Nymphia Wind crowns new RuPaul's Drag Race queen in glorious return

Taipei, April 20 (CNA) Taiwan's first drag queen to feature in the 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 2025 anthem "Abracadabra."

As the doors opened to reveal the 2024 queen, Nymphia presented the cameras with another feast of Taiwan images as she has been known to do.

Though predominantly dressed in white, Nymphia's new look supported a back-drop prop adorned with Taiwan's extinct Formosan clouded leopard majestically imposed on the island's tallest peak Yushan (Mt. Jade).

Nymphia's head gear, mask and gown were embroidered with Taiwan's Mikado pheasant to accentuate her status as one of the show's royalties.

The queen's graceful display of Taiwanese elements garnered her the attention of former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) who has been a long time supporter of Nymphia.

"Thank you Nymphia Wind," Tsai wrote on her social media accounts, "for using the 'Formosan clouded leopard' and other local elements to introduce Taiwan to the world."