The sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 5, 2024. The reality competition series, broadcast on MTV in the United States, showcases fourteen drag queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" and a cash prize of $200,000.
This season introduced a LaLaPaRuZa Lip-Sync Smackdown competition for the eliminated queens that took place before the finale. Morphine Love Dion, who placed fifth in the main competition, won the smackdown and the title of Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses.
The winner of season 16 was Nymphia Wind, the first ever East Asian winner, with Sapphira Cristál as the runner up and the series' first tied winner of Miss Congeniality, shared with Xunami Muse.
Production
In August 2023, the competition series and its companion series, RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, were officially renewed and would remain on MTV. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars was also renewed for a ninth season by Paramount+.[1] In November, a teaser was released from MTV featuring RuPaul in various promos from past seasons.[2]Sasha Colby, the winner of season fifteen, presented the Meet the Queens via the series official YouTube channel on December 6, 2023. The Meet the Queens video included an 8-minute clip from the season premiere, where the fourteen contestants entered the Werk Room set.[3]
Seven new queens enter the workroom. They find out that this season will have a split premiere. For the first mini-challenge, the queens do a photoshoot on RuPaul's porch. Sapphira Cristál wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens perform a talent in the MTV Spring Break Talent Show.
Amanda Tori Meating – Original song lip-sync
Dawn – Original song lip-sync
Mirage – Original song lip-sync
Morphine Love Dion – Lip-sync / Baile Folklorico
Q – Dance puppetry
Sapphira Cristál – Opera singing
Xunami Muse – Original song lip-sync
On the runway, category is RuVeal Yourself. The queens rank each other using Rate-A-Queen, where it is announced that Q and Sapphira Cristál are the top two queens of the week, and will lip-sync for the win. They lip-sync to "Break My Soul" by Beyoncé. After the lip-sync, Sapphira Cristál is announced as the winner of the challenge. RuPaul then announces that no one will be going home.
The remaining seven queens enter the workroom. For this week's mini-challenge, the queens do a photoshoot at RuPaul's SheMV. Nymphia Wind wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens perform a talent in the Queen Choice Awards Talent Show.
Geneva Karr – Original song lip-sync
Hershii LiqCour-Jeté – Original song lip-sync
Megami – Sign holder / lip-sync
Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige - Stunt / Flip lip-sync
Nymphia Wind - Cultural Dance
Plane Jane – Original song lip-sync
Plasma – Singing / Impressions
On the runway, category is Made You Look. The queens rank each other using Rate-A-Queen, where it is announced that Geneva Karr and Plane Jane are the top two queens of the week, and will lip-sync for the win. They lip-sync to "Shower" by Becky G. After the lip-sync, Plane Jane is announced as the winner of the challenge. RuPaul then reveals that no one will be going home.
At the beginning of the episode, RuPaul reveals that the previous two challenge winners, Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál, will hold the power of the Immunity Potion. This can be used only once during the competition to give immunity to themselves or to another queen. For the main challenge, the queens create three looks for The Mother of All Balls: Mother Goose, Significant Mother, and Call Me Mother/Father Eleganza.
After the runway, the queens rank each other using Rate-A-Queen for the last time. Nymphia Wind, Q and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with Nymphia Wind winning the challenge. Geneva Karr, Hershii LiqCour-Jeté and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige receive negative critiques, with Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige being safe. Geneva Karr and Hershii LiqCour-Jeté lip-sync to "Maybe You're the Problem" by Ava Max. Geneva Karr wins the lip-sync and Hershii LiqCour-Jeté is the first queen to sashay away.
For this week's main challenge, the queens perform in a sketch comedy of RDR Live.
Host - Mirage
Queen Network News - Amanda Tori Meating, Dawn and Q
End of the World Countdown - Total Annihilation - Geneva Karr, Mhi'ya Iman LePaige, Morphine Love Dion and Xunami Muse
Thick and Long Deck Service - Megami and Plane Jane
Holidays with the Barbra Shop Quartet - Nymphia Wind, Plasma and Sapphira Cristál
On the runway, category is Everything Every-Cher All at Once. Plane Jane, Plasma and Q receive positive critiques, with Plasma winning the challenge. Geneva Karr, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Mirage receive negative critiques, with Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige being safe. Geneva Karr and Mirage lip-sync to "Dark Lady" by Cher. Geneva Karr wins the lip-sync and Mirage sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens take a cover photo for an original memoir. Sapphira Cristál wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens write, record, and perform verses to one of RuPaul's songs.
Team Lovah Girlz - Amanda Tori Meating, Plane Jane, Plasma and Xunami Muse performing "Courage to Love"
Team Q.D.S.M. - Dawn, Morphine Love Dion, Q and Sapphira Cristál performing "Star Baby"
Team Thicc & Stick - Geneva Karr, Megami, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Nymphia Wind performing "A.S.M.R Lover"
On the runway, category is Faster Pussycat, Wig, Wig. Team Thicc & Stick is the winning team, with Geneva Karr, Megami, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Nymphia Wind all winning the challenge. Team Q.D.S.M. and Team Lovah Girlz are the losing teams. Amanda Tori Meating and Q receive the negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Emergency" by Icona Pop. Q wins the lip-sync and Amanda Tori Meating sashays away.
Farewell Message: "You are all Fugly SKANKS and I hate every last one of you bitches. Most of all Q. LMAO but actually ily♡ Have Fun cleaning this mirror you bitch. You better Fucking win so I can at least say the winner sent me to the house."
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens compete in a Flamenco Dance Contest. Xunami Muse wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens design their own dolls based on their drag personas.
On the Runway category is Welcome to the Dollhouse. Sapphira Cristál choose to drink her immunity potion. Dawn, Plane Jane and Q receive positive critiques, with Q winning the challenge. Geneva Karr, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Plasma receive negative critiques, with Plasma being safe. Geneva Karr and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige lip-sync to "Control" by Janet Jackson. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige wins the lip-sync and Geneva Karr sashays away.
For this week's main challenge, the queens perform in The Sound of Rusic.
Dawn as Strudel Von Snapp
Megami as Schnitzel Von Snapp
Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige as a Sister Sister
Morphine Love Dion as a Sister Fister
Nymphia Wind as Diesel Von Snapp
Plane Jane as a Baronette Eva
Plasma as Mariah Grande
Q as Baroness Braun
Sapphira Cristál as Mother Superior
Xunami Muse as a Baronette Magda
On the runway, category is I Can Buy Myself Flowers. Plasma, Q, and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with Plasma winning the challenge. Megami, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, and Morphine Love Dion receive negative critiques, with Morphine Love Dion being safe. Megami and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige lip-sync to "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige wins the lip-sync and Megami sashays away.
Farewell Message: "Choose Chaos Be Badass Bitches NYC Girls, Take It Home! Heart Eyes ♡ -M"
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8
"Snatch Game"
February 23, 2024 (2024-02-23)
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Xunami Muse wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens play the Snatch Game. Jesse Pattison and Laith Ashley star as the celebrity contestants. The cast consisted of:
On the runway, category is Dancing Queen. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Plane Jane, and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with Plane Jane winning the challenge. Morphine Love Dion, Nymphia Wind, and Xunami Muse receive negative critiques, with Nymphia Wind being safe. Morphine Love Dion and Xunami Muse lip-sync to "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip-sync and Xunami Muse sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens perform a spit-take. Nymphia Wind wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create a neo-goth outfit made from unconventional materials.
On the runway, category is See You Next Wednesday. Dawn, Nymphia Wind, Q and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with Q winning the challenge. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Morphine Love Dion, and Plasma receive negative critiques, with Morphine Love Dion being safe. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Plasma lip-sync to "Bloody Mary (Wednesday Dance TikTok Version)" by Lady Gaga. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige wins the lip-sync and Plasma sashays away.
For this week's main challenge, the queens write, record, and perform verses to "Power."
On the runway, category is True Colors. Plane Jane chooses to gift her immunity potion to Nymphia Wind. Dawn, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristal receive positive critiques. Plane Jane and Q receive negative critiques. It is announced that Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristál are the top two queens of the week, and will lip-sync for the win. They lip-sync to "Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor. After the lip-sync, Sapphira Cristál is announced as the winner of the challenge. RuPaul then announces that no one is going home.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens vote in rounds to assign superlatives to their fellow queens. Sapphira Cristál wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up to write and deliver drag awareness employee seminars.
Do You Know Your Drag Herstory? - Plane Jane and Q
Drag in the Workplace - Dawn and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige
Are You a Drag Queen? You Might Be Surprised - Morphine Love Dion, Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál
On the runway, category is Flashback: DragCon 1980. Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane, Q and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with Sapphira Cristál winning the challenge. Dawn, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Morphine Love Dion receive negative critiques, with Dawn being safe. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Morphine Love Dion lip-sync to "Dim All the Lights" by Donna Summer. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip-sync and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige sashays away.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens imprint a full face of makeup onto a T-shirt using only their face. Plane Jane wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens pair up to design and create their own bathroom.
Bootylickers Speakeasy - Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál
F.ART Musuem - Dawn and Nymphia Wind
Naughty Potty - Morphine Love Dion and Q
On the runway, category is Chain Reaction. Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with both queens winning the challenge. Dawn, Morphine Love Dion, Nymphia Wind and Q receive negative critiques, with Nymphia Wind and Q being safe. Dawn and Morphine Love Dion lip-sync to "Body" by Megan Thee Stallion. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip-sync and Dawn sashays away.
For this week's main challenge, the queens makeover Pit Crew dancer's from RuPaul's Drag Race Live!.
On the runway, category is Drag Family Resemblance. Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane and Q receive positive critiques, with Plane Jane winning the challenge. Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristál receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Miss Me More" by Kelsea Ballerini. Sapphira Cristál wins the lip-sync and Morphine Love Dion sashays away.
Farewell Message: "It's gonna be sooo boring without me. I'm rooting for all of you my top 4 queens here slaying and I can't wait to see you soon ♡ Morphine Love Dion 💋"
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens lip-sync to RuPaul's song "Kitty Girl" underwater. Sapphira Cristál wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens write and promote a concept for a memoir.
Nymphia Wind - Breaking Wind - The Art of Letting Go
Plane Jane - Plane Crash! How I Walked Away from Disaster
Q - Alphabet Soup - Savor Every Bite
Sapphira Cristál - Slue Foot - Embracing All of Me
On the runway, category is Fandango. Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with Nymphia Wind winning the challenge. Plane Jane and Q receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Better Be Good to Me" by Tina Turner. Plane Jane wins the lip-sync and Q sashays away.
Farewell Message: "Not Gonna Lie, This one hurts... But I love you all so much! you're gonna kill it ♡ FROM NOW ON THERE'S ONLY ONE LETTER OF THE ALPHABET -Q"
This week, the eliminated queens participate in a Lip-Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown.
In the first round, Dawn gets picked first and chooses Amanda Tori Meating to lip-sync against. Amanda Tori Meating then chooses "Damaged" by Danity Kane. Amanda Tori Meating wins the lip-sync and Dawn loses. Q is next to be picked and chooses Megami to lip-sync against. Megami then chooses "What About" by Janet Jackson. Megami wins the lip-sync and Q loses. Morphine Love Dion is next to be picked and chooses Geneva Karr to lip-sync against. Geneva Karr then chooses "Million Dollar Baby" by Ava Max. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip-sync and Geneva Karr loses. Mirage is next to be picked and chooses Hershii LiqCour-Jeté to lip-sync against. Hershii LiqCour-Jeté then chooses "Alone 2.0" by Kim Petras and Nicki Minaj. Mirage wins the lip-sync and Hershii LiqCour-Jeté loses. The final three queens, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Plasma and Xunami Muse, lip-sync to "Milkshake" by Kelis. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige wins the lip-sync and Plasma and Xunami Muse lose.
In the second round, it is announced that Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige will advance directly to the third round. Amanda Tori Meating gets picked first and chooses Megami to lip-sync against. Megami then chooses "The Shoop Shoop Song" by Cher. Megami wins the lip-sync and Amanda Tori Meating loses. The final two queens, Mirage and Morphine Love Dion, lip-sync to "This Time I Know It's for Real" by Donna Summer. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip-sync and Mirage loses.
In the third round, it is announced that only two queens will lip-sync. Megami gets picked and chooses Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige to lip-sync against, meaning Morphine Love Dion will advance directly to the final round. Megami and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige lip-sync to "We Got the Beat" by The Go-Go's. Megami wins the lip-sync and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige loses.
Round 1 Lip-Sync Winners: Amanda Tori Meating, Megami, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Mirage and Morphine Love Dion
Round 2 Lip-Sync Winners: Megami and Morphine Love Dion (Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige advanced directly to round 3)
Round 3 Lip-Sync Winner: Megami (Morphine Love Dion advanced directly to the final round)
Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses: Morphine Love Dion
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16
"Grand Finale"
April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
All the queens return for the grand finale. The final three queens then perform to a song that was written specifically for them. Nymphia Wind lip-syncs to "Queen of Wind", Plane Jane lip-syncs to "Bodysuit" and Sapphira Cristál lip-syncs to "DANCE!". After their performances, RuPaul tells the queens that only two queens will be advancing to the final lip-sync of the season. It is announced that the final two queens are Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál, meaning Plane Jane is eliminated. It is then announced that Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse are this season's Miss Congeniality. Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál lip-sync to "Padam Padam" by Kylie Minogue. It is announced that Nymphia Wind is the winner, leaving Sapphira Cristál as the runner-up.
Final Three: Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál
Eliminated: Plane Jane
Miss Congeniality: Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse