RuCo's Empire

"RuCo's Empire" is the third episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Faith Evans and Tasha Smith are guest judges.

Episode
RuPaul invites Naysha Lopez back to the competition. For the mini-challenge, contestants participate in a runway show, with the category being "Supreme Court realness". Naomi Smalls, who wore a look inspired by Sandra Day O'Connor, was declared the winner. Naomi Smalls and Naysha Lopez serve as team captions for the main challenge, which asks contestants to perform in a sketch inspired by the television series Empire. Naomi Smalls' team includes Bob the Drag Queen, Chi Chi DeVayne, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, and Robbie Turner. Naysha Lopez's team includes Acid Betty, Derrick Barry, Kim Chi, and Thorgy Thor. The scene is co-directed by RuPaul and Faith Evans. Bob the Drag Queen is declared the winner of the main challenge. Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Robbie Turner face off in a lip-sync to Evans' "Mesmerized" (2005). Cynthia Lee Fontaine is eliminated from the competition.

Reception
Oliver Sava of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'C+'. The sketch was included in Screen Rant's 2022 list of the show's ten best acting challenges.