| "Rate-A-Queen" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 16 Episode 1 | ||
| Directed by | Nick Murray | ||
| Featured music | "Break My Soul" (2022) byBeyoncé | ||
| Original air date | January 5, 2024 (2024-01-05) | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Rate-A-Queen" is the first episode of thesixteenth season of the American television seriesRuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3][4] It originally aired on January 5, 2024. The episode sees contestants perform in atalent show hosted by former competitorDerrick Barry.Charlize Theron is a guest judge.
Sapphira Cristál wins the main challenge and no contestant is eliminated from the competition. The corresponding episode ofRuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked earned editors nominations in theOutstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program category at the76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
The season's first seven contestants enter the Werk Room individually.RuPaul greets the group and reveals thephoto shoot mini-challenge, which tasks contestants with posing for aRing camera on RuPaul's porch as he watches.[5][6]
_(crop).jpg)
Back in the Werk Room, the contestants get out of drag. RuPaul returns and reveals thatSapphira Cristál is the winner of the mini-challenge.[7] RuPaul then reveals the main challenge, which tasks contestants with performing in the "MTV's Spring Break"talent show, hosted by former contestantDerrick Barry. RuPaul shares that the winner of the main challenge will receive immunity and that a twist in the competition will have contestants rate each other. Following are the acts:
On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow judgesMichelle Visage andCarson Kressley, as well as guest judgeCharlize Theron. RuPaul shares the runway category: "RuVeal Yourself". Dawn, Mirage, Q, and Sapphira Cristál receive positive critiques. Amanda Tori Meating, Morphine Love Dion, and Xunami Muse receive negative critiques. The contestants rank each other using the Rate-A-Queen system. 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 contest to "Break My Soul" (2022) byBeyoncé for the win. Sapphira Cristál is declared the winner, earning her immunity.[6][8] No contestants are eliminated from the competition.
.jpg)
The episode originally aired on January 5, 2024, as half of a two-part premiere.[9][10] Theron said being a judge on the show was "a dream come true".[11]
Sapphira Cristál's talent show song "O mio babbino caro", a sopranoaria from the operaGianni Schicchi (1918) by Italian composerGiacomo Puccini, was released as a single and received amusic video.[12]
In the Werk Room, RuPaul wears atrain conductor-inspired outfit.[13] For the talent show, Sapphira Cristál wears a "theatrical"ball gown and a "Marie Antoinette-style" wig, according toThe Philadelphia Inquirer.[14]
For the fashion show, Morphine Love Dion wears a white towel dress that she removes to reveal a blue swimsuit. She wears sunglasses. Dawn has ayeti-inspired white outfit. She has long white sleeves and purple hair.Amanda Tori Meating's look reveals into a purple outfit. She has three breasts and neon green hair. Xunami Muse has a red outfit and a long braid. Q's outfit is black and reveals colorful wings. Mirage has a blue-and-orange outfit with feathers. Sapphira Cristál wears a blue outfit that reveals into aleotard. She haspasties over herbreastplate.
.jpg)
Reviews noted the Rate-A-Queen ranking format as a triangle-shaped parody ofThe Circle.[6][15] Kevin O'Keeffe ofXtra 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]Out magazine's Bernardo Sim called the Rate-A-Queen twist "draggy and fun".[16]Gay Times included Mirage in a 2024 list of the seventeen best talent show performances onDrag Race to date.[17]
Ricky Cornish ofPride.com called Sapphira Cristál's talent show performance "unbelievable".[18] Joey Guerra of theHouston Chronicle said her lip-sync performance "heralded the arrival of an icon" and opined, "Everything about it was ridiculous. And so, so good."[19] Jeremy Rodriguez ofPhiladelphia Gay News said Sapphira Cristál's lip-sync exhibited her comedic side and wrote, "At some point during the number, Sapphira's breast plate fell off and she bounced her fake breasts up and down on the stage. Instantly iconic."[20]
The corresponding episode ofRuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked earned editors Matthew D. Miller and Kellen Cruden nominations in theOutstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program category at the76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.[21]
| External media | |
|---|---|
 Q & Sapphira Cristál’s Beyoncé Lip Sync onYouTube |
