When you think back to the mid-2010s era of drag, things were shifting fast. RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 landed on our screens in March 2016, and honestly, it felt like a whirlwind. It was only ten episodes long. Compared to the marathons we get nowadays, that’s basically a long weekend. But don't let the short runtime fool you. This season was a turning point. It celebrated the show's 100th episode and its 100th queen, making it a massive milestone for World of Wonder and the fans who had been there since the "vaseline lens" days of Season 1.
Bob the Drag Queen walked into the werk room and basically told everyone, "I'm here to win." And she did. But the journey there was filled with some of the most distinct personalities we’ve ever seen. You had the high-fashion, "fat, femme, and Asian" excellence of Kim Chi. You had Naomi Smalls, who basically invented legs. Then there was the late, great Chi Chi DeVayne—a queen who could turn a trash bag into a gown and out-dance anyone on that stage.
The Queens Who Defined RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8
The cast for this season was small—only 12 queens—but they were heavy hitters. Looking back, the talent density was wild. Let's talk about the top three for a second. It was the first time since Season 3 that we had an all-POC top three, which was a huge deal for representation.
- Bob the Drag Queen: 29 at the time, from NYC. She won three main challenges and never once had to lip-sync for her life. That’s dominance.
- Kim Chi: The visual architect. She won the very first challenge, "Keeping It 100!", and showed the world that drag could be high art without needing to be a "pageant queen."
- Naomi Smalls: Only 21 years old. She proved that being a "look queen" didn't mean you lacked heart or humor.
Then you have the "robbed" queens and the fan favorites. Thorgy Thor was the eternal bridesmaid, always so close to a win but constantly overshadowed by Bob’s comedic timing. Acid Betty gave us the "villain" energy we needed, even if she was mostly just a perfectionist with a sharp tongue. And who could forget Cynthia Lee Fontaine? She was crowned Miss Congeniality, and her "Cucu" became a permanent part of the drag lexicon.
What Really Happened with the Double Elimination?
One of the most chaotic moments in RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 was the double sashay away in episode two. People still talk about this. Laila McQueen and Dax ExclamationPoint were tasked with lip-syncing to Gloria Gaynor’s "I Will Survive."
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It’s an anthem. A classic. You cannot mess that up.
Unfortunately, they both kinda... did. RuPaul wasn't having it. She sent them both packing on the spot. It was a cold move, but it paved the way for Naysha Lopez to come back after being the first queen eliminated. It’s those kinds of high-stakes moments that made the shorter season feel so intense. You couldn't afford a single "off" week.
The Challenges That Changed the Game
The 100th episode celebration was a stroke of genius. The queens had to recreate iconic looks from past design challenges. Seeing the Season 8 girls tackle the "Money Ball" or the "Sugar Ball" was like a love letter to the fans.
Then came "Bitch Perfect." This was a "drag-appella" challenge inspired by Pitch Perfect. It remains one of the best-produced musical numbers in the show's history. No autotune, just pure performance. It showed that these queens were triple threats. They weren't just putting on makeup; they were actors, singers, and dancers.
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Snatch Game: A One-Woman Show?
Let's be real. Snatch Game in Season 8 was the Bob the Drag Queen show. Her "Uzo Aduba" and "Carol Channing" were masterclasses in improv. While Thorgy Thor did a decent Michael Jackson, she couldn't compete with Bob’s energy. This was the moment everyone knew who was getting that $100,000 check at the end.
The Legacy of Chi Chi DeVayne
We can't talk about RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 without getting a little emotional about Chi Chi DeVayne. She passed away in 2020, and the loss is still felt deeply in the community. On the show, she represented the "underdog" who didn't have the big budget or the designer connections.
She famously said, "I don't have $2,000 to spend on a dress," and then went out and served looks anyway. Her lip-sync to "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" is widely considered one of the top five lip-syncs in the entire franchise. It wasn't about stunts or reveals; it was about raw, guttural soul.
Why People Think Season 8 Was "Too Short"
A lot of critics at the time complained that the season felt rushed. With only 10 episodes, there wasn't as much room for the "filler" drama we see in modern 16-episode seasons. But honestly? I think that’s why it’s so rewatchable. Every episode matters. The pacing is tight.
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Google searches for the show peaked during the finale, where Bob was crowned in a theater full of fans. It felt like the show was finally crossing over from a cult hit on Logo TV to a mainstream powerhouse.
Quick Stats You Might Have Forgotten:
- Winner: Bob the Drag Queen
- Prize: $100,000 and a year's supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics
- Episode Count: 10 (including the reunion/finale)
- The "Shade Tree": A weird confessional booth that was introduced this season and then basically never used again.
The "Best Friend Race" Controversy
Season 8 is often called "RuPaul's Best Friend Race." Compared to the bitter rivalries of Season 2 or Season 4, these queens actually seemed to like each other. Sure, Acid Betty and Thorgy had their moments, but the top four were genuinely supportive. Some fans missed the drama, but others loved seeing a group of talented artists pushing each other to be better. It felt more like a celebration of the craft.
How to Apply the Lessons of Season 8 to Your Own Craft
Whether you're an artist, a creator, or just a fan, there's a lot to learn from how Bob and Kim Chi approached the competition.
- Leaning Into Your Brand: Bob didn't try to be a fashion queen. She was "hilarious, beautiful, talented, and humble." She knew her strength was comedy and she leaned into it 100%.
- Innovation Over Imitation: Kim Chi used makeup to tell stories that hadn't been told on TV before. She didn't just follow the "pretty" standard; she created her own.
- Resourcefulness: Like Chi Chi, don't let a lack of resources stop you. Talent and work ethic will always beat a big budget in the long run.
If you haven't watched it in a while, go back and give RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 a rewatch. It’s a snapshot of a time when the show was finding its footing as a cultural phenomenon. It’s fast, it’s funny, and it’s got one of the strongest winners the series has ever seen.
To get the full experience of the Season 8 evolution, you should look up the "The Realness" music video and compare it to the earlier seasons—the jump in production value is where you can see the show finally getting the budget it deserved. From there, check out Bob the Drag Queen's subsequent HBO specials or Kim Chi’s makeup line to see how they leveraged that short ten-week window into lifelong careers.