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RuPaul's Drag Race season 16

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RuPaul's Drag Race
Season 16
Promotional poster for season sixteen
Hosted byRuPaul
Judges
No. of contestants14
WinnerNymphia Wind
Runner-upSapphira Cristál
Miss Congeniality
Companion showRuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked!
No. of episodes16
Release
Original networkMTV
Original releaseJanuary 5 (2024-01-05) –
April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 15
List of episodes

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

[edit]

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]

Contestants

[edit]
The winner, Nymphia Wind.
See also: List of RuPaul's Drag Race contestants

Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.

Contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race season 16 and their backgrounds[3]
Contestant Age City Outcome
Nymphia Wind 27 New York City, New York Winner
Sapphira Cristál 34 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Runner-up[a]
Plane Jane 25 Boston, Massachusetts 3rd place
Q 26 Kansas City, Missouri 4th place
Morphine Love Dion 26 Miami, Florida 5th place[b]
Dawn 25 New York City, New York 6th place
Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige 34 Miami, Florida 7th place
Plasma[c] 24 New York City, New York 8th place
Xunami Muse 34 New York City, New York 9th place[a]
Megami[d] 33 New York City, New York 10th place
Geneva Karr 30 Brownsville, Texas 11th place
Amanda Tori Meating 26 Los Angeles, California 12th place
Mirage[e] 29 Las Vegas, Nevada 13th place
Hershii LiqCour-Jeté 32 Los Angeles, California 14th place
Notes
  1. ^ a b Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse were voted Miss Congeniality by fellow contestants.
  2. ^ Morphine won the title 'Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses'.
  3. ^ Plasma LaRose is referred to as Plasma on the show.
  4. ^ Megami D.Vil is referred to as Megami on the show.
  5. ^ Mirage Amuro is referred to as Mirage on the show.

Contestant progress

[edit]

Legend:

  Nymphia Wind won RuPaul's Drag Race season 16.
  Sapphira Cristál was the runner-up.
  Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse were voted Miss Congeniality (Miss C) by fellow contestants.
  Morphine Love Dion was declared Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses (SDADHH) after winning the final lip sync in the LaLaPaRuza Smackdown.
  WIN indicates that the contestant won the challenge.
  TOP2 indicates that the contestant was one of the two best performing in the challenge, but lost the lip sync to win it.
  SAFE indicates that the contestant was declared safe by the judges.
  IMM (Immunity) indicates that the contestant drank the immunity potion and was immune from elimination.
  BTM (Bottom) indicates that the contestant was up for elimination.
  ELIM (Eliminated) indicates that the contestant was eliminated.
  LOSS indicates that the eliminated contestant participated in the LaLaPaRuza Smackdown, but lost one of the lip syncs.
  Guest indicates that the contestant returned as a guest.
Progress of contestants including placements in each episode
Contestant Episode
1[4] 2[5] 3[6] 4[7] 5[8] 6[9] 7[10] 8[11] 9[12] 10[13] 11[14] 12[15] 13[16] 14[17] 15[18] 16[19]
Nymphia Wind SAFE WIN SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE IMM SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN Guest Winner
Sapphira Cristál WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE IMM SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN WIN WIN BTM SAFE Guest R-up Miss C
Plane Jane WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN WIN BTM Guest Eliminated
Q TOP2 SAFE SAFE BTM WIN SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM LOSS Guest
Morphine Love Dion SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE BTM SAFE TOP2 BTM BTM ELIM SDADHH Guest
Dawn SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM LOSS Guest
Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN BTM BTM SAFE BTM SAFE ELIM LOSS Guest
Plasma SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE ELIM LOSS Guest
Xunami Muse SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM LOSS Miss C
Megami SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE ELIM TOP2 Guest
Geneva Karr TOP2 BTM BTM WIN ELIM LOSS Guest
Amanda Tori Meating SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM LOSS Guest
Mirage SAFE SAFE ELIM LOSS Guest
Hershii LiqCour-Jeté SAFE ELIM LOSS Guest

Lip syncs

[edit]

Legend:

  The contestant won the lip sync to win the challenge.
  The contestant was eliminated after their first time in the bottom.
  The contestant was eliminated after their second time in the bottom.
  The contestant was eliminated after their third time in the bottom.
  The contestant was eliminated after their fourth time in the bottom.
  The eliminated contestant won the first round of the LaLaPaRuza Lip Sync Smackdown and advanced to the next round.
  The eliminated contestant won the second round of the LaLaPaRuza Lip Sync Smackdown and advanced to the next round.
  The eliminated contestant won the third round of the LaLaPaRuza Lip Sync Smackdown and advanced to the final round.
  The eliminated contestant won the final round of the LaLaPaRuza Lip Sync Smackdown and was declared Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses.
  The contestant won the Lip Sync for the Crown and was declared the winner of the season.
Episode Contestants Song Winner
1[4] Q vs. Sapphira Cristál "Break My Soul"
(Beyoncé) 		Sapphira Cristál
2[5] Geneva Karr vs. Plane Jane "Shower"
(Becky G) 		Plane Jane
Episode Contestants Song Eliminated
3[6] Geneva Karr vs. Hershii LiqCour-Jeté "Maybe You're the Problem"
(Ava Max)

Hershii LiqCour-Jeté

4[7] Geneva Karr vs. Mirage "Dark Lady"
(Cher) 		Mirage
5[8] Amanda Tori Meating vs. Q "Emergency"
(Icona Pop) 		Amanda Tori Meating
6[9] Geneva Karr vs. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige "Control"
(Janet Jackson) 		Geneva Karr
7[10] Megami vs. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige "Flowers"
(Miley Cyrus) 		Megami
8[11] Morphine Love Dion vs. Xunami Muse "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
(Whitney Houston) 		Xunami Muse
9[12] Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige vs. Plasma "Bloody Mary (Wednesday Dance TikTok Version)"
(Lady Gaga) 		Plasma
Episode Contestants Song Winner
10[13] Morphine Love Dion vs. Sapphira Cristál "Made You Look"
(Meghan Trainor) 		Sapphira Cristál
Episode Contestants Song Eliminated
11[14] Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige vs. Morphine Love Dion "Dim All the Lights"
(Donna Summer) 		Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige
12[15] Dawn vs. Morphine Love Dion "Body"
(Megan Thee Stallion) 		Dawn
13[16] Morphine Love Dion vs. Sapphira Cristál "Miss Me More"
(Kelsea Ballerini) 		Morphine Love Dion
14[17] Plane Jane vs. Q "Better Be Good to Me"
(Tina Turner) 		Q
Episode Eliminated contestants Song Winner
15[18] Amanda Tori Meating vs. Dawn "Damaged"
(Danity Kane) 		Amanda Tori Meating
Megami vs. Q "What About"
(Janet Jackson) 		Megami
Geneva Karr vs. Morphine Love Dion "Million Dollar Baby"
(Ava Max) 		Morphine Love Dion
Hershii LiqCour-Jeté vs. Mirage "Alone 2.0"
(Kim Petras, Nicki Minaj) 		Mirage
Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige vs. Plasma vs. Xunami Muse "Milkshake"
(Kelis) 		Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige
Amanda Tori Meating vs. Megami "The Shoop Shoop Song"
(Cher) 		Megami
Mirage vs. Morphine Love Dion "This Time I Know It's for Real"
(Donna Summer) 		Morphine Love Dion
Megami vs. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige "We Got the Beat"
(The Go-Go's) 		Megami
Megami vs. Morphine Love Dion "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"
(C+C Music Factory) 		Morphine Love Dion
Episode Finalists Song Winner
16[19] Nymphia Wind vs. Sapphira Cristál "Padam Padam"
(Kylie Minogue) 		Nymphia Wind

Guest judges

[edit]

Special guests

[edit]

Guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.

Episodes 1–2

Episode 6

  • Charo, singer, actress, musician and comedian

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 10

  • Leland, music producer
  • Freddy Scott, composer and actor

Episode 12

Episode 14

  • Albert Sanchez, photographer
  • Matt Rogers, comedian, podcaster and television host

Episode 16

Episodes

[edit]
See also: List of RuPaul's Drag Race episodes
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleOriginal air date
2081"Rate-A-Queen"January 5, 2024 (2024-01-05)

The first seven queens of the season enter the Werk Room. For this episode's main challenge, the queens must perform in the "MTV's 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. Amanda Tori Meating, Dawn, Mirage Morphine Love Dion, Q, Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse receive the judges critiques. The queens rank each other using Rate-A-Queen. It is announced that Q and Sapphira Cristál received the highest placements, making them the top two queens of the week who will lip-sync for the win. They lip-sync to "Break My Soul" by Beyoncé. After the lip-sync, it is announced that Sapphira Cristál is the winner.

  • Guest Judge: Charlize Theron
  • Alternating Judge: Carson Kressley
  • Mini-Challenge: RuPaul's Porch Doorbell Camera Photoshoot
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Sapphira Cristál
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: A $2,500 cash tip
  • Main Challenge: Perform in the MTV Spring Break Talent Show
  • Runway Theme: RuVeal Yourself
  • Top Two: Q and Sapphira Cristál
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Break My Soul" by Beyoncé
  • Challenge Winner: Sapphira Cristál
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip and immunity from a future challenge
2092"Queen Choice Awards"January 12, 2024 (2024-01-12)

The next seven queens of the season enter the Werk Room. For this episode's main challenge, the queens must perform 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. Geneva Karr, Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane, Hershii LiqCour-Jeté, Megami, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Plasma receive the judges critiques. The queens rank each other using Rate-A-Queen. It is announced that Geneva Karr and Plane Jane received the highest placements, making them the top two queens of the week who will lip-sync for the win. They lip-sync to "Shower" by Becky G. After the lip-sync, it is announced that Plane Jane is the winner.

  • Guest Judge: Becky G
  • Alternating Judge: Ross Mathews
  • Mini-Challenge: RuPaul's SheMV Hollywood Camera Photoshoot
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Nymphia Wind
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: A $2,500 cash tip
  • Main Challenge: Perform in the Queen Choice Awards Talent Show
  • Runway Theme: Made You Look
  • Top Two: Geneva Karr and Plane Jane
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Shower" by Becky G
  • Challenge Winner: Plane Jane
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip and immunity from a future challenge
2103"The Mother of All Balls"January 19, 2024 (2024-01-19)

At the beginning of the episode reveals the twist of the season: as the winners of the first two episodes, Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál will hold the power of the Immunity Potions. This power can only be used once during the competition, the owner will be able to decide whether to use immunity to save themselves or another one of the queens. For the main challenge, the queens walk the Mother of All Ball, presenting two looks brought from home and one made in the work room. Categories are Mother Goose, Significant Mother, and Call Me Mother/Father Eleganza.

After the runway, the queens rank each other using Rate-A-Queen. 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 declared 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 eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Isaac Mizrahi
  • Alternating Judge: Carson Kressley
  • Main Challenge: Walk the Mother of All Balls
  • Runway Themes: Mother Goose, Significant Mother, and Call Me Mother/Father Eleganza
  • Challenge Winner: Nymphia Wind
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Geneva Karr and Hershii LiqCour-Jeté
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Maybe You're the Problem" by Ava Max
  • Eliminated: Hershii LiqCour-Jeté
  • Farewell Message: "WHIPLASH!!! ♡ HLJ"
2114"RDR Live!"January 26, 2024 (2024-01-26)

For this episode's main challenge, the queens put their sketch comedy skills to the test in "RDR Live!" comedy show filmed in one take, parodying Saturday Night Live in a challenge returning by “popular demand”, having first appeared in All Stars season 8.

On the runway, category is Everything Every-Cher All at Once. From this challenge onwards, the queens are judged by the judging panel rather than using Rate-A-Queen. 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 declared safe. Geneva Karr and Mirage lip-sync to "Dark Lady" by Cher. Geneva Karr wins the lip-sync and Mirage is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Sarah Michelle Gellar
  • Alternating Judge: Ross Mathews
  • Main Challenge: Perform a sketch comedy scene in "RDR Live!"
  • Runway Theme: Everything Every-Cher All at Once (Night of a 1,000 Chers)
  • Challenge Winner: Plasma
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Geneva Karr and Mirage
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Dark Lady" by Cher
  • Eliminated: Mirage
  • Farewell Message: "Looks Like the Trash bag Lost 💋 LoL ♡ Mirage"
2125"Girl Groups"February 2, 2024 (2024-02-02)

For this episode's mini challenge, the queens are tasked with creating a front cover and author biography for a bestselling book. Sapphira Cristál wins the mini challenge. For this episode's main challenge, the queens are tasked to write and perform verses for RuPaul songs from his album Black Butta in groups of four. Geneva Karr, Plasma and Sapphira Cristál are the team captains.

  • Team Q.D.S.M. - Dawn, Q, Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristál
  • Team Lovah Girlz - Amanda Tori Meating, Plane Jane, Plasma and Xunami Muse
  • Team Thicc & Stick - Geneva Karr, Megami, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Nymphia Wind

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, while the rest of the queens are declared safe. Amanda Tori Meating and Q lip-sync to "Emergency" by Icona Pop. Q wins the lip-sync and Amanda Tori Meating is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Icona Pop
  • Alternating Judge: Ts Madison
  • Mini-Challenge: Create a front cover and author biography for a bestselling book.
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Sapphira Cristál
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: An autographed copy of RuPaul's memoir The House of Hidden Meanings and a $2,000 cash tip
  • Main Challenge: Record and perform remixes to RuPaul songs in girl groups.
  • Runway Theme: Faster Pussycat, Wig, Wig
  • Challenge Winners: Geneva Karr, Megami, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Nymphia Wind
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip, split between the winners
  • Bottom Two: Amanda Tori Meating and Q
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Emergency" by Icona Pop
  • Eliminated: Amanda Tori Meating
  • 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."
2136"Welcome to the DollHouse"February 9, 2024 (2024-02-09)

For this episode's main challenge, the queens must design their own dolls based on their drag personas.

On the Runway category is Welcome to the DollHouse. Sapphira Cristál chooses to drink her immunity potion and is declared safe before critiques begin. 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 declared safe. Geneva Karr and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige then lip-sync to "Control" by Janet Jackson. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige wins the lip-sync and Geneva Karr is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Law Roach
  • Alternating Judge: Ts Madison
  • Mini-Challenge: Compete in a Flamenco Dance Contest
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Xunami Muse
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: A trip to Spain, all expenses paid
  • Main Challenge: Create two identical outfits, one for yourself, and one for a doll, from scratch
  • Runway Theme: Welcome to the DollHouse
  • Challenge Winner: Q
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Geneva Karr and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Control" by Janet Jackson
  • Eliminated: Geneva Karr
  • Farewell Message: "Malditas las odio. Love, GK. Vroom vroom!"
2147"The Sound of Rusic"February 16, 2024 (2024-02-16)

For this week's main challenge, the queens must perform the rusical The Sound of Rusic, inspired by the musical The Sound of Music and its film adaptation. The queens' roles are as follows:

  • Dawn as Streudel
  • Megami as Schnitzel
  • Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige as a Sister Sister
  • Morphine Love Dion as a Sister Sister
  • Nymphia Wind as Diesel
  • Plane Jane as a Baronette
  • Plasma as Mariah
  • Q as The Baroness Braun
  • Sapphira Cristál as Mother Superior
  • Xunami Muse as a Baronette

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 declared 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 is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Adam Shankman
  • Alternating Judge: Ross Mathews
  • Main Challenge: The Sound of Rusic
  • Runway Theme: I Can Buy Myself Flowers
  • Challenge Winner: Plasma
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Megami and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus
  • Eliminated: Megami
  • Farewell Message: "Choose Chaos Be Badass Bitches NYC Girls, Take It Home! Heart Eyes ♡ -M"
2158"Snatch Game"February 23, 2024 (2024-02-23)

For this week's main challenge, the queens play the Snatch Game. The queens' impersonation subjects are as follows:

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 declared 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 is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Kyra Sedgwick
  • Alternating Judge: Carson Kressley
  • Mini-Challenge: Reading Is Fundamental
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Xunami Muse
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: $2,500 cash tip
  • Main Challenge: Snatch Game
  • Runway Theme: Dancing Queen
  • Challenge Winner: Plane Jane
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Morphine Love Dion and Xunami Muse
  • Lip-Sync Song: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston
  • Eliminated: Xunami Muse
  • Farewell Message: "You know what... NOT me leaving this early!!! LMAO Ladies, just serve mad C*** LOVE u all ♡ -Xunami MUSE"
2169"See You Next Wednesday"March 1, 2024 (2024-03-01)

For this week's mini challenge, the queens perform spit-takes. Nymphia Wind wins the mini challenge. For this episode's main challenge, the queens must design and create a "neo-goth" look from scratch.

On the runway, category is See You Next Wednesday. Dawn, Nymphia Wind, Q and Sapphira Cristal receive positive critiques, with Q winning the challenge. Plane Jane receives mixed critiques. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Morphine Love Dion, and Plasma receive negative critiques, with Morphine Love Dion declared 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 is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Kaia Gerber
  • Alternating Judge: Carson Kressley
  • Mini-Challenge: Perform a spit-take
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Nymphia Wind
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: $2,500 cash tip
  • Main Challenge: Create a "neo-goth" look from scratch
  • Runway Theme: See You Next Wednesday
  • Challenge Winner: Q
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Mhi'ya Iman LePaige and Plasma
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Bloody Mary (Wednesday Dance TikTok Version)" by Lady Gaga
  • Eliminated: Plasma
  • Farewell Message: "'Wow!' –Morphine. Thank you all for the love UGLY UGLY UGLY! xoxo –Plazzy"
21710"Werq the World"March 8, 2024 (2024-03-08)

For this week's main challenge the queens write and perform verses on the song "Power."

On the runway, category is True Colours. Plane Jane chooses to gift her immunity potion to Nymphia Wind; Nymphia is declared safe before critiques begin. Dawn, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristal receive positive critiques, with Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristál being announced as the top 2. Plane Jane and Q receive mixed critiques but are ultimately announced as Safe. Morphine and Sapphira lip-sync to "Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor. Sapphira wins the lip sync and no one is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Jamal Sims
  • Alternating Judge: Ross Mathews
  • Main Challenge: Write and perform a verse in the song "Power"
  • Runway Theme: True Colours
  • Top Two: Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristál
  • Lip-sync Song: "Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor.
  • Challenge Winner: Sapphira Cristál
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
21811"Corporate Queens"March 15, 2024 (2024-03-15)

For this week's mini challenge, the queens vote in rounds to assign superlatives to their fellow contestants. The queens voting with the majority in each round earn money. Sapphira Cristál earns the most money and wins the mini challenge. For this episode's main challenge, the queens must write and deliver a drag awareness employee seminar. The queens' assigned groups and topics are as follows:

  • Plane Jane and Q: "Do you know your drag herstory?"
  • Dawn and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige: "Drag in the workplace"
  • Morphine Love Dion, Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál: "Are you a drag queen? You might be surprised"

On the runway, category is Flashback: DragCon 1980. Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, with Sapphira Cristál winning the challenge. Plane Jane and Q receive largely positive critiques and are declared safe. Dawn, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Morphine Love Dion receive negative critiques, with Dawn declared 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 is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Joel Kim Booster
  • Alternating Judge: Ross Mathews
  • Mini-Challenge: Spill the T
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Sapphira Cristál
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: $3,400 cash tip
  • Main Challenge: Write and deliver a drag awareness employee seminar
  • Runway Theme: Flashback: DragCon 1980
  • Challenge Winner: Sapphira Cristál
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Mhi'ya Iman LePaige and Morphine Love Dion
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Dim All the Lights" by Donna Summer
  • Eliminated: Mhi'ya Iman LePaige
  • Farewell Message: "It was fun I love you all Season 16! Morphine bring it home #305 *Queen of Flipss* #Mhi'ya"
21912"Bathroom Hunties"March 22, 2024 (2024-03-22)

For this week's mini challenge, the queens imprint a full beat of makeup onto a T-shirt using only their face. Plane Jane wins the mini challenge. For this week's main challenge, the queens must design a bathroom and present it on the spoof design show Bathroom Hunties. The queens' groups and design concepts are as follows:

  • Morphine Love Dion and Q: Naughty Potty (Hell theme)
  • Dawn and Nymphia Wind: F.ART Museum (Art Museum theme)
  • Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál: Bootylickers Speakeasy (Speakeasy theme)

On the runway, category is Chain Reaction. Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques, and are both declared the winners of the challenge. Dawn, Morphine Love Dion, Nymphia Wind and Q receive largely negative critiques, with Nymphia Wind and Q declared safe. Dawn and Morphine Love Dion lip-sync to "Body" by Megan Thee Stallion. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip-sync and Dawn is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Mayan Lopez
  • Alternating Judge: Carson Kressley
  • Mini-Challenge: Imprint a full face of makeup onto a T-shirt
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Plane Jane
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: $5,000 worth of makeup products
  • Main Challenge: Design a bathroom and present it on the design show Bathroom Hunties
  • Runway Theme: Chain Reaction
  • Challenge Winners: Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip, split between the winners
  • Bottom Two: Dawn and Morphine Love Dion
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Body" by Megan Thee Stallion
  • Eliminated: Dawn
  • Farewell Message: BYE ♡ xoxo Dawn
22013"Drag Race Vegas Live! Makeovers"March 29, 2024 (2024-03-29)

For this week's main challenge, the queens must give drag makeovers to Pit Crew dancers from RuPaul's Drag Race Live!. The pairs must also choreograph and perform a dance to a remix of RuPaul's song "Super Queen".

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 the bottom two. Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristál lip-sync to "Miss Me More" by Kelsea Ballerini. Sapphira Cristál wins the lip-sync and Morphine Love Dion is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Kelsea Ballerini
  • Alternating Judge: Ts Madison
  • Main Challenge: Give a drag makeover to a Pit Crew dancer from RuPaul's Drag Race Live!
  • Runway Theme: Drag Family Resemblance
  • Challenge Winner: Plane Jane
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip each for Plane Jane and her makeover partner
  • Bottom Two: Morphine Love Dion and Sapphira Cristál
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Miss Me More" by Kelsea Ballerini
  • Eliminated: Morphine Love Dion
  • 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 💋"
22114"Booked and Blessed"April 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)

For this week's mini challenge, the queens must give a lip sync performance underwater to RuPaul's song "Kitty Girl". Sapphira Cristál wins the mini challenge. For this episode's main challenge, the queens must write a memoir, pose for the cover, and participate in a podcast interview.

  • 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 the bottom two. Plane Jane and Q lip-sync to "Better Be Good to Me" by Tina Turner. Plane Jane wins the lip-sync and Q is eliminated.

  • Guest Judge: Ronan Farrow
  • Alternating Judge: Ts Madison
  • Mini-Challenge: Give a lip sync performance underwater
  • Mini-Challenge Winner: Sapphira Cristál
  • Mini-Challenge Prize: A trip for two to The Alamar Resort and Mantamar Beach Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
  • Main Challenge: Write and promote a concept for a memoir
  • Runway Theme: Fandango
  • Challenge Winner: Nymphia Wind
  • Challenge Prize: A $5,000 cash tip
  • Bottom Two: Plane Jane and Q
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Better Be Good to Me" by Tina Turner
  • Eliminated: Q
  • 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"
22215"Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown – Reunited"April 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)

This week, the eliminated queens participate in a Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown, the winner of which will be crowned as "Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses" with a $50,000 prize. For most of the lip-syncs a queen is chosen at random who gets to select their opponent. Their opponent then gets to choose the lip sync song.

First, Dawn chooses to lip sync against Amanda Tori Meating, who chooses "Damaged" by Danity Kane. Amanda Tori Meating wins the lip-sync and advances to round 2.

In the second lip-sync, Q chooses Megami as her opponent, who chooses "What About" by Janet Jackson. Megami wins and advances to round 2.

In the third lip-sync, Morphine Love Dion chooses Geneva Karr as her opponent, who chooses "Million Dollar Baby" by Ava Max. Morphine Love Dion wins and advances to round 2.

In the fourth lip-sync, Mirage chooses Hershii LiqCour-Jeté as her opponent, who chooses "Alone 2.0" by Kim Petras and Nicki Minaj. Mirage wins and advances to round 2.

As the last three remaining queens, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige, Plasma and Xunami Muse must lip-sync. Mh'iya Iman Le'Paige is randomly selected to pick the song and chooses "Milkshake" by Kelis. Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige wins and advances directly to round 3.

In the first lip-sync of round 2, Amanda Tori Meating chooses Megami as her opponent, who chooses "The Shoop Shoop Song" by Cher. Megami wins and advances to round 3.

In the second lip-sync of round 2, the two remaining queens, Mirage and Morphine Love Dion, must lip-sync. Morphine Love Dion is randomly selected to pick the song and chooses "This Time I Know It's for Real" by Donna Summer. Morphine Love Dion wins and advances to round 3.

Before the third round, RuPaul reveals a twist: one of the remaining queens will be selected at random and that queen must choose their opponent. The queen who is not chosen will advance directly to the final round. Megami is selected, and she chooses to lip-sync against Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige. Thus, Megami and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige lip sync to the remaining song "We Got the Beat" by The Go-Go's. Megami wins and advances to the final round.

In the final round Megami and Morphine Love Dion lip-sync to "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" by C+C Music Factory. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip sync and the title of "Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses".

22316"Grand Finale"April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)

In elimination order the eliminated queens and the finalists walk the runway on the finale stage. Each finalist – in order: Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál – perform an original solo number and get interviewed by RuPaul. After a video highlighting her life and appearances on Drag Race, RuPaul presents the "Giving Us Life-time Achievement Award" to Cassandra Peterson. RuPaul announces that Nymphia and Sapphira will move forward to the final lip sync; Plane Jane receives a tip of $25,000. In a video all contestants of the season celebrate their mothers. Last season's winner Sasha Colby performs "Her" by Megan Thee Stallion and gets interviewed by RuPaul. All eliminated queens perform together on stage. Last season's Miss Congeniality Malaysia Babydoll Foxx announces this year's Miss Congeniality - which for the first time in Drag Race herstory is a tie: Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse, who both receive $10,000. Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál lipsync to "Padam Padam" by Kylie Minogue. RuPaul announces as the winner Nymphia Wind. She receives the crown and scepter from Sasha Colby and $200,000; Sapphira Cristál receives $25,000.

  • Final Three: Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál
  • Eliminated: Plane Jane
  • Miss Congeniality: Sapphira Cristál and Xunami Muse
  • Final Two: Nymphia Wind and Sapphira Cristál
  • Lip-Sync Song: "Padam Padam" by Kylie Minogue
  • Runner-up: Sapphira Cristál
  • Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season Sixteen: Nymphia Wind

Ratings

[edit]
Viewership and ratings per episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 16
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)
1 "Rate-A-Queen" January 5, 2024 0.26[20] 0.708[20]
2 "Queen Choice Awards" January 12, 2024 0.21[21] 0.592[21]
3 "The Mother of All Balls" January 19, 2024 0.21[22] 0.589[22]
4 "RDR Live!" January 26, 2024 0.24[23] 0.598[23]
5 "Girl Groups" February 2, 2024 0.16[24] 0.470[24]
6 "Welcome to the Doll House" February 9, 2024 0.19[25] 0.482[25]
7 "The Sound of Rusic" February 16, 2024 0.17[26] 0.519[26]
8 "Snatch Game" February 23, 2024 0.21[27] 0.569[27]
9 "See You Next Wednesday" March 1, 2024 0.29[28] 0.632[28]
10 "Werq the World" March 8, 2024 0.23[29] 0.562[29]
11 "Corporate Queens" March 15, 2024 0.19[30] 0.516[30]
12 "Bathroom Hunties" March 22, 2024 0.21[31] 0.516[31]
13 "Drag Race Vegas Live! Makeovers" March 29, 2024 0.22[32] 0.567[32]
14 "Booked & Blessed" April 5, 2024 0.21[33] 0.498[33]
15 "Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown – Reunited" April 12, 2024 0.24[34] 0.580[34]
16 "Grand Finale" April 19, 2024 0.31[35] 0.708[35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Franklin, McKinley (August 21, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 16, 'All Stars' Season 9 Greenlit at MTV and Paramount+". Variety. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 Is Coming Soon". MTV. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Seitz, Loree (December 6, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Unveils Season 16 Queens". Yahoo! Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Rate-A-Queen". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 1. January 5, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  5. ^ a b c "Queen Choice Awards". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 2. January 12, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  6. ^ a b c "The Mother of All Balls". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 3. January 19, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  7. ^ a b c "RDR Live!". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 4. January 26, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  8. ^ a b c "Girl Groups". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 5. February 2, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  9. ^ a b c "Welcome to the DollHouse". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 6. February 9, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  10. ^ a b c "The Sound of Rusic". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 7. February 16, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  11. ^ a b c "Snatch Game". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 8. February 23, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  12. ^ a b c "See You Next Wednesday". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 9. March 1, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  13. ^ a b c "Werq the World". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 10. March 8, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  14. ^ a b c "Corporate Queens". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 11. March 15, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  15. ^ a b c "Bathroom Hunties". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 13. March 22, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  16. ^ a b c "Drag Race Vegas Live! Makeovers‎". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 13. March 29, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  17. ^ a b c "Booked and Blessed". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 14. April 5, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  18. ^ a b "Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown – Reunited". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 15. April 12, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
  19. ^ a b "Grand Finale". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 16. Episode 16. April 19, 2024. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
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