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.
Morphine Love Dion, known out of drag as Michelle Orozco, is an American drag performer best known for competing on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Sapphira Cristál is the stage name of O'Neill Nichol Haynes, an American drag performer who was both runner-up and Miss Congeniality on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She is also a classically trained opera singer and a composer.
Plane Jane is the stage name of Andrew Vladimir Dunayevskiy, an American drag performer who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 16.
Megami, also known as Megami D.Vil, is the stage name of Jonathan Soto-Reyes, an American drag queen and cosplayer best known for competing on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was born and raised in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and Staten Island, and is currently based in Brooklyn.
Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige is an American drag performer competing on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Leo Tsao, known professionally as Nymphia Wind, is a Taiwanese-American drag performer and dressmaker. In 2024, she was crowned the winner of season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race, becoming the first East Asian winner of the franchise.
"Queen Choice Awards" is the second episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Becky G is a guest judge, and former contestant Derrick Barry also makes a guest appearance as the host of the episode's talent show.
"The Mother of All Balls" is the third episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Isaac Mizrahi is a guest judge.
"Rate-A-Queen" is the first episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on January 5, 2024. Charlize Theron is a guest judge. Former contestant Derrick Barry also makes a guest appearance, hosting the episode's main challenge, which is a talent show.
"RDR Live!" is the fourth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on January 26, 2024. Sarah Michelle Gellar is a guest judge.
"Welcome to the DollHouse" is the sixth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which originally aired in February 2024. Law Roach is a guest judge, and Charo also makes a guest appearance. Q wins the episode's main challenge. Geneva Karr is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige.
"The Sound of Rusic" is the seventh episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in February 2024.
"See You Next Wednesday" is the ninth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 1, 2024. Kaia Gerber is a guest judge.
"Werq the World " is the tenth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 8, 2024. Jamal Sims is a guest judge. Leland is also a special guest.
"Corporate Queens" is the eleventh episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 15, 2024. Joel Kim Booster is a guest judge.
"Bathroom Hunties" is the twelfth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 22, 2024. Mayan Lopez is a guest judge, and Norvina from Anastasia Beverly Hills also makes a guest appearance. Plane Jane wins the episode's Tammy Faye Messner-inspired mini-challenge, and Sapphira Cristál becomes the show's first and only contestant to win three consecutive main challenges. Dawn is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against Morphine Love Dion to "Body" by Megan Thee Stallion.
"Drag Race Vegas Live! Makeovers" is the thirteenth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 29, 2024. Kelsea Ballerini is a guest judge.
"Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown – Reunited" is the fifteenth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on April 12, 2024. The episode saw the returns of the season's eliminated contestants, who competed for a prize of $50,000. Morphine Love Dion won the contest.
Girl groups have been featured across the Drag Race franchise. Many Drag Race series have hosted challenges requiring girl groups to compete against one another. The challenge started with the second season of the American spin-off series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2022, Sam Brooks of The Spinoff said the girl group challenge has become a "classic" and a season highlight because "it tests the contestant's ability to write a verse, choreograph a dance routine, remember that choreography, and most crucially, work with others in a team".
