"Bathroom Hunties" is the twelfth episode of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2] It originally aired on March 22, 2024. Mayan Lopez is a guest judge, and Norvina from Anastasia Beverly Hills also makes a guest appearance. Plane Jane wins the episode's Tammy Faye Messner-inspired mini-challenge, and Sapphira Cristál becomes the show's first and only contestant to win three consecutive main challenges.[3] Dawn is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against Morphine Love Dion to "Body" by Megan Thee Stallion.

"Bathroom Hunties"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.Season 16
Episode 12
Original air dateMarch 22, 2024 (2024-03-22)
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Episode

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Mini-challenge

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The episode's mini-challenge was inspired by Tammy Faye Messner

The contestants re-enter the Werk Room following the elimination of Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige. Morphine Love Dion reads the message Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige wrote on the mirror, and the contestants discuss the results of the previous episode's main challenge.

On a new day, RuPaul greets the contestants in the Werk Room. RuPaul talks about Tammy Faye Messner and the "I ran into Tammy Faye at the mall" T-shirt design,[4] and tasks the contestants with re-creating this look for the mini-challenge.[5] Norvina from Anastasia Beverly Hills makes a guest appearance and invites the Pit Crew to assist. The contestants smear their cosmetics on the T-shirts worn by Pit Crew members. Norvina names Plane Jane the winner, then leaves the Werk Rooom.

Main challenge and runway

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RuPaul introduces the main challenge, which has contestants star in a design show Bathroom Hunties. In pairs, contestants have to build a model bathroom for an "eclectic" couple. RuPaul says the space should be gender-inclusive and entertaining. The pairs are Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál, Dawn and Nymphia Wind, and Morphine Love Dion and Q.

The pairs brainstorm in the Werk Room. Morphine Love Dion and Q consider a "heaven and hell" theme, and Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál like the idea of a speakeasy. The contestants start creating their bathrooms in a backstage area, then return to the Werk Room to prepare for the runway. The group discuss some of their experiences using the bathroom in and out of drag, as well as gendered restrooms in general.

Judges Carson Kressley (left) and Michelle Visage (right) also appear in the design show Bathroom Hunties as part of the main challenge.

On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow judges Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley, as well as guest judge Mayan Lopez. The runway category is "Chain Reaction". On the runway, Morphine Love Dion's hair is made of chains, and Q's outfit has red chains. Dawn has a draped dress, and Nymphia Wind carries a whip. Plane Jane describes her looks as "alien sex cyborg", and Sapphira Cristál presents a BDSM-inspired look. The judges watch Bathroom Hunties, which has three scenes with Kressley and Visage: "Naughty Potty" (Morphine Love Dion and Q), which has a tickle torture station; "F.ART Museum" (Dawn and Nymphia Wind), which is based on a fine art museum and offers finger painting; and "Bootylickers Speakeasy" (Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál).

The judges deliver critiques, then excuse the contestants from the main stage during deliberations. The contestants return, and RuPaul names Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál the winners of the main challenge. Nymphia Wind and Q are deemed safe. Dawn and Morphine Love Dion place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync to "Body" (2020) by Megan Thee Stallion. Morphine Love Dion wins the lip-sync and Dawn is eliminated from the competition.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Frank, Jason P. (2024-03-23). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Meeting in the Ladies Room". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  2. ^ Guzzo, Bianca (2024-03-23). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 Episode 12 RECAP: Bathroom Hunties". IN Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  3. ^ "Sapphira Cristál just broke an all-time 'Drag Race' record". www.out.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  4. ^ Huff, Matthew (2024-03-21). "Watch Q's Meltdown in an Exclusive 'Drag Race' Sneak Peek". Parade. Archived from the original on 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  5. ^ DeLellis, Trae. "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 Episode 12: Bathroom Hunties". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  6. ^ Huff, Matthew (2024-03-22). "A Lip Sync Massacre on 'Drag Race' Leads to the Top Five". Parade. Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.