| "Rate-A-Queen" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 16 Episode 1 | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of episodes | |||
"Rate-A-Queen" is the first episode of the sixteenth seasonofRuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3][4] 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.
The season's first seven contestants enter the Werk Room. The episode's mini-challenge is a photo shoot in which contestants post for the Ring camera on RuPaul's porch as he watches.[5][6]
For the main challenge, contestants are tasked with performing in the "MTV's Spring Break" talent show, hosted by former contestant Derrick Barry. Following are the contestants and their acts:
On the runway, the category is "RuVeal Yourself". In addition to RuPaul and Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley is a judge and Charlize Theron is a guest judge. Dawn, Mirage, Q and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques. Amanda Tori Meating, Morphine Love Dion and Xunami Muse receive negative critiques. The queens rank each other using Rate-A-Queen. Q and Sapphira Cristál receive the highest placements, making them the top two contestants of the week who will face off in a lip-sync to "Break My Soul" by Beyoncé for the win. Sapphira Cristál is declared the winner, earning her immunity.[6] No contestants are eliminated from the competition.
Kevin O'Keeffe of Xtra Magazine opined, "I don’t mind the more languid start to the season, but I do wonder why they didn’t just keep the incredibly successful premiere format from Season 15."[6] Gay Times included Mirage in a 2024 list of the seventeen best talent show performances on Drag Race to date.[7]
Television
United States
