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. 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. It was the last season to solely be played on Logo, as the show moved to VH1 for its ninth season.
Cynthia Lee Fontaine is the stage name of Carlos Díaz Hernández, a Puerto Rican drag performer and reality television personality from Austin, Texas, best known for competing on the eighth and ninth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. She won the title of Miss Congeniality on season 8.
Sang-Young Shin, known professionally as Kim Chi, is a Korean-American drag queen, artist, entrepreneur, and television personality best known for competing on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Kim Chi was the first Korean-American contestant on the show as well as the first Korean-American drag queen on American national television. She owns the beauty brand Kim Chi Chic Cosmetics.
Naomi Smalls is the stage name of Davis M. Heppenstall, an American drag queen and reality television personality, best known as one of the runners-up on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race as well as RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4.
Naysha Lopez is the stage name of drag performer and beauty pageant winner Fabian Rodriguez, who won the 2013 Miss Continental competition and appeared on the eighth seasons of both RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Robbie Turner is the stage name of Jeremy Baird, an American drag queen and writer most known for competing on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
"She Done Already Done Brought It On" is the second episode of the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Lisa Kudrow makes a guest appearance. Jaymes Mansfield is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against Kimora Blac to "Love Shack" by The B-52s.
"Reality Stars: The Musical" is the fifth episode of the ninth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on April 21, 2017. The episode has contestants take selfies with the Pit Crew for the mini-challenge, and perform a Hamilton-inspired musical about the Kardashian family and other celebrities for the main challenge. Todrick Hall and Meghan Trainor serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley.
"Gayest Ball Ever" is the eleventh episode of the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on June 2, 2017. Andie MacDowell and Joan Smalls are guest judges.
"Bitch Perfect" is the second episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. The episode's main challenge is a Rusical inspired by Pitch Perfect. Ester Dean and Lucian Piane are guest judges, and Jamal Sims is the guest choreographer.
"New Wave Queens" is the fourth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein are guest judges, and Lucian Piane is also a guest.
"Wizards of Drag" is the sixth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Todrick Hall and Marc Jacobs are guest judges.
"Shady Politics" is the seventh episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Vivica A. Fox and Thomas Roberts are guest judges.
"RuPaul Book Ball" is the eighth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Amy and David Sedaris are guest judges.
"The Realness" is the ninth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
RuPaul's Drag Race Live! is a concert residency in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring past competitors from the TV series of the same name its franchise. The residency show features a variety of original music, lip-syncs, comedy, and dance numbers directed by RuPaul and choreographed by Jamal Sims. The performances are held every weeknight at Flamingo Showroom and produced by World of Wonder and Voss Events.
"Superfan Makeover" is the tenth episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on May 1, 2020. The episode's main challenge has contestants give makeovers to "superfans" of the show. Daisy Ridley is a guest judge. Jaida Essence Hall wins the challenge. Heidi N Closet and Jackie Cox in the bottom two and face off in a lip-sync, but neither is eliminated from the competition.
A Rusical is a musical theatre challenge recurring across the Drag Race television franchise. Rusical productions began in 2014 during the sixth season of the American series, and have subsequently become "a highly anticipated staple" of the reality competition, allowing contestants to showcase their talents.
"Henny, I Shrunk the Drag Queens!" is the thirteenth episode of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on April 2, 2021.
"Keeping It 100!" is the first episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It is the show's 100th episode overall. Nicole Richie is a guest judge. Former contestant Morgan McMichaels makes a guest appearance, as do previous winners from the show as part of a photo shoot for the mini-challenge.
