Ever since snatching the season 16 crown on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” life for Nymphia Wind has been nothing in need of a whirlwind expertise.
She has carried out for the President of Taiwan, opened for Steve Aoki on the Gold Gala after celebration, joined her fellow queens on the Critics Alternative Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema and Tv and, earlier this month, carried out at Vice President Kamala Harris’ Delight Celebration in Washington D.C. She has but to sit down down and have an “Oh God, I gained” second — and he or she has no intention of stopping for one.
“It’s been wild and loopy,” she says chatting with Selection over a Zoom name from Taiwan.
Right here, Wind displays on her historic win; she is the first-ever Taiwanese queen and the third API winner, following within the footsteps of Season 3’s winner Raja and Season 15 queen Sasha Colby. She additionally talks about assembly Jane Goodall on Earth Day, shares her hopes for the subsequent yr and discusses how her bubble tea balloon reveal nearly went mistaken.
Wanting again, what do you assume put you excessive and gave you the sting over Airplane Jane and Sapphira Cristál?
I don’t actually know. There’s a lot that folks can see. I used to be competing with my coronary heart. I believe that, mixed with my interpretation of drag, is likely to be what did it.
Your closing outfit was a bubble tea reveal with balloons floating up within the air. What was the genesis behind that?
This was the ultimate lip sync. I additionally needed to signify my nation within the garments. I didn’t wish to simply put on a flag and name it a day. Additionally, the nationwide drink of Taiwan is bubble tea. So utilizing bubble tea was a strategy to signify my nation however not be too direct and literal about it. I used to be discussing the concept with the designer and knew that I needed this bubble tea cape. We determined it could be cool to have balloons fly out that might appear to be boba.
It was such an epic reveal, however there’s a world the place that might have gone disastrously mistaken. Particularly because you’re counting on balloons to drift up. What was going by your head whenever you acquired to that second?
I had the chance to follow with the balloons beforehand. I knew they had been going to fly. I had crammed the balloons with helium earlier within the day, they usually had deflated simply as I used to be about to do my lip sync. So, I needed to redo them proper earlier than occurring stage. That was very thrilling and added to the expertise of the ultimate lip sync.
Then you definitely’re introduced as America’s Subsequent Drag Famous person. What was going by your head whenever you gained?
That’s the ultimate second you all the time dream of. You think about in your head profitable “Drag Race” and really listening to it was a full circle second. It was so wild.
It’s been some time because you’ve gained, however have you ever had the prospect to kiki with anybody because the finale?
I’ve had a kiki with fairly just a few queens. However it’s wild doing reveals on the highway and assembly folks you’ve watched on TV all through the years. I’ve met Jinkx Monsoon, Detox and Roxxxy Andrews. Assembly these historic icons is so enjoyable,. You are feeling their power and it’s loopy.
Nicely, you bought to have fun Earth Day with Jane Goodall and acquired to kiki together with her. What was that like?
That was past my wildest goals. I acquired to fulfill the President of Taiwan too. And it’s so surprising. They’re issues you would by no means dream about. It’s even crazier than profitable “Drag Race.” However it’s all taking place at a pace I can’t comprehend. If this will occur in such a brief period of time, what’s going to occur sooner or later? Within the subsequent yr?
Talking concerning the President of Taiwan, what does it imply to see the impression on younger Taiwanese youngsters you will have had on them?
I really feel actually honored to have the ability to have this platform to signify the children in Taiwan or simply Asians in every single place. Rising up, I by no means had illustration in Western media. So with the ability to be that for them is such an unbelievable honor. I actually hope to signify them extra in numerous features sooner or later with this platform.
What are you hoping to make use of your platform for within the subsequent yr and past?
Hopefully, it evokes folks to be inventive and observe their ardour and simply be capable to comfortably be themselves. I wish to discover completely different sorts of collaborations. I’d wish to look into how I may mix drag reveals with Chinese language tradition and collaborations with completely different sorts of artists, perhaps with efficiency artwork or dance. There are such a lot of prospects.
What modifications have you ever seen to your world since profitable, apart from those we’ve talked about?
Lots of people in Taiwan come as much as me and say thanks for representing us. They thank me for bringing Taiwan to a global stage that hits house in a means that Taiwanese folks need to combat to be heard internationally. Rising up, this has all the time been the case. So it means lots to have the ability to be a voice for Taiwan.
Would you’d you ever come again for an “All Stars” winners season?
For positive. I had a lot enjoyable filming the present. I might like to get a chance to return once more as a result of there are such a lot of issues I might do in a different way. Most notably, I’d be extra relaxed in snug in myself. Doing “All Stars” or “Drag Race” is simply a chance to be inventive and problem myself to observe the immediate and actually create throughout the limitations as a result of I really feel like typically that awakens the motivation to be inventive and problem oneself by competitors.
Any final phrases on being the banana queen?
Eat your bananas. Get your potassium and, hopefully, that potassium will carry you pleasure. Welcome to the banana cult. Whether or not you prefer it or not, you’re trapped into it forcibly.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
