Nymphia Wind Breaks “Asian Curse”, Dedicates ‘Drag Race’ Season 16 Win To Taiwan

Drag Race USA

2024-04-22
12:54

We are going bananas! Taiwanese-American queen Nymphia Wind finally broke the Asian curse as she was crowned the winner of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ season 16!

On Friday night’s finale, a bubble tea-garbed Wind bested fellow finalist, Houston-raised queen Sapphira Cristál in a lip sync battle for the crown to Kylie Minogue’s Padam Padam.

“To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and have the courage to live your truth. And Taiwan this is for you!” Wind said to the crowd after she was crowned by Season 15 winner Sasha Colby.

Wind made history as the second ‘Drag Race’ winner of Asian descent, following in the footsteps of season 3 winner Raja Gemini and the first person of East Asian descent to win an installment of the American series. She was also one of the ‘Drag Race’ winners to have never been placed at the bottom in the entire competition.

Wind bested 13 other queens in the competition namely Cristál, fellow finalist Plane Jane, Q, LaLaPaRuZa Lipsync Smackdown winner Morphine Love Dion, Dawn, Mhi’ya Iman LePaige, Plasma, Xunami Muse, Megami, Geneva Karr, Amanda Tori Meating, Mirage, and Hershii LiqCour-Jeté.

The 28-year-old queen took home a crown and scepter plus a total of $216,950, $200,000 from the grand prize, and the remaining from three main challenges which include a design challenge for the ball, the girl group challenge, and a book cover challenge.

Meanwhile, Cristál tied for Miss Congeniality with castmate Muse with both queens going home with $10,000.

Congratulations to the banana queen!

Source: (1)