Plastique Tiara

Plastique Tiara is taking the world by storm. As the most popular drag queen on TikTok and a standout contestant on this season’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, she’s captured hearts with her stunning performances and magnetic presence.

She recently signed with United Talent Agency for opportunities in TV, music, and more. But beyond the glitz and glamor, Plastique is using her platform to champion representation, mental health, and cultural pride. In a conversation with Timid, she opened up about her immigrant upbringing, goals for the future, and much more.

When asked how it feels to have such a massive platform and quick rise to fame, Plastique was candid about the sense of responsibility that comes with it. "I think it feels absolutely amazing. It feels good, I can't lie. But I do think that it's such a powerful tool to have,” she said. “Being a little Vietnamese immigrant who somehow did drag and now amassed this amount of following, I think it's my duty to give back and raise awareness whenever I can, and to show people that drag is powerful and drag is harmless."

As the first Vietnamese American drag queen featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Plastique takes pride in her heritage, using drag to honor her culture. She shared that it was difficult growing up in the States after moving from Vietnam.

“We’re made to assimilate, to blend in with the crowd," she said. For a long time, she wasn't proud of being Vietnamese because she just wanted to blend in and be normal. “But when I realized that being a queer Vietnamese person doing drag is what really makes me powerful, I felt like I had to play catch-up. Now, I'm doing everything in my power to showcase that I am proudly an immigrant Vietnamese man who is doing drag for a living, and I will shout as long as I can."

Navigating her Asian identity in the drag community has had its challenges, but Plastique Tiara has turned it into a strength. Reflecting on her early days in drag, she admitted that being Asian initially made her feel uncertain, as there were few Asian queens in the spotlight. She recalled how seeing Jujubee on season three of RuPaul’s Drag Race was a pivotal moment for her, realizing that there was a place for someone like her in the world of drag. "At first, being Asian was a little scary because there weren't a lot of us. But then I realized it was a powerful attribute. There are no rules for me—I can do whatever I feel like and put it out in the world. Being Asian turned into my superpower."

As the representation of Asian drag queens grows in mainstream media, Plastique Tiara acknowledged the strong sense of community among them. "I think that because there are so few of us, we all stick together,” she said. “And we all really, really support one another. And each one of us is so different. Like, if you can look at a book of all the Asian drag queens who've been on Drag Race, every one of us is different. We all look amazing. And that's probably the only thing that is similar between all of us. And we always have such a big camaraderie, because, you know, we've been through it. This is a very scary experience for an Asian person to be vulnerable on TV, let alone being gay and artistic. So I think that makes us very powerful together.”

Through it all, balancing fame with mental health is crucial for Plastique. She recently hosted a wellness class with Headspace, a healthcare company that focuses on mental health through meditation courses, which was a testament to her commitment to mental well-being, and she found it incredibly rewarding.

She admitted that drag can be "tolling on the body and mind," but over the years, she has learned to unplug and embrace the silence, finding clarity in what truly matters. "You get thrown into this Hollywood fame all of a sudden—most of us don't really know how to control that,” she shared. “For a long time, I struggled with it because I grew up a huge people pleaser. [...] I think when everything is in silence, that's when you realize what is important in your life. And that's, at the end of the day, just helping others, and good relationships with family and friends."

As drag continues to evolve, Plastique Tiara sees it as an art form that will only grow in significance. "Drag will remain one of the most amazing art forms—it's performance art, beauty, and entertainment, and it's personal. Every time you put on your makeup or an outfit, you're creating a walking piece of art. Drag is an important piece of self-expression, especially for the queer community, because for so long, femininity was deemed inferior. Drag throws that out the window because now we're being celebrated for being feminine, queer, and artistic.”

Through it all, Plastique Tiara’s journey remains deeply rooted in family. Her relationship with her family has evolved over time, shaped by her journey in drag. "For a long time, I just wanted my family to say they accept me or are proud of me. But I've realized that in Asian families, we don't talk about our feelings a lot,” she shared. “They show their love through actions. Now, my family brags about me, and that wouldn't have happened without drag and Drag Race. Happiness in family and Asian family values comes unspoken. If you can feel the love, it's because they always want the best for you."

She said her partner helped her relate to her mom and see family values from a different lens.

“The greatest advice I've ever had was actually from my partner. He said ‘Your mom was just like you. She was a young woman and living life. And she had you, so she had to figure out ways to juggle all these things.’” You know, she had me when she was 21. I'm 27 now, so I'm like, wow, my mom had a six year old kid by now and I too would not know what to do. And that's an unspoken thing. It is what it is, and as long as we care for one another, it's all good.”

Looking ahead, Plastique Tiara has plans to return to Vietnam to do charity work, a mission close to her heart and family. "My grandparents go back every year,” she said, “and when I was little, I would give a little bit of money for them to take to the orphanages. It's our duty to give back.”

She added that she wants to organize something bigger every year, especially now that her grandparents are getting old. “My grandma, she, would lift boxes of milk and stuff and give it to [the orphanages],” she recalled. “And she can't really do any more. So I just want her to know that I will take care of it."

Personally, what’s next for her is not another project, but a good, old overdue vacation. "I cannot wait to go to [on one]. I am actually doing an Asia tour in Manila, Bangkok, and Singapore in October, so I'm gonna hop my way over to Vietnam afterwards and do a little wellness retreat."

And for aspiring drag performers who want to follow her trajectory, Plastique’s advice is simple: "Do drag because you love it. Don’t chase fame or money—focus on the art, and everything will work out.”