“RuPaul’s Drag Race” topped its first Taiwanese American drag queen Friday, breaking what the winner not too long ago referred to as the competitors collection’ “Asian curse.”
Nymphia Wind — recognized for her obsession with the colour yellow and bananas, and for her couture-like design expertise — snatched the crown from fellow finalists Aircraft Jane and Sapphira Cristál, changing into the winner of the Emmy-winning collection’ sixteenth season.
Native Hawaiian Sasha Colby gained final season’s competitors, whereas “Drag Race” fan favourite Raja Gemini, who’s of Indonesian and Dutch heritage, gained the present’s third season in 2011.
In an interview this week on “Whatcha Packin’,” an exit-interview collection of “Drag Race” contestants hosted by the present’s longtime choose and former lady group star Michelle Visage, Wind mentioned she felt a duty to do properly within the competitors collection for the Asian American group.
“All I mentioned to myself was, I’m right here to interrupt the Asian curse,” Wind, 28, mentioned. “I’m not going to be out early on.”
Wind added, “So I simply needed to return right here and present a wealthy, wealthy Asian tradition in my drag.”
Born in Los Angeles, Wind, whose actual title is Leo Tsao, grew up principally between Taipei, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. She parted methods with a strong native following in Taipei in 2022, shifting to Brooklyn, New York, to develop her profession in drag.
But, her artwork by no means misplaced its affect from her Asian heritage.
On her first episode of season 16, which aired on MTV, Wind carried out a conventional Asian sleeve dance for the episode’s expertise present. All through the season she introduced a number of self-made designs to the principle stage, together with a chunk sewn with dried flowers that celebrated Butoh, a type of Japanese dance theater, and a showstopping pink costume in honor of Lunar New 12 months.
In an episode that aired earlier this month, Wind revealed that she struggled rising up in Taiwan and being inundated with photos of the West’s magnificence requirements, which she mentioned have been all options widespread amongst white folks. She mentioned she generally frightened that nobody would ever discover her engaging due to her Asian heritage, prompting her to show to utilizing make-up and drag.
“I at all times performed with make-up and cross-dressing,” Wind mentioned. “I felt like I might actually change up how I look and I can escape my face in a way.”
“I actually hated to look within the mirror usually, rising up,” Wind added. “Even till now, I don’t have the behavior of observing myself within the mirror until I’ve to do make-up.”
Now that an unlimited, bejeweled crown has been positioned upon her head, Wind could have extra incentive to stare at her reflection.
This story was initially revealed on NBCNews.com.