Meet the Cast of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 16
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16
*Sound effect of RuPaul's cackle*
And we're back, baby! RuPaul's Drag Race has returned for a 16th season with 14 brand-new queens to compete for the crown. Sure we've had a season of All Stars and approximately 900 international seasons since our final Season 15 runway, but there's just something extra special about that original U.S. flavor. Now, on Jan. 5, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET, RuPaul and co. will be back to judge 14 new queens, telling them to sashay away one-by-one until a 16th winner is crowned America's Next Drag Superstar.
After a fairly lackluster Seasons 14 and 15, the latter of which was famously a Sasha Colby meet-n-greet (fun to watch, but we all knew the final outcome as soon as the cast list was dropped), it feels like Season 16 is taking us back to basics. There are no social media mavens in the mix. Your favorite drag queen's favorite drag queen is not here to steamroll the competition. Rather, we've got what looks to be an even playing field with queens from across the spectrum of drag lined up and ready to race. Seamstresses, Broadway girlies, pageant queens, makeup artists and of course at least one comedienne are in the running.
As a good journalist, I've trolled through their social media for any hints as to what they might be bringing to the competition, but Instagram can only show you so much. Here's the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 along with some introductory thoughts on each. Who will be the early boots and who will reign victorious though? Your guess is as good as mine. So racers, star your engines, and may the best drag queen win!
Related: Everything You Need to Know About 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Season 9
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 Cast
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Amanda Tori Meating
New York, NY
With only ~4,000 Instagram followers pre-cast reveal, Miss Meating is one of the freshest queens on Season 16. Originally from Ohio, she came to NYC post-BFA, so it seems like she'll be one to watch in the performance-based challenges. Based on her Instagram, she's got a fairly versatile drag style (including a Patrick Star ensemble that's pretty impressive), so it will be fun to see what she brings to the table.
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Dawn
Brooklyn, NY
The ethereal fairy queen of Season 16 seems to be the Brooklyn-based Dawn. In an Irene Dubois aesthetic (but hopefully with better results), Dawn rocks pointy elf ears and an other-worldly, highly stylized mug. Dawn regularly hosts with Jay Kay of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula Season 5, so hopefully we'll get some of that out-of-the-box thinking. If you're looking for jaw-dropping runways, Dawn seems like one who will deliver.
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Geneva Karr
Brownsville, TX
Texas drag is known for its pageant girls with gorgeous gowns and big hair, and Geneva certainly fits that billing, at least at first glance. While the mammoth wigs are front-and-center on her Instagram (which boasts only 5K followers pre-cast release), her more popular TikTok (50K) includes plenty of videos of *checks notes* leg-hair art. This is something we certainly haven't seen on the previous 15 seasons of RPDR, and I'll be waiting with bated breath for Michelle Visage's take on it.
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Hershii LiqCour-Jeté
Los Angeles, CA
If the "Jeté" looks familiar, that's because Hershii is the drag sister of Season 14's Miss Congeniality Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté, who seemed like a frontrunner until an ankle injury pulled her from the competition. Now Hershii is back to take the crown for the fam. Based on her hit chatty TikTok and a lackluster Instagram feed, I think we've found the comedy queen of the season. Mark my words, Miss Hershii will be delivering the fire confessionals of the season. She also lists "superhero dad to two by day" in her profile, which will be an exciting storyline to follow throughout the season as we don't often get parents on the show.
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Megami
Brooklyn, NY
Season 16 is shaping up to be a New York-heavy season after the Big Apple was barely represented the last few rounds. Megami bills herself as the "thique geeky goddess" and appears to be our cosplay queen of the season. The looks and makeup on her IG are inventive, and you know that the cosplay girlies know how to sew a look themselves. Megami is certainly one to watch in the design challenges, and her mugs are impressive too. Perhaps she'll finally snatch the crown for the plus-sized girls after a 15-season-long drought.
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Mhi'ya Iman LePaige
Miami, FL
And the stunt queen of the season is...Mhi'ya Iman LePaige. The first of two Miami girls on Season 16 has branded herself on social media as the "Queen of Flips" and her Instagram feed is full of videos where she's flipping off bars, flipping into splits and even flipping into a twerking handstand. Based on the Instagram, the aesthetic leaves a little something to be desired, but perhaps we've discovered the lip-sync assassin of the season?
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Mirage
Las Vegas, NV
The Vegas queen of Season 16 is Miss Mirage, who according to Instagram, seems to be besties with RPDR legend Alexis Mateo (BAM!). Knowing someone who knows the franchise inside and out can only be an asset, so Mirage may come in with a leg up. While previous Vegas queens (like Derrick Barry and Kahanna Montrese) have leaned heavily into the showgirl ethos, Mirage seems to be a bit more nightlife/clubkid energy. Her painting is on point, but her other strong suits aren't immediately apparent. But you never know what tricks a Vegas girl might have up her sleeve.
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Morphine Love Dion
Miami, FL
With 41K followers on Instagram pre-season, Morphine is coming into Season 16 as the most well-known queen of the bunch (at least by that metric). This stands in stark contrast to Season 15, which included massive social media queens like Sugar and Spice as well as legends like Sasha Colby. Morphine's IG aesthetic is also one of the most polished of the group. Her looks, photo shoots and makeup are all well executed and she's got the performance chops to excel in those challenges as well. Miami queens have been underrepresented on RPDR to this point, but Morphine very well could put the city on the map.
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Nymphia Wind
New York, NY/Taiwan
Step aside Lemon, there's a new RPDR queen decked out in yellow. New York's fourth queen on Season 16 is Nymphia Wind who, according to Instagram, really loves bananas. Originally from Taiwan, Miss Wind now performs regularly in the Big Apple (not banana). A little bit goofy, but with some of the chicest outfits on the Season 16 IG feed, Nymphia seems like she could be well suited for both the comedy challenges and the runways. If I had to pick a winner based solely on online stalking, it would be her.
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Plane Jane
Boston, MA
A Russian queen from Boston? Why does that sound familiar? Oh yeah, because RPDR's legendary Katya built her brand on that combo. Now Plane Jane has arrived to hopefully snatch the crown that Katya missed twice. Boston is not the most hospitable city for drag, so thriving there automatically gives you a leg up in this often brutal competition. Plane Jane seems like a solid all-around contender based on her social media, and especially early on in Drag Race, being a jack of all trades will keep you out of the Bottom.
Plasma
New York, NY
ANOTHER NEW YORK QUEEN? What is this? A Friday night at Pieces? Unlike her New York competitors, however, Plasma is steering clear of modern and driving headfirst into an old-timey film star aesthetic. The comedy queen with Broadway energy will certainly be the Liza Minelli of the season dishing out campy one liners and a solid show-stopping Rusical performance. Ru doesn't typically love a Broadway queen (Marcia, Jan, etc.), but Plasma has a solidified point of view and a sense of humor, which could take her far. Plus, her confessionals will be top notch.
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Q
Kansas City, MO
With only 7,000 followers on Instagram, this Missouri queen will certainly be coming into Season 16 as a bit of an underdog (especially as a Midwesterner trying to fend off a pack of New York drag queens). However, as we've seen in the past with the likes of Crystal Methyd and Utica, sometimes that distance breeds originality. Q lists herself as an "artist" on Instagram as well as a "designer and seamstress." The looks are easily some of the best on the Season 16 IG feed, and she is prepared to obliterate the competition in the design challenges and runways. If she's got a smidge of personality and humor she could be the dark horse no one sees coming.
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Sapphira Cristál
Philadelphia, PA
Hailing from Philly, Sapphira is filling one of the pageant queen slots on Season 16. The hair. The gowns. The face. She will be prepared and she will be doing what needs to be done. She's also an opera star, which may come in handy for singing/talent competitions. Pageant queens often plateau if they don't have that little extra spark, but I'm not sure you can live in Philly without having some sizzle.
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Xunami Muse
New York, NY
Last, but certainly not least we have YET ANOTHER New Yorker. And if you're wondering, "Is this Muse related to Kandy Muse?" The answer is yes. Xunami is her daughter, and if they're anything alike, that means that Xunami could be the drama queen this season. Just like mama, she certainly knows how to paint and she'll have had plenty of help headed into the competition. TBD if being named after a natural disaster is a sign of greatness or tragedy to come.
Next, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Is Returning for Season 16: Everything You Need to Know
