‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ winner Nymphia Wind wants Asians to see hope in win

Nymphia Wind, the queen of bananas RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16, peeled back to reveal a winner, baby.

Taking her first steps as America’s Next Drag Superstar Friday night at the Emmy Award-winning show’s coronation event in a skyscraper nearly 1,100 feet above Manhattan, the drag performer raised in Taiwan and based in New York literally looks at the country she now leads. as the reigning champion of Season 16 — and the first thing she does is shove her crotch into the window overlooking the city while (fittingly) dancing to Lady Gaga’s “Marry the Night.”

It’s a crowning performance that showcases the kind of daring lip-syncing talent (and penchant for madness) she’s possessed all season – but, having never landed in the bottom two, she n Haven’t had a chance to display it until now. The live number came moments after the world saw RuPaul crown her at the end of the last episode, following Nymphia’s competitive debut. Drag racing lip sync against eventual finalist Saphira Cristál. Wearing a bubble tea-patterned coat (which she opened to release a horde of balloons representing boba pearls), Nymphia’s set could have registered as visual camp, but there’s a deeper meaning deep which, as she tells us exclusively, Weekly Entertainment in her first interview as winner – the American show’s first East Asian champion – combines her showgirl attitude with a cultural throughline that ties together her aesthetic.

Read on for Nymphia’s full interview with EW, in which she discusses the importance of representing Taiwan, her relationship with third-place finisher Plane Jane, and teases an upcoming reunion with her. Snatch game celebrity, Jane Goodall.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: As the show’s first East Asian winner, you got emotional talking about representing your country while chatting with your mother during the finale. What does this moment mean to you?

WIND OF NYMPHIA: East Asians, or Asians in general, aren’t represented that much in Western media. Think of an Asian pop star in Western culture. You can’t really name one. There are so few. It meant a lot to have this representation and this space in this competition. Being on the main stage and seeing my mom there, I was emotional because she doesn’t live in America and had to travel from Taiwan. At that time, she was physically ill. It was a lot for her to travel, and she still managed. You see how supportive she is and how much love she has for her child.

A few episodes ago, you talked about the bombardment of Western beauty standards that caused you to no longer feel confident in your own appearance. What do you want to say to kids who feel this way now, and what does it feel like to have validation of your victory after going through this experience?

As an Asian child raised in Asia, we are not taught to speak or express ourselves. We are taught to be subtle, quiet and to keep to ourselves. I’m not the type to brag about being good at this or that thing. I’m a wallflower. Self-confidence has always been a thing throughout my life. Even after you win, some days you wake up not feeling great, and other days you wake up super confident. You have to remember to recognize the good and the bad and see it as a whole. When you go through those bad days, remember that the good days will come. Bad days don’t last forever. Be gracious and know that people are just like you, even if they appear to be confident. There are things you have to find time to see. Winning and that validation is beyond that. I always wanted to be the first East Asian queen to win and now I have achieved it.

This episode featured your first competitive lip sync on the show, and you did it in boba tea form! Can you explain your approach to this lip sync and what connection boba tea has to Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam”?

I obviously came here to represent my country, and I’m not going to do it by putting a flag on my dress. Boba tea is the national drink of Taiwan. We invented boba tea. Get that into your brain! It was my way of being at camp while representing my country and finding a fun way to do that lip sync, because I knew I was going to face Saphira and Plane. I knew I had to be a pride tank and bring something because it was my first lip sync.

Did you have any problems keeping the balloons in the mantle before the reveal?

Mom, did you see the waddle? (Laughs) I had helium in them, so they didn’t fall off the bottom, like they were floating. I had to blow them up twice before the lip sync. It was stressful. The cape was heavy enough to hold everything. Inside, my hands were closing it tightly so it wouldn’t leak, and there were fucking stairs behind that stage, so that was an obstacle.

Seeing the pile of things you left on stage, was that a strategy? Little banana peels for Saphira to put on?

This was a strategy for Saphira to potentially slip. No. (Laughs) Banana peels, peels, peels! I peeled a lot.

The solo number, what was the inspiration with the mask and the flags?

For this song, “Queen of Wind,” I thought I was weighed down by weights, and ultimately relieved and inspired to be free like the wind. The tiger mask and costume are the traditional general outfit of Peking Opera, and this mask is a fantasy character inspired by the rich Asian culture of Peking Opera. She was a tiger general, she was hit by many arrows and exhausted, fighting, struggling to become the Queen of Wind. It’s a metaphor for getting rid of doubts.

Your relationship with Plane has many fans talking about it. Dawn told EW during her exit interview that she started a rumor that you two were “screwing it up.” Plane also told me that wasn’t true. What did you think of this rumor and did you know Dawn started it?

Mom, before (the season was) announced, Plane came to Taiwan, and when we got together, Dawn said, “Did you guys get laid?” I was like, “What are you talking about? No, we didn’t!” Dawn is just going to be an evil little elf. Leave her alone, let her have her moment. I’ll let the audience guess if Plane and I are a thing. Stay tuned!

When did you find out that Plane had voted you wrong for Rate-a-Queen?

It was mid-season! I didn’t even realize it when I was talking to him. She kind of came clean, and I was like, bitch! But I’m pretty happy, because I didn’t need to lip sync (during the premiere). So it was a mystery package, no one saw my lip syncing abilities. Maybe that worked in my favor.

Who did you vote for in the Miss Congeniality ballot?

I voted for Hershii first, then Plane came up to me and said, “Vote Xunami,” so I put Hershii second.

Who would you have voted for if the Golden Boot had been awarded this year?

A few. Can I just say one? There are so many choices ! (Laughs) I should give it to Hershii, I’m sorry. Actually no. Hershii had a character. Okay, she’s going to hate me for this. Geneva, I will make you some clothes. (Laughs)

What do you want to do with this title? Where does Nymphia go from here?

I just want to be Jane Goodall’s friend. I’m going to make this world yellower and more banana. I really want to venture into performance art. Maybe a collaboration with FKA Twigs, maybe with Marina Abramović. It’s a very good platform for me to collaborate.

Is it weird to ask if Jane Goodall contacted you?

I’ll call him tomorrow after Hello America. No tea, no shade, I was excited for that. She knows of my existence. I’m gagged!

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