Taiwan’s first drag queen to be featured in internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), returned to the show on Friday to pass her crown to Onya Nurve, the show’s “Next Drag Superstar” of season 17.
While fans gave Onya Nurve and her opponent, Jewels Sparkles, their love, Nymphia Wind arguably stole the show when she graced the stage with her “step-down” look, before Onya and Jewels engaged in their lip-sync battle to Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra.
As the doors opened to reveal last year’s queen, Nymphia presented the cameras with another feast of Taiwanese images, as she has been known to do.
Photo: Screen grab from RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Instagram
Although predominantly dressed in white, Nymphia’s new look supported a backdrop prop adorned with Taiwan’s extinct Formosan clouded leopard, majestically imposed on the nation’s tallest peak, Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山).
Nymphia’s headgear, mask and gown were embroidered with Taiwan’s Mikado pheasant to accentuate her status as one of the show’s royalties.
The graceful display of Taiwanese elements garnered Nymphia the attention of former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who has been a longtime supporter of Nymphia.
“Thank you Nymphia Wind,” Tsai wrote on social media, “for using the ‘Formosan clouded leopard’ and other local elements to introduce Taiwan to the world.”
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