Drag Race Is Returning to 90-Minute Glory for Season 16
All is right in the world: RuPaul’s Drag Race is returning for season 16 in January, on MTV, once again with 90-minute episodes. After season 15 experimented with cutting runtimes to 60 minutes, much to fans’ dismay, we won’t have to miss out on a minute of Drag Race again. And it doesn’t sound like a cast you’ll want to miss. Season 16’s queens include a singer with a six-octave range, a dancer for Bad Bunny and Maluma, and a queen with a BFA in musical theater. There are also the usual legacies, like Hershii Liqcuor-Jeté, sister of Kornbread, and Xunami Muse, daughter of Kandy. These 14 queens will begin battling it out in a two-part premiere with a talent show challenge — and the twist is the girls will rate each other. Watch it go down beginning January 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, and be sure to block out another 30 minutes for Untucked afterward. In the meantime, it won’t take you too long to get to know the queens, with their official bios below.
AMANDA TORI MEATING, 26 — LOS ANGELES, CA | @amandatorimeating
Calling all staff: There’s a mandatory meeting to discuss this funny queen! Ready to take it to the top with her wit, wigs, and energetic moves, this talented wig stylist has done wigs for Drag Race queens Kerri and Sasha Colby, and Beyoncé’s music video dancers. Amanda is the ultimate mix of camp and comedy!
DAWN, 24 — BROOKLYN, NY | @upuntil.dawn
The self-described “ethereal elf goddess of Brooklyn,” Dawn is a fitting name for a queen who often stays up late enough to see the sunrise. Designing and constructing almost all of her eccentric looks, this kooky and artistic queen always brings a story when she hits the stage … and she’s hoping for a happy ending at Drag Race!
GENEVA KARR, 30 — BROWNSVILLE, TX | @Geneva_karr
¡Viva México! RuPaul’s Drag Race’s first Mexican born queen, Geneva witnessed her parents’ struggles as they worked tirelessly to get her family safely to the United States in search of a better life. A dancing queen with a mischievous energy, she plans to be the first Mexican born queen to win the crown!
HERSHII LIQCOUR-JETÉ, 31 — LOS ANGELES, CA | @hershiiliqcour
It’s chocolate! Part of the legendary Haus of Jeté, Hershii counts Drag Race star Kornbread Jeté as her sister. A take-no-prisoners performer with a legion of LA area fans, Hershii is now ready to slay the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race. When not performing, Hershii is very family-oriented, and together with her boyfriend is raising two young children.
MEGAMI, 33 — BROOKLYN, NY | @megaminyc
This self-proclaimed “geek-chic” queen started doing drag as a cosplayer at conventions such as Comic Con, and from there incorporated high fashion into her characterful designs. Proudly claiming Nuyorican culture, Megami means “Goddess” in Japanese, and this creative force now hopes to rule the Drag Race world!
MHI’YA IMAN LE’PAIGE, 34 — MIAMI, FL | @queenofflipss
Get ready for your world to be turned upside down! An electrifying performer, Mhi’ya is known as the Queen of Flips. That’s because you can find Mhi’ya performing her thrilling flips and tricks in the sun, on the sidewalks of South Beach. Mhi’ya’s videos of her flipping onto café tables have caught fire on social media — now she’s ready to flip the competition on its head!
MIRAGE, 29 — LAS VEGAS, NV | @mirage_amuro
A heady mixture of stripper heels and stripper moves: the “Legs of Las Vegas” is here! Hailing from Sin City, this Native American and Mexican beauty towers in seven-inch heels and legs that go on for days. Already a showgirl sensation on the Strip, this quirky queen is ready for the RuPaul’s Drag Race’s crown!
MORPHINE LOVE DION, 25 — MIAMI, FL | @morhpinelovemua
Body, beauty and “mug”: just what the doctor ordered. Morphine started out doing makeup tutorials on social media. Now, she is the self-proclaimed “It Girl of Miami.” Can this trained dancer — who has been featured in Maluma and Bad Bunny music videos — cha-cha her way to the top of the competition?
NYMPHIA WIND, 27 — TAIWAN / NY | @66wind99
Banana Time! RuPaul’s Drag Race’s first queen to hail from Taiwan, Nymphia came to the United States to build on her massive fanbase of “Banana Believers” — a term given to her fans thanks to her signature color yellow, and penchant for the absurd. Inspired by Asian culture, art, and tradition, let’s hope she doesn’t slip up in the competition!
PLANE JANE, 24 — BOSTON, MA | @the_planejane
Fasten your seatbelts! Because yes, that is how you spell this diva’s name. Plane Jane is as glamorous as she is wickedly funny; Boston-raised, but with Russian roots. No stranger to competition, Plane Jane was a competitive ballroom dancer as a child. Now she’s focusing all of her passion on becoming America’s Next Drag Superstar.
PLASMA, 24 — NEW YORK, NY | @plasmanyc
Straight out of Old Hollywood, this vintage-inspired femme fatale leaves all of the boys hot and bothered. Raised listening to Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, and Barbra Streisand, Plasma channeled her love for divas into drag … and the rest is herstory. Can this queen’s BFA in Musical Theatre Performance raise the roof at RuPaul’s Drag Race? Time will tell!
Q, 26 — KANSAS CITY, MO | @living4q
The only letter of the alphabet you ever need worry about! This talented diva is a theater queen who specializes in the costuming aspect of drag. She makes all of her own looks, plus many commissioned costumes for prior Drag Race stars. Q is ready to go all the way in this competition; one design challenge after the next!
SAPPHIRA CRISTÁL, 34 — PHILADELPHIA, PA | @sapphiracristal
Philadelphia’s crown jewel, Sapphira is a serious musician with a six-octave vocal range. This powerhouse performer studied Music Composition, Vocal Performance and Opera, and in drag she can be found hosting, singing, dancing and performing comedy. Is there anything this diva cannot do?!
XUNAMI MUSE, 33 — NEW YORK, NY | @xunamimuse
This self-described “knockoff Naomi Campbell” is the supermodel of the season. Originally from Colón, Panama, Xunami moved to New York City, where Drag Race superstar Kandy Muse became her drag mother. Signed with a modeling agency in New York, time will tell if this leggy beauty can strut her way to the top!
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