin dance-off to "Cha Cha Bitch". Chi Chi DeVayne and Cynthia Lee Fontaine win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up and perform in a collegiate a capella sing-off called "Bitch Perfect".
Team Lady Bitches: Bob The Drag Queen, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Derrick Barry, Kim Chi, Laila McQueen and Robbie Turner
Team Shady Bitches: Acid Betty, Chi Chi DeVayne, Dax ExclamationPoint, Naomi Smalls and Thorgy Thor
On the runway, category is Movie Premiere Realness. Acid Betty, Chi Chi DeVayne and Thorgy Thor receive positive critiques, with Chi Chi DeVayne winning the challenge. Dax ExclamationPoint, Kim Chi and Laila McQueen receive negative critiques, with Kim Chi being safe. Dax ExclamationPoint and Laila McQueen lip-sync to "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. After the lip-sync, RuPaul decides to eliminate both Dax ExclamationPoint and Laila McQueen from the competition. At the end of the episode, RuPaul calls a queen to join the competition.
Eliminated: Dax ExclamationPoint and Laila McQueen
Dax ExclamationPoint's Farewell Message: "Ladies, You're all Fantastic! I wish I could be here with you! Set the world on fire + Make Everyone EAT IT -DAX! ☠"
Laila McQueen's Farewell Message: "You're All the Biggest Pack of freaks and I am so "Happy" to call you "family". But Actually I ❤️ you All & can't wait for the future with you! xoxo Laila! PS. 1 less Madonna"
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens drag up a supreme court judge robe. Naomi Smalls wins the mini-challenge. RuPaul then announces that Naysha Lopez will be returning to the competition. For the main challenge, the queens team up and star in two Empire-inspired acting scenes.
Team Naomi Smalls: Bob the Drag Queen, Chi Chi DeVayne, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Naomi Smalls and Robbie Turner
Team Naysha Lopez: Acid Betty, Derrick Barry, Kim Chi, Naysha Lopez and Thorgy Thor
On the runway, category is Roller Girl Realness. Acid Betty, Bob the Drag Queen and Thorgy Thor receive positive critiques, with Bob the Drag Queen winning the challenge. Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Derrick Barry and Robbie Turner receive negative critiques, with Derrick Barry being safe. Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Robbie Turner lip-sync to "Mesmerized (Freemasons Radio Edit)" by Faith Evans. Robbie Turner wins the lip-sync and Cynthia Lee Fontaine sashays away.
For this week's main challenge, the queens write, record, and perform verses in ‘80s style New Wave girl bands.
Team Dragometry: Chi Chi DeVayne, Derrick Barry and Naysha Lopez
Team Les Chicken Wings: Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls and Robbie Turner
Team Street Meatz: Acid Betty, Bob the Drag Queen and Thorgy Thor
On the runway, category is Neon Queen Realness. Team Les Chicken Wings is the winning team, with Robbie Turner winning the challenge. Team Dragometry and Team Street Meatz are the losing teams. Chi Chi DeVayne, Derrick Barry and Naysha Lopez receive negative critiques, with Derrick Barry being safe. Chi Chi DeVayne and Naysha Lopez lip-sync to "Call Me" by Blondie. Chi Chi DeVayne wins the lip-sync and Naysha Lopez sashays away.
On the runway, category is Night of a Thousand Madonna's. Bob the Drag Queen, Derrick Barry and Thorgy Thor receive positive critiques, with Bob the Drag Queen winning the challenge. Acid Betty, Naomi Smalls and Robbie Turner receive negative critiques, with Robbie Turner being safe. Acid Betty and Naomi Smalls lip-sync to "Causing a Commotion" by Madonna. Naomi Smalls wins the lip-sync and Acid Betty sashays away.
Farewell Message: "Ladies, You have been touched by fierceness! Now werq it out! -Bob, ❤️ you! See jew in new york. -Thorgy you are amazeballs -Acidbetty.com"
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Bob the Drag Queen wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens give Wizard of Oz themed makeovers to cast members of Little Women L.A..
Bob the Drag Queen - Glinda the Good Witch
Chi Chi DeVayne - Dorothy Gale
Derrick Barry - Tin Man
Kim Chi - The Wicked Witch of the West
Naomi Smalls - Scarecrow
Robbie Turner - The Cowardly Lion
Thorgy Thor - Emerald Citizen
On the runway, Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls receive positive critiques, with Naomi Smalls winning the challenge. Chi Chi DeVayne, Derrick Barry and Robbie Turner receive negative critiques, with Chi Chi DeVayne being safe. Derrick Barry and Robbie Turner lip-sync to "I Love It" by Icona Pop. Derrick Barry wins the lip-sync and Robbie Turner sashays away.
Farewell Message: "My dearest trashbags, I'm sorry to leave you all so soon, but know this, the love I have for you is REAL + quite strong, also whoever wins owes me a tea or a steak dinner! Love you all, Robbie"
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens play a true or false guessing game with the pit crew. Derrick Barry wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens pair up to shoot presidential campaign ads to smear their partner and stake their claim to be the first drag President of the U.S.A.
Bob the Drag Queen and Derrick Barry
Chi Chi DeVayne and Thorgy Thor
Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls
On the runway, category is Black and White Realness. Bob the Drag Queen and Derrick Barry both win the challenge. Chi Chi DeVayne and Thorgy Thor receive negative critiques, are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Jennifer Holliday. Chi Chi DeVayne wins the lip-sync and Thorgy Thor sashays away.
Mini-Challenge: Play a true or false guessing game with the pit crew
Mini-Challenge Winner: Derrick Barry
Main Challenge: Work in pairs to shoot presidential campaign ads to smear their partner and stake their claim to be the first drag President of the U.S.A.
Runway Theme: Black and White Realness
Challenge Winners: Bob the Drag Queen and Derrick Barry
Challenge Prize: A custom made gown from MountBatten Concepts
Farewell Message: "Clowns! All of you!! Come to NY - but please take down Bob! ... She's terrible! - anyway - ❤️ you guys! top 3?....... Naomi, Bob, Deryk... Let's see.... (that was shady!) ❤️ thorgy"
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have a bitchfest with puppets. Chi Chi DeVayne wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create three looks for the Book Ball: Baby Drag Realness, That's My Mama Realness and Book Couture.
On the runway, Chi Chi DeVayne, Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls receive positive critiques, with Kim Chi winning the challenge. Bob the Drag Queen and Derrick Barry receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" by Sylvester. Bob the Drag Queen wins the lip-sync and Derrick Barry sashays away.
For the final challenge of the season, the queens star in RuPaul's music video "The Realness".
On the runway, category is Best Drag. The four remaining queens lip-sync to "The Realness" by RuPaul. Chi Chi DeVayne is then eliminated, with Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls being the finalists of the season.
Special Guest: Jayson Whitmore
Alternating Judge(s): Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley
Main Challenge: Star in RuPaul's music video "The Realness"
All the queens return for the live grand finale. The final three queens then perform to a song that was written specifically for them. Bob the Drag Queen lip-syncs to "I Don't Like to Show Off", Kim Chi lip-syncs to "Fat Fem and Asian" and Naomi Smalls lip-syncs to "Legs". It is announced that Cynthia Lee Fontaine is this season's Miss Congeniality. It is the announced that Bob the Drag Queen is the winner, leaving Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls as the runners-up.
Miss Congeniality: Cynthia Lee Fontaine
Runners Up: Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls
Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season Eight: Bob the Drag Queen
Reception
In August 2022, Time listed season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race as among the Top 50 Most Influential Reality TV Seasons.[17]
