TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese drag performer Nymphia Wind, who won Season 16 of "RuPaul's Drag Race," performed on her home stage for the first time, wowing hundreds of fans in Taipei on Sunday (May 26).
Nymphia expressed her love for hometown food. "I'm so excited to perform in my country and can't wait to have stinky tofu!" she said. Reuters describes Nymphia as an "unofficial ambassador for Taiwan." She has been devoted to championing the country's democracy and is listed in Forbes 30 Under 30.
Nymphia performed with members of her drag family, the "House of Wind," at the Presidential Office in Taipei in May. She performed in front of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese military dictator who ruled the island for decades under martial law. With beautiful makeup and bold dance moves, her performance was a significant challenge to social norms and a breaking of boundaries. Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, a first for Asia, and has been diligently working on gender equity policies in recent years.
The drag star also fearlessly spoke up for social issues, participating in protests against contentious parliament reforms. "I respect the legislature, but I wish the legislature would do the respectable thing and respect the democratic process," she said.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Atelier and Tailoring from the U.K.'s University for the Creative Arts, Nymphia creates most of her costumes and often references her Taiwanese heritage in her act. For example, she designed a costume inspired by a yellow water lily native to Taiwan. "Like lilies, it grows out of the mud unstained," she said.
