The third instalment of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16, aptly titled “Mother of All Balls”, brought the queens together for a dazzling display of creativity and competition. In this recap, we delve deep into the overstuffed runway, unexpected connections among the queens, and the twists that kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
We’re sad to see that it was Hershii LiqCour-Jeté who was eliminated in this episode, especially after her honest story of how she has two kids at home. She was an incredible queen and as many of the queens stated in Untucked, she beat a whole host of drag queens to get on the show, and there are many queens, who left first, who have gone on to do amazing things. We’re excited to watch her career soar, and we’re ecstatic to see that she’s going out on tour with her drag sister Kornbread—now that’s a show not to be missed!
On top of that, this episode also brought one of the best clips we’ve ever watched. Just before the main titles started up, during a confessional segment, Dawn sang the theme song. Not only did this showcase her adorable personality but it also showcased her comedy. This extremely cute clip is something we’ve watched again and again, and certainly one we’re going to remember every single time the main titles kickstart.

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The Mother of All Meets: Full Cast Gathering Unveils New Dynamics
The much-anticipated gathering of the entire 14-queen cast set the stage for intriguing dynamics, unexpected connections, and a whirlwind of emotions. The episode starts with last week’s queens walking into the werk room after their episode, and as they settle on the couch, the RuMail sound starts and the queens aren’t quite ready for any more twists—or so they thought.
Through the werk room doors come the first-week queens, dressed to the nines and looking extremely fierce. Each queen got their moment to shine as they came through the werk room archway, with the likes of Dawn, Q, and Sapphira Cristál making a brilliant entrance, but it’s undeniable the look that Morphine Love Dion served! There’s a slight pause as the queens stand off from each other before they rush in glee to hug and greet one another.
From hometown reunions to surprising bonds, the werk room became a kaleidoscope of personalities, offering viewers a deeper insight into the diverse world of Season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Sibling Dynamics in the Spotlight: Miami Queens Morphine and Mhi’ya Iman Le’Paige Navigate Tensions
Miami queens Morphine and Mhi’ya took centre stage as their relationship faced the spotlight. Tensions emerged, with subtle critiques and reservations hinting at potential sibling rivalry. It expanded even more so later when RuPaul quizzes the queens on their opinions of each other in the Miami drag queen circuit. The unfolding narrative promises an exploration of their dynamics, adding an extra layer of complexity to the competition.
Potions, Ratings, and Unpredictable Twists: RuPaul’s Arsenal Comes Into Play
RuPaul continued to introduce his series of twists, injecting an element of unpredictability into the competition. Immunity potions, inspired by “Death Becomes Her”, raised the stakes. The gorgeous purple potions, which look like expensive fragrance bottles, are later explained by RuPaul who mentions another twist—that the queens who won immunity, Sapphira and Plane Jane, can use their immunity potions to save themselves or one of their fellow competitors.
On top of that, the immunity potions can only be used once and are only available for a limited amount of time so they need to be used wisely—we presume this stops a queen from using it during the penultimate episode, stopping them from guaranteeing themselves a place in the final.
She doesn’t stop there, RuPaul also reveals that this week will be the final rate-a-queen challenge where one more queen will gain the immunity potion, but they also will end up choosing the bottom three queens, and one queen will be going home this week. This continues to test the queens’ strategic thinking although, with 13 queens to rate each, Plane is probably going to have to play fairly this time. Talking about Plane, the episode also shows Nymphia Wind quizzing Plane about her rate-a-queen selections, it’s clear she has her suspicions that Plane selected her in last place, something we know is exactly what happened.
RuVealing The Grand Spectacle: “The Mother of All Balls” Challenge Unleashed
RuPaul went on to unveil the main challenge of the week with unparalleled flair—the “Mother of All Balls”. The challenge, true to its Drag Race legacy, consisted of three distinct categories, each demanding the queens’ creativity and sewing skills. The first two categories were looks the queens brought from home, but the last category was the sewing challenge.
The first category, “Mother Goose”, prompted the queens to draw inspiration from classic children’s nursery rhymes, setting the tone for fantastical transformations. Transitioning to the second category, “Significant Mother”, the queens were tasked with selecting an iconic mother figure who inspired their drag journey, a nod to ballroom culture’s “mother” terminology. Finally, the “Call Me Mother/Father Eleganza” category injected a sewing challenge into the mix. Here, queens were provided with “traditional” menswear to fashion into a runway-ready eleganza look, blurring the lines of gender and showcasing their ability to transform conventional attire into drag excellence.
Once RuPaul exited, the queens rushed towards the menswear, grabbing everything they wanted and needed to make their looks. The challenge ignited a flurry of creative energy, setting the stage for a runway spectacle that would leave a lasting impression on the Drag Race legacy with one particular look set to go down in hestory!
Iconic Ball Challenge: Mother of All Balls Showcases 42 Looks
The Mother of All Balls episode lived up to its name, presenting an extravagant runway with a total of 42 looks from the 14 queens. However, the sheer volume of ensembles, combined with the constraints of editing, left viewers yearning for more. The rapid pace of the runway segment, trimmed to accommodate all the looks, resulted in a missed opportunity to savour each queen’s creation fully. Additionally, the shortage of space for panel puns added to the challenge of fully appreciating the queens’ artistic expressions. Despite these limitations, the queens brought their A-game, offering a diverse array of outfits that reflected their creativity, ingenuity, and distinctive styles.
Dawn: A Vegan Cow, Audrey Hepburn, and Rugged Femininity
Dawn’s transformation into a fashionable cow, paying homage to her vegan lifestyle, kicked off the runway with a playful touch. The Audrey Hepburn-inspired look showcased elegance, though some viewers hoped for a more standout moment. The final ensemble, recontextualising rugged workwear into ultra-feminine attire, with thigh-high construction boots with braces, demonstrated Dawn’s versatility.
Hershii: A Bee, Mother Earth, and a Conceptual Struggle
Hershii made a strong entrance with a gorgeous bumblebee gown, but her journey took a downturn with a conceptually clever yet poorly executed take on Mother Earth. Unfortunately, the final look, while attempting a literal interpretation of motherhood, missed the mark, failing to sell a compelling story. The challenges of the ball proved to be particularly arduous for Hershii and we expect she was missing her kids too which was bound to impact her time on Drag Race.
Mirage: Body Queen’s Character-Based Looks Shine
Mirage, the body queen, confidently showcased character-based looks that highlighted her style. From the cute, character-driven first look to the final ensemble that included a black eye, Mirage’s outfits conveyed a consistent sense of flair and creativity.