There have been a lot of fun mini challenges from RuPaul’s Drag Race over the years, with some being among the most iconic ones that fans still today. Mini challenges like "Everybody Loves Puppets" and "Reading is Fundamental" can be just as entertaining as some maxi challenges on the show.
Fans know that mini challenges are not a low-stakes game, as winners gain some sort of advantage in the episode, from winning immunity from elimination to being in charge of asg roles. This is why competitors try their best to be outstanding in these challenges, giving audiences goop-worthy performances, even if it is just from a shady puppet. The best among these mini challenges have great concepts behind them, a cast of queens that give their all, and hilarious moments that leave Mama Ru impressed.
Everybody Loves Puppets (Season 4)
“Everybody Loves Puppets” is an instantly recognizable mini challenge from the show. Queens randomly pick a puppet that represents one of their fellow contestants, drag them up, and then have a "bitchfest" with them in the Werk Room. It first appeared on season 4, but has since become a fan favorite and happens regularly on Drag Race.
The first iteration of the mini challenge also birthed its name. When season 4 winner Sharon Needles blurted out “Everyone loves puppets!" to everyone, it was eventually slightly adjusted and used to refer to the mini challenge in the following seasons. Although it was Chad Michaels' roasting of Phi Phi O’Hara that ended up on top, Sharon’s contribution is forever immortalized in one of the most popular mini challenges on the show.
Makeup In The Dark (Season 5)
This mini challenge is exactly what it sounds like – the queens have to apply makeup in total darkness. RuPaul explains that the season 5 queens should know how to masterfully paint in any situation, and he was prepared to observe how well they do with night vision goggles.
The Ruveals for this mini challenge were hilarious, as audiences held their breath to see the queens’ faces beneath their veils. Detox obviously has experience painting in the dark, as her challenge-winning makeup was almost gagging (save for her crooked eyebrows). The funniest was Alaska’s as she intentionally skewed her lipstick to her cheek, making Mama Ru scream when she lifted her veil. RuPaul described Alaska’s look and this entire challenge best when he said “It looks perfect!”
Stand Out On The Runway (Season 10)
Season 10’s first mini challenge showed fans that it’s about to be an epic season. In what must have been a nerve-wracking mini challenge for the queens, iconic drag race contestants from previous episodes gathered around a runway to judge and applaud the season 10 competitors. Asia O’Hara put it perfectly when she said in her confessional: “I see all these former queens. Immediately, my butthole has sucked up the crotch of my...leotard.”
The challenge is to stand out and prove that the queen has what it takes to impress legends like Adore Delano and Trixie Mattel. It’s a thrilling scene to watch, as it’s almost as hard as the show’s most difficult maxi challenges. Monét X Change won because she knew how to have fun with it – she had legendary queens screaming “Woah!” at her acrobatic runway moves.
Chicken Or What? (Season 2)
The “Chicken or What?” mini challenge is, as Pandora Boxx put it, RuPaul’s version of “Drag Survivor.” The blindfolded queens must taste mystery food and determine if it’s chicken or something else. After a few bull testicles are consumed, the challenge culminates in an epic battle to break the three-way tie between Pandora, Mystique, and Morgan McMichaels. The only thing standing between the three queens and the win was a basket of fried chicken, alligator, and cow brains. Ultimately, Mystique and Morgan are declared the winners of this unforgettable fried food challenge.
Slap Out Of It! (Season 10)
In what could have easily produced the most dramatic moments in Drag Race, the queens put their shadiness to the test in the funniest way. Mama Ru tasked the queens to elicit the best ‘fake bitch slap’ from her in “Slap Out Of It,” resulting in memorable lines like Kameron Michaels’ “They call you mother, but at your age shouldn’t it be grand–.”
It’s also the episode that almost turned RuPaul’s show into Asia O’Hara’s Drag Race after the host accidentally slapped her for real. Asia’s line was definitely a great motivator for that slap though, and the fact that she delivered the quote with a straight face only made it more hilarious. Asia’s lawsuit-worthy bitch slap from Ru was a result of the challenge-winning insult: “You hit like a girl, too bad you don’t look like one.”
Spring & Fall Lewks (Season 7)
The first-ever mini challenge on season 7 was more like a maxi challenge, as the fresh queens had to show off two stunning looks on the runway to impress the impatient judges. Viewers immediately got to see the best of some of the fan-favorite queens like Miss Fame and Trixie Mattel.
This challenge is mostly memorable because of season winner Violet Chachki’s gagging Ruveal. Strutting down the runway in her glittery fall ensemble, she suddenly reveals a more playful plaid outfit hidden underneath. Carson Kressley’s shocked reaction summed up what all of the viewers were likely feeling at that moment. The gagging moment truly cemented Violet as a fashion queen to watch out for.
Dunk-A-Queen (Season 3)
In RuPaul’s own version of the dunk tank, the queens have to masterfully use the Badonkadonk Dunking Machine to dunk their competitors into a pool. Unfortunately for Carmen Carrera who has just returned to the competition, there’s a big target on her back, easily making her the dunking victim of most of the queens.
In one of the fan-favorite scenes of Drag Race, however, it’s Yara Sofia who’s hilariously dunked the most into the pool. Alexis Mateo’s flawless aiming skills caused Yara to fall into the pool a whopping 14 times. It’s a hilarious time for everyone, as they get to let off some steam and air out some grievances against other contestants, as long as they can aim right and dunk a queen.
Cha-Cha Bitch Fight (Season 8)
With musician AB Soto by his side, RuPaul challenges the season 8 queens to cha-cha their hearts out to his new song “Cha-Cha Bitch.” The Werk Room is suddenly full of drag queens in hilariously terrible makeup – overdrawn brows and underdrawn lipsticks are apparently the secrets to cha-cha skills.
Chi Chi DeVayne and Cynthia Lee Fontaine proved to be the ultimate cha-cha queens. Cynthia displayed some impressive footwork as other queens cheered her on. Chi Chi won the cha-cha with her energetic dance moves and gagging splits. It’s one of those mini challenges that are just lighthearted and fun, which are qualities that undoubtedly remind fans of Chi Chi, who sadly ed away in 2020 because of complications from scleroderma.
Underwater Photoshoot (Season 5)
In the first-ever mini challenge of season 5, RuPaul told queens to “sink for their life” in an elaborate underwater photoshoot. It’s still one of the wildest Drag Race challenges to date and really put some queens out of their element.
Photographer Mike Ruiz told the girls to “give us fish,” but Alaska, unfortunately, decided to give them nothing, quickly giving up after testing the waters. It was Detox and Vivienne Pinay who showed that they could be underwater models, with Detox eventually winning the challenge. Ru knows how to bring out the best in queens who are willing to dive deep and give every challenge their best.
Reading Is Fundamental (Season 2)
“Reading is Fundamental,” also sometimes called “The Reading Challenge” is easily the most iconic mini challenge in the show. The library first opened in season 2 and has become a Drag Race staple since then.
From the first time the mini challenge ever happened, it was clear it would become an essential part of the show. Jujubee’s iconic reading skills made Ru and audiences goop. She roasted Tatianna in the shadiest way, after the queen gave up halfway during her turn, saying she just couldn’t come up with anything. Jujubee’s response was “Tatianna, you think you’re soft? Not by the hair of your chinny chin chin.”