Nymphia Wind

{{Infobox person

| name = Nymphia Wind

| image = Nymphia Wind at Taiwan Presidential Office Building 20240515 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Nymphia Wind in 2024

| birth_name = Leo Tsao

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|07|23}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.{{Cite web|date=2024-01-05|title=Drag Race S16 Queens on What Inspires Their Drag |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGcgqHpn4pU |publisher=GLAAD |via=YouTube}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Taiwanese
American

| education = University for the Creative Arts (BA)

| occupation = {{Flatlist|

}}

| years_active = 2018{{endash}}present

| known_for = RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 16) Winner

| notable_works =

| relatives = Ts'ao Yung-ho (granduncle)

| website = {{URL|nymphiawind.com}}

}}

Leo Tsao ({{lang-zh|曹米駬}}; born July 23, 1995),{{Cite web |title=Leo & Nymphia |url=https://filmfreeway.com/LeoandNymphia |website=FilmFreeway}}{{Cite news |last=葉 |first=冠吟 |date=2022-01-12 |title=雙面曹里歐記錄變裝皇后日常衝撞價值觀 |language=zh-TW |trans-title=Leo & Nymphia records the daily life of a drag queen, colliding within values|work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/amov/202201120162.aspx}} known professionally as Nymphia Wind ({{lang-zh|妮妃雅‧瘋}}), is a Taiwanese-American drag performer and dressmaker.{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-05-10 |title=These photographs lift the lid on Taipei's growing, energetic drag scene |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/44349/1/banana-magazine-photographs-lift-the-lid-on-taipeis-growing-energetic-drag-scene |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Dazed |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825122950/https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/44349/1/banana-magazine-photographs-lift-the-lid-on-taipeis-growing-energetic-drag-scene |url-status=live }} In 2024, Nymphia Wind was crowned the winner of season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race, becoming the first East Asian winner of the franchise.

Early life

Leo Tsao was born in Los Angeles and raised in Hong Kong until the age of six when his family moved to Taiwan.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Seb |date=15 November 2019 |title=Nymphia Wind Shares Her Thoughts on Taiwan's Rising Drag Scene – Taiwan Scene |url=https://taiwan-scene.com/2019/11/15/nymphia-wind-shares-her-thoughts-on-taiwans-rising-drag-scene/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206163400/https://taiwan-scene.com/2019/11/15/nymphia-wind-shares-her-thoughts-on-taiwans-rising-drag-scene/ |archive-date=2023-12-06 |access-date=2023-12-06 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-02 |title=On Point With: Nymphia Wind |url=https://thotyssey.com/2023/03/02/on-point-with-nymphia-wind/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320230655/https://thotyssey.com/2023/03/02/on-point-with-nymphia-wind/ |archive-date=2023-03-20 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Thotyssey |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Chiang |first=Vic |date=2024-04-18 |title=How a RuPaul's Drag Race finalist became an unlikely ambassador for Taiwan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/18/rupaul-drag-race-nymphia-wind-taiwan/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603115305/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/18/rupaul-drag-race-nymphia-wind-taiwan/ | archive-date=June 3, 2024 | url-status=live}} Leo was bullied as a child due to gender expression, which led his mother to transfer him to the {{ill|Holistic Education School|zh-tw|苗栗縣私立全人實驗高級中學}}.{{Cite news |last=李 |first=振豪 |date=2024-04-20 |title=【下一站天后妮妃雅1】台灣人登美國實境秀被擁有上億粉絲的天后追蹤 |trans-title=Queen Nymphia Next Stop 1 Taiwanese onto the American reality show that was followed by hundred millions of the Queen's fans |url=https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20240419pol002 |work=Mirror Media |language=ZH-TW | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507215706/https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20240419pol002 | archive-date=May 7, 2024 | url-status=live}} During high school, his interest in fashion was sparked by K-pop girl groups. Then, he developed a passion for drag, practicing dressing up and getting creative with makeup while studying at the university.{{Cite news |last=Yang |first=Evelyn |date=2023-12-22 |title=Interview/Nymphia Wind blows into RuPaul's Drag Race as the First Taiwanese Queen |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202312220014 |work=Focus Taiwan | agency=Central News Agency (Taiwan) | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518122118/https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202312220014 | archive-date=May 18, 2024 | url-status=live}} In 2017, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Atelier from the University for the Creative Arts in Rochester, England.

Career

File:NymphiaWind 20231021 TaiwanTemple.jpg

File:Nymphia Wind in Taiwan Presidential Office.jpg

Since 2018, Nymphia Wind began performing in Taipei.{{Cite web |last=Wind |first=Nymphia |date=2022-06-02 |title=《飛啊～妮妃雅》蕉后掰掰演出募款 |trans-title=Bye bye Nymphia farewell performance fundraising websites |url=https://www.flyingv.cc/projects/32025?lang=zh_TW |website=flyingV |language=zh-TW}} Her first name "Nymphia" comes from the Japanese name of Pokémon character Sylveon (Ninfia), and her last name "Wind" means she likes to be free and invisible, also, "Wind" is a homophone of "craziness" in Mandarin. She is the mother of "House of Wind" (瘋家, use "craziness" in Mandarin).{{Cite news |last=CHENG |first=SYLVIA |date=2024-04-23 |title=台灣第一人！變裝皇后妮妃雅Nymphia獲美國《魯保羅變裝秀》總冠軍，大喊「送給台灣！」Lady Gaga也來留言 |url=https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/voice/g60557886/nymphia-rupaul-2024-lady-gaga/ |language=ZH-TW}} Nymphia Wind's signature color is yellow, as fashion choice and her Asian identity, and her performances often incorporate banana and Taiwanese cultural elements. She calls herself "Banana Buddha" and her fanbase as "Banana Believers".{{Cite news |last=Thomson |first=Jono |date=2023-12-12 |title=1st Taiwanese drag queen to appear on RuPaul's Drag Race |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5057851 |work=Taiwan News}}{{Cite news |last=Sim |first=Bernardo |date=2023-12-06 |title=Meet the Queens of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 16 |url=https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/drag-race-season-16-queens#rebelltitem8 |work=Out}} Outside of drag, she is a seamstress.

In 2019, Nymphia Wind won "NYX Face Award 2019 Taiwan". In early 2021, she won "Make a Diva Season 2" in Taiwan.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-03 |title=最終名次大揭曉🤩High翻舞台魅力無限🔥 {{!}} FJ234 Make a Diva2 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrJ3W1sGn9M |via=YouTube |publisher=FJ234}} In late 2021, the documentary Leo & Nymphia was completed, which was nominated for the 57th Golden Bell Awards's Best Cinematography and screened at the 2022 Silver Wave Film Festival, the 2023 Thomas Edison Film Festival and the 2023 Queer East Film Festival.{{Cite news |last=劉 |first=宛欣 |date=2022-10-21 |title=金鐘獎／火辣變裝皇后霸氣登場！「金光閃閃全身都是洞」網驚：以為四面佛 |url=https://star.ettoday.net/news/2363314 |work=ETtoday星光雲 |language=ZH-TW}} Nymphia Wind produced her first show, Bye Bye Nymphia~ Farewell Drag Show, which used a Taiwanese electric flower car as a stage, in June 2022 in Taipei. She is dedicated to combining her Taiwanese cultural significance and aesthetics in her drag performances.{{Cite news |date=2024-04-04 |title=Nymphia Wind Takes the Spotlight as the Cover star of "STARS" Edition by Hooks Magazine |url=https://www.hooksmagazine.com/en/post/nymphia-wind-takes-the-spotlight-as-the-cover-star-of-stars-edition-by-hooks-magazine-1 |work=The Hooks Magazine}}

In August 2022, Nymphia Wind moved to Brooklyn to challenge her drag.{{Cite web|date=2024-08-19|title=Trixie TV Takeover: Nymphia Wind! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxTuBJ-QSX4 |publisher=Trixie Mattel |via=YouTube |access-date=2024-08-20}} In early 2023, she won the competition "Mother Season 2" in New York. In 2024, she won the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, becoming the first person of East Asian descent to win an installment of the American series, and the second queen of Asian descent to win after Raja Gemini.{{Cite magazine |title='RuPaul's Drag Race' season 16 cast revealed: Meet the new queens |url=https://ew.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-16-cast-revealed-8407797 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206163443/https://ew.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-16-cast-revealed-8407797 |archive-date=2023-12-06 |access-date=2023-12-06 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}} Her victory also won praise from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and was invited to perform at Taiwan's presidential office.{{Cite news |date=2024-04-22 |title=Drag queen's RuPaul victory wins praise from Taiwan's president |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/21/asia/taiwan-drag-queen-nymphia-wind-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN}}{{Cite news |last1=Choi |first1=Christy |last2=Chang |first2=Wayne |date=2024-05-16 |title=Drag queen Nymphia Wind performs at Taiwan's presidential office |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/16/style/drag-queen-nymphia-wind-taiwan-president-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN}}{{Cite news |last=Yee |first=Lawrence |date=2024-05-22 |title=Drag Race Winner Nymphia Wind Still in 'Disbelief' Over Performing for President of Taiwan (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/nymphia-wind-performs-for-taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-drag-race-8652082 |work=People}} In May 2024, Nymphia Wind was listed in the arts category on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2024.{{Cite web |title=30 under 30 Asia 2024 |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2024/asia/the-arts |archive-date= |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Forbes}} In August, Nymphia and the House of Wind represented Taiwan performing Formosan Follies at the 2024 Cultural Olympiad in Paris.{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Culture (Taiwan) |date=2024-04-30 |title=巴黎文化奧運臺灣館展現民主自由孕育的島嶼新藝展 |url=https://www.moc.gov.tw/News_Content2.aspx?n=105&s=211279 |website=Ministry of Culture (Taiwan) |language=ZH-TW}}{{Cite news |last1=Chao |first1=Ching-Yu |last2=Lo |first2=James |date=2024-04-30 |title=OLYMPICS/Taiwan to present 4 spotlight experiences at Paris Cultural Olympiad |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202404300029 |agency=Central News Agency}}{{cite news |last1=Tseng |first1=Ting-hsuan |last2=Wu |first2=Kuan-hsien |title=OLYMPICS/Nymphia Wind to present Formosan Follies at Paris Cultural Olympiad |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202405120010 |access-date=12 May 2024 |agency=Central News Agency |date=12 May 2024}} In October 2024, she was listed on the 2024 Out100 as 100 influential LGBTQ people this year.{{Cite web |last=SIM |first=BERNARDO |title=The 2024 Out100: Nymphia Wind |url=https://www.out.com/out100/2024/artists/nymphia-wind}} In December 2024, she was awarded as Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative's inaugural recipient of its Changemaker of the Year award.{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Nikki |date=2024-11-07 |title=Nymphia Wind named HUFPI Changemaker of the Year |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/newsplus/nymphia-wind-named-hufpi-changemaker-of-the-year/}}

Personal life

Leo lives in a supportive family with her mother, who often watches his shows and helps his drag.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Guess Who: My Bestie Mom |url=https://www.taiwanplus.com/shows/lifestyle/guess-who/80000913/guess-who-my-bestie-mom |archive-date= |website=TaiwanPlus}} His granduncle was Ts'ao Yung-ho, a historian who specialized in the history of Taiwan.{{Cite news |last=鄺 |first=郁庭 |date=2024-04-21 |title=妮妃雅家牆上有「他」照片！她驚呆：一家來拯救人類文明的吧 |url=https://www.ettoday.net/news/20240421/2723888.htm |work=ETtoday |language=zh-TW}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Notes

!Ref.

2021

|Leo & Nymphia

|Documentary

2025

|What’s the Vibe in Taiwan?

|Documentary

|{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=What's the Vibe in Taiwan? {{!}} My Art My Voice {{!}} A TaiwanPlus Original Documentary {{!}} 53 Mins |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMEWztmB1j4 |website=YouTube |publisher=TaiwanPlus Docs}}

= Television =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Notes

!Ref.

2020

|Guess Who: My Bestie Mom

|Guest

rowspan="3" |2024

|RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16)

| rowspan="2" |Contestant, Winner

| rowspan="2" |

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked

{{ill|Da Win Dining|zh-tw|大雲時堂}}

|Guest

|{{Cite web |date=2024-06-07 |title=【完整版】閃耀世界的台灣蕉傲變裝皇后妮妃雅2024 0607｜李四端【大雲時堂】 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvI5VJeiya0 |via=YouTube |language=ZH-tw}}

rowspan="2" |2025

|RuPaul's Drag Race Live Untucked (season 2)

|Guest

|{{Cite news |last=ROBLEDO |first=JORDAN |date=2025-03-28 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Live! Untucked: Here's your first look at Nymphia Wind in season 2 |url=https://www.gaytimes.com/drag/rupauls-drag-race-live-untucked-heres-your-first-look-at-nymphia-wind-in-season-2/ |work=GAY TIMES}}

RuPaul's Drag Race (season 17)

|Special guest; Episode: "Grande Finale"

= Web series =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Title

! scope="col" |Role

! scope="col" |Notes

! class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}

2020

|Jiang Play

| rowspan="15" |Herself

|Guest

|{{Cite web |date=2020-04-16 |title=【完整版】台灣史上首位直男挑戰變裝皇后! 這部位這樣藏讓他崩潰了! ?EP2│匠紫挑戰[Eng Sub] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30fRQyfzvro |via=YouTube |publisher=Project Hatcher 新創競賽實境秀 |language=Zh-TW}}

rowspan="2" |2021

|Make a Diva 2

|Contestant, Winner

|{{Cite web |date=2021-01-10 |title=變裝皇后生死鬥第2季 Make a Diva 2 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl0hSsTCR1g&list=PLH6qcid0u-E_Qm271TT13cFAYsqFcN6ND |via=YouTube |publisher=Fj234 |language=ZH-TW}}

Youjena Salon

|Guest

|{{Cite web |date=2021-06-26 |title=驕傲月！變裝皇后疫情在家無處表演？什麼是變裝？ {{!}} 又仁 ft. 妮妃雅Nymphia、漢娜Hannah 【又仁娜沙龍-第一集】 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2sUI5NA0Fs |via=YouTube |publisher=佑仁 |language=zh-tw}}

rowspan="2" |2023

|Meet the Queens

|Stand-alone special

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16

|{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=MEET THE QUEENS OF SEASON 16! 👑 📺 {{!}} RuPaul's Drag Race 👠✨ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwD-Y7lErMY |via=YouTube |publisher=RuPaul's Drag Race |language=en}}

Entertainment Weekly

| rowspan="11" |Guest

|{{Cite magazine |date=2023-12-16 |title=Nymphia Wind on Taiwan Military Service |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btJqJ8GNV0g |via=YouTube |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}

rowspan="10" |2024

|TaiwanPlus News

|{{Cite web |date=2024-01-12 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Exclusive Interview With Nymphia Wind {{!}} TaiwanPlus News |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK7DFA47MG4 |via=YouTube |publisher=TaiwanPlus News |language=en}}

Zoom In Zoom Out

|{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=Taiwan Drag Goes Global |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP5aEdmYBWI |via=YouTube |publisher=TaiwanPlus News |language=en}}

Whatcha Packin'

|{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Nymphia Wind's Whatcha Packin' 🍌 {{!}} S16 TOP 3 {{!}} RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 👠✨ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byuoJ00-2Mw |via=YouTube |publisher=RuPaul's Drag Race |language=en}}

MIB gives drag make over

|{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=MIB Gives Nymphia Wind a TEXAS DRAG MAKEOVER! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTG9MPnlPi8 |via=YouTube |publisher=Mistress Isabelle Brooks}}

Newsweek

|{{Cite web |date=2024-04-19 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Top 3 Sapphira Cristál, Nymphia Wind and Plane Jane |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wxKZwylY7g |via=YouTube |work=Newsweek |language=en}}

Good Morning America

|{{Cite web |date=2024-04-20 |title=Nymphia Wind is 'RuPaul's Drag Race' 16th winner |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dGwarpFSrQ |via=YouTube |publisher=Good Morning America |language=en}}

Denali ON ICE

|{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=Denali ON ICE ft. Nymphia Wind |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5JiGL8o8v4 |via=YouTube |publisher=Denali Foxx}}

Hey Qween!

|{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=Rupaul's Drag Race S16 Winner Nymphia Wind on Hey Qween Streaming On WOW Presents Plus |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkrfLYu_S8o |via=YouTube |publisher=Hey Qween! |language=en}}

Bring Back My Girls

|{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 - Part 1 |url=https://www.wowpresentsplus.com/bring-back-my-girls/season:4/videos/bbmg-401 |website=WOW Presents Plus |series=Season 4, Episode 1 |publisher=Bring Back My Girls |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 - Part 2 |url=https://www.wowpresentsplus.com/bring-back-my-girls/season:4/videos/bbmg-402 |website=WOW Presents Plus |series=Season 4, Episode 2 |publisher=Bring Back My Girls |language=en}}

Tongue Thai'd

|{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Nymphia Wind at Kruang Tedd |url=https://www.wowpresentsplus.com/tongue-thai-d-with-pangina-heals/season:3/videos/ttph-301 |website=WOW Presents Plus |series=Season 3, Episode 1 |publisher=Tongue Thai'd |language=en}}

Discography

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

!Year

!Title

!Album

! class="unsortable" style="text-align: center;" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

rowspan="2" |2024

|"Power" (with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 16)

| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |Non-album singles

|{{Cite web |date=2024-03-09 |title=Power |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2EI5teVEoV6YyWQ1ClOnYj |website=Spotify |publisher=The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race}}

"Queen of Wind"

|{{Cite web |date=2024-04-20 |title=Queen of Wind (Nymphia Wind) |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3Dub3NCFdOr5up9vCGfE3Z |website=Spotify |publisher=The Cast of Rupaul's Drag Race}}