This weekend sees fellow Drag Race alum, Plastique Tiara and Nymphia Wind, launch The Serpents Tour across the United States. Inspired by the classic Asian folktale of the White Snake and Green Snake, the show follows two mystical serpents on a journey of love, adversity, and sisterhood. “The Serpents Tour is a chance to reimagine an ancient folktale through drag, blending drama, humor, and heart into an unforgettable live experience,” shares Nymphia.
Audiences can expect couture fashion, theatrical storytelling, and dynamic performances that celebrate Asian heritage, pop culture, and drag artistry. Each city will also feature local AAPI and LGBTQIA+ talent, giving them a stage to shine and amplifying their voices. “Drag has always been about transformation and self-expression. Through this tour, we celebrate our Asian roots and lift up the amazing AAPI and LGBTQIA+ talent in every city,” adds Plastique.
Plastique Tiara is among the most influential drag artists with 20+ million followers and over 1 billion views across social media. Renowned for viral transition videos, hair and makeup tutorials, and dynamic live performances, she has captivated audiences on screens and stages around the world. A standout from Drag Race season 11 and All Stars 9, Plastique has graced the cover of L’Officiel Vietnam and earned recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30, Rolling Stone Most Influential Creators, and People Creators of the Year. Plastique continues to redefine drag artistry while amplifying underrepresented voices.
Nymphia Wind is an internationally acclaimed drag artist, celebrated for a visionary blend of fashion, theatrics, and storytelling. Winner of Drag Race Season 16, she has entertained audiences worldwide, including a landmark appearance at the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad and a sold-out solo production at New York’s Town Hall. Featured on the cover of Vogue Taiwan and named on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Nymphia continues to bring Taiwanese artistry to global stages, using drag as a platform for cultural storytelling and representation.
Ahead of the first night of The Serpents Tour, Plastique Tiara and Nymphia Wind speak exclusively with The Queer Review’s editor James Kleinmann about how they came to work together, what fans can expect from the show, and whether they’d ever return to Drag Race.
James Kleinmann, The Queer Review: how did you first meet and why did you want to collaborate on this tour?
Nymphia Wind: “I first met Plastique in 2019 when she was touring Werq the World and had a stop in Taipei. The after party was at Café Dalida and we were all waiting on the queens to arrive, I was wearing all pink. When Plastique walked in, I was gagged because to me at that point Plastique was the pinnacle of beauty and womanhood and the Drag Race scene. It was amazing to see her in real life. Until then, I’d only seen her on my phone screen and now here she was in person and she looked exactly the same. Then I met her again in DC during Pride Month in 2024. It made so much sense to work on a tour together because we’re both Asian and we need the Asian excellence tour!”
Plastique Tiara: “I met Nymphia through a production packet when I was filming season 9 of All Stars. She’d been on Drag Race the season before that and when I asked production for a needle and thread they handed me a packet. It had this four-ply, amazingly strong thread and a curved needle in it and I was like, ‘Oh, this girl knows exactly what she’s doing!’ I was gagged. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve never held such quality thread in my life!’ I was like, ‘Where did y’all get this?!’ Then I flipped the packet over and there was Nymphia’s name on it. Ever since, I’ve seen her blossom and it was a cinematic experience to see her on screen winning Drag Race and everything that she’s done since. I’m such a fan. So when this idea came about I was all in. We sparked off each other through every aspect of the planning and I’m thrilled about working with her.”
This tour is the first time that you’ve worked together isn’t it?
Nymphia: “Yeah, it’s going to be our first time working together and it’s also my first ever tour.”
What do you bring out in each other as performers or what happens when your different approaches to drag are put together?
Nymphia: “We each have very different styles of drag and how we perform. I’m obviously more crazy cuckoo and all over the place, whereas she’s more poised and very elegant. I find it hard to stand in one place and lip sync, which I want to do more of because I’m getting so old! Plastique does it so well. She’s gorgeous and she’s an Inspiration.”
It’s amazing how much power there can be in just standing still for a lip sync.
Nymphia: “The pinnacle of that for me is Latrice Royale doing “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”. That was peak. That was a great example of not doing too much and just standing there. The ultimate park and bark.”
Plastique: “My queen!”
Nymphia: “Working with Plastique is great because we’re both very anal about things and we know how we want to look. We want things to be perfect and so we’re always working off each other and improving everything around us. It’s so great to work with someone like-minded and it makes everything elevated.”
Plastique: “I’ve never had so much fun creating something before although it’s such hard work. I’ve said countless times that I’m having so much fun creating with somebody else. No idea is a bad idea between us. We always spark off each other through every single aspect and every single detail.”
What can we expect from the tour?
Nymphia: “Well, obviously, a lot of amazing fashions! We’re definitely going to bring it hardcore with the outfits. With the song choices, there’s a good mix of modern pop songs along with Vietnamese and Mandarin songs. It’s going to be a fusion of everything. So come with an open mind ready to experience culture.”
Plastique: “I would say it’s a mixture of culture and cunt. It’s storytelling of what we love about drag and our upbringing and everything that we bring to the table, but it’s also a drag show so there’s going to be twists, turns and surprises along the way. That’s what drag shows are for, to entertain. We’re bringing our perspective to it and teaching the audience what we grew up with.”
Nymphia: “The Serpents Tour is based on the traditional Asian folklore legend of the White Snake. It’s iconic throughout Asia so a lot of people know this story. We’re trying to give it our gay twist and to make it camp and fun. In the story, they’re basically serpent monsters, shape-shifters and seducers. Society says that they’re evil but they’re not actually evil, they’re only made up to be seen that way. I feel like drag queens have a similar story to that.”
Plastique: “It’s all about chosen family as well because these sisters are bound by spirits and the time that they spend together rather than blood. They’re two different snakes hibernating at the same time, but they’ve grown close together because of the experiences that they’ve grown up with. I think that’s very relatable to queer communities and how we grow up because sometimes family becomes the ones we spend the most time with. This story really resonates with me and Nymphia.”
As part of the tour, you’re incorporating some local talent. Why was that important to you?
Nymphia: “It’s important to us to showcase and uplift AAPI talent across America because as Asian performers we don’t necessarily get a big platform, we’re at the sidelines. So it was important for us to showcase them because this is one of the first very Asian-centric drag tours. So it felt like a no-brainer to do something like that and we’re very excited about it. It’s not just drag performers, there are also pole dancers, dance troupes and martial artists. So there’s a combination of a lot of different types of performance styles.”
Plastique: “Every season of Drag Race there’s one Asian girl. So whenever there’s a new season, I’m like, ‘Okay, who’s going to be the Asian girl this season?’ We’re a small group as it is in America, but in the Drag Race world we’re even smaller so it was very important for us to highlight local AAPI talent for the show. I remember when I was starting drag, I just wanted to perform, I just wanted a stage. I was performing for free, for tips, and I just wanted to express myself the best way that I could and that was through drag. So giving someone a space to do that feels incredible. Some people I started out doing drag with, especially in Dallas, have applied and I cannot wait to show everyone their talent.”
Is there anyone you’re rooting for in season 18 of Drag Race?
Plastique: “Mandy Mango, our queen!”
Nymphia: “Yes, Mandy Mango! I’m excited to see this season unfold because the age bracket is different, so we’ll see how it goes.”
I love how they’re all talking about how old they are, but I guess compared to some recent seasons where they went really young with casting they are older queens aren’t they?!
Nymphia: “Yeah, they’re only older compared to the last season which was generally younger.”
Plastique: “They’re like, ‘We’re so old, we’re 30! I’m like, ‘Girl, what is going on?!'”
Nymphia: “It is old! I’m physically declining and wrinkles are starting to form!”
Of course you’re busy with the tour right now, but would you ever consider going back to Drag Race if it came up? Obviously, it’d need to be another winners’ season for you Nymphia.
Nymphia: “I think I would do it because I treat Drag Race as a good way to organize yourself. You have to hone into and prepare the best of yourself. You have to condense your essence into preparing for the show. It’s basically like the Olympics and it’s a good way to document your progress as a drag performer throughout your 80-year career! It’s like a memory timestamp. 20 years from now, I can rewatch season 16 and be like, ‘Oh my God. Wow!'”
Plastique: “That’s a perfect answer, that’s exactly what I think too. There’s such a small time frame to prepare for it where you put the best of yourself into it, everything that you’ve learned. Cultivating all that in this little package is so amazing because you’re basically characterizing yourself.”
By James Kleinmann
The Serpents Tour – full schedule
1/25/26 – New York, NY Irvina Plaza [POSTPONED DUE TO WINTER WEATHER]
1/26/26 – Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts [POSTPONED DUE TO WINTER WEATHER]
1/27/26 – Boston, MA Royale [POSTPONED DUE TO WINTER WEATHER]
1/29/26 – Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom [POSTPONED DUE TO WINTER WEATHER]
1/30/26 – Chicago, IL The Vic Theatre
2/1/26 – St. Louis, MO Delmar Hall
2/2/26 – Atlanta, GA The Masquerade – Heaven
2/3/26 – Orlando, FL The Plaza Live
2/5/26 – Dallas, TX House of Blues
2/6/26 – San Antonio, TX Stable Hall
2/9/26 – Phoenix, AZ The Nile Theater
2/11/26 – Los Angeles, CA The Regent Theater
2/12/26 – San Francisco, CA The Regency Ballroom
2/15/26 – Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre
2/16/26 – Portland, OR Revolution Hall
Tickets are available now at nymphiaplastiquelive.com.
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