The Realness (RuPaul's Drag Race)

"The Realness"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.Season 8
Episode 9
Presented byRuPaul
Original air dateMay 2, 2016 (2016-05-02)
Guest appearance

"The Realness" is the ninth episode of the eighth season of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3] It originally aired on May 2, 2016. The episode's main challenge tasks the final four contestants with performing in a music video for RuPaul's song "The Realness".

Bianca Del Rio makes a guest appearance. Chi Chi DeVayne is elimination from the competition after losing a lip-sync against the other three contestants. As a result, she is edited out of the music video. Following her death in 2020, the music video was re-released by World of Wonder to include her.[4][5]

Episode

Chi Chi DeVayne was edited out of the music video created as part of the episode's main challenge, for placing in the bottom. Following her death, the production company World of Wonder re-released the video with her included.

The final four contestants (Bob the Drag Queen, Chi Chi DeVayne, Kim Chi, and Naomi Smalls) return to the workroom after Derrick Barry's elimination on the previous episode. On a new day, RuPaul greets the group and reveals the main challenge, which tasks the contestants with performing in a music video for RuPaul's song "The Realness", directed by Jayson Whitmore.[6][7] RuPaul reveals that the eliminated contestants will be edited out. The contestants film the music video. One scene has each contestant perform while lying on their back and another has each show an "avant-garde" look. The final scene has contestants lip-sync in front of a mirror. As filming wraps, Bianca Del Rio makes a guest appearance.

On elimination day, the contestants make final preparations in the workroom for the fashion show. The contestants talk about the competition and their first impressions of each other. On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and Ross Mathews. RuPaul shares main challenge and runway assignments, then the fashion show commences. After the contestants present their looks, RuPaul asks the contestants to share their wisdom to younger versions of themselves. The judges deliver their critiques, then RuPaul asks the contestants to share why they should be crowned the winner. The judges deliberate, then share the results with the group. All four contestants face off in a lip-sync contest to "The Realness".[8] Chi Chi DeVayne is eliminated.[9][10] As a result, she is not featured in the filmed music video.[11]

Production and broadcast

Bianca Del Rio (pictured in 2015) makes a guest appearance.

While filming the music video, Bob the Drag Queen completes a death drop and Kim Chi struggled with the "floatography" (choreography).[12][13]

The episode originally aired on May 2, 20216.

Fashion

For the music video's "avant-garde" scene, Bob the Drag Queen has a black-and-white outfit. Kim Chi has a colorful outfit with feathers and a blue wig. Naomi Smalls has a blue outfit, tall white boots, and a short wig. Chi Chi DeVayne has a gown, red shoes, and a blonde wig.[14] For the main stage, RuPaul wears a pink sculptural outfit and a long blonde wig. For the fashion show, the contestants are tasked with presenting their "very best" drag. Bob the Drag Queen wears a black tie-inspired outfit with black leggings and sequined jacket. Chi Chi DeVayne has a pink gown, large earrings, and a dark wig styled as buns. Kim Chi has a black outfit with feathers, a black mask, red nails, and a blonde wig. Naomi Smalls has a pink outfit, large hoop earrings, and a long brown wig.[14]

Reception

Oliver Sava of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'B+'.[6] Brian Moylan of Vulture rated the episode five out of five stars.[15] Sam Brooks ranked the performance of "The Realness" number 134 in The Spinoff's 2019 "definitive ranking" of the show's 162 lip-sync contests to date.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Recap 8×09: The Final Four". The New York Observer. May 3, 2016. ISSN 1052-2948. OCLC 17544657. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ "RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE recap: "The Realness"". OutVoices. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  3. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Ru-cap Episode 9: 'The Realness'". Attitude. September 7, 2017. ISSN 1353-1875. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  4. ↑ Earle, Siah (September 15, 2020). "World of Wonder release The Realness video featuring the late Chi Chi DeVayne". Gay Times. ISSN 0950-6101. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  5. ↑ "WATCH: World of Wonder re-release The Realness music video in memory of Chi Chi DeVayne". Gay Community News. National LGBT Federation. September 16, 2020. ISSN 0791-7163. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Drag Race's final four find "The Realness" as season 8 approaches its end". The A.V. Club. Paste Media Group. May 3, 2016. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ Garner, Glenn. "Sashay Away: Chi Chi Devayne on Country Swag, Southern Drag, and Getting Paid". Out. ISSN 1062-7928. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  8. ↑ Bates, Bryony (May 6, 2016). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 Episode 9: The Realness". Vada Magazine. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ Walker, John (May 3, 2016). "Recapping RuPaul's Drag Race: And the Top Three Are..." Brooklyn Magazine. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Last Words With RuPaul's Drag Race's Chi Chi DeVayne". The Advocate. ISSN 0001-8996. OCLC 60638931. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  11. ↑ Crawford, Ryan. "Ry's Ru-minations: Video Ho Realness". Queerspace Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  12. ↑ Brathwaite, Les Fabian. "The 'Drag Race' GIF-cap Xtravaganza: 'Video Ho, No You Didn't'". Out. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Clip: Poor Kim Chi Can't Even Dance While Lying Down". Vulture. May 2, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "The Realness". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 8. Episode 9. May 2, 2016. Logo TV.
  15. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: The Fab Four". Vulture. Vox Media. May 3, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  16. ↑ Brooks, Sam (October 3, 2019). "A definitive ranking of all 162 Lip Syncs on RuPaul's Drag Race". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
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