Plastique Tiara was arguably one of the most requested queens each and every time an All Stars cast was discussed by the Drag Race fandom, and this year that wish was granted. Plastique has proven to be a consistently dynamic competitor, and showcased some brand new talents during the competition as well! I sat down to chat with Plastique about her return to RuPaul’s Drag Race, her fellow competitors and her relationships with them, and what it was like getting to showcase a new side of Plastique Tiara this season!
Michael Cook: The promo for this season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 9 is definitely very super hero-eque. Who is your favorite superhero?
Plastique Tiara: There is actually a superhero that is named Plastique as well, or so I have researched. I think her superhero power is exploding (laughs)!
MC: Well speaking of exploding, that is exactly what you have done on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 9 this year. From your stunning runway looks to the challenges, we’re truly seeing an elevated Plastique Tiara! Is it hard to keep topping yourself and consistently elevate?
PT: First off, thank you for saying those things! I think that your biggest competition is definitely yourself. I think going in, I really wanted to top myself every time and that was the goal of the season. I am glad that it resonated through the screen. The runways are definitely my favorite part of Drag Race and I really took it so seriously.
MC: You have been featured in RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! in Las Vegas & traveled all over the world. What made you say yes to a return to the Drag Race werkroom at this point in your career?
PT: Well I was offered it a few times, but there was just something about this time. i was actually on a trip with my boyfriend back to Vietnam and I have not been back in around fourteen years. During the trip I met so many talented LGBTQ people who have seen RuPaul’s Drag Race and they approached me and said that what I was doing was amazing for the LGBTQ community in Vietnam. Afterwards I got the call to come back and I took it as more of a sign and it was more of a duty for me to go on an display my culture to the world and to display how powerful Vietnamese people are. I really wanted to represent my community as well. To present in this format and to compete this way, the only other way that this format was presented was on the All Winners season; I said “How fitting lets do it”!
MC: From Pangina Heals to Marina Summers on UK vs The World seasons and now you returning to RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, you and your Asian sisters are truly standing out and stepping up consistently every time and truly being standouts on these seasons consistently.
PT: For sure! There used to be one Asian girl every season and they would go home very early or midway. It is about time we are representing amazing Asian drag! Let us show you how to do it (laughs)!
MC: You mentioned traveling to Vietnam with you boyfriend; how hard is it to be the boyfriend of Plastique Tiara?
PT: Oh my God it is exhausting! He is literally the most wonderful person if it was not for him, I would not be where I am right now. He is literally the brain behind the beauty (laughs)!
MC: We knew what we could expect Plastique Tiara to present on Drag Race, but this season we got to enjoy you in some unexpected ways as well. For example, Plastique Tiara is funny!
PT: Oh thank you! Something about learning English and knowing the language really helps! A little bit later I was like “Oh, I understand what these jokes mean now”! It was really fun to show the world that side of me.
MC: This season is structured with a fantastic charity aspect; tell me about the charity that you’re supporting this season.
PT: I chose the Asian American Foundation, of course for obvious reasons. During the pandemic there was a lot of Asian hate going on around the world. This foundation was formed essentially by Asians to help ourselves because there was no other foundation at the time to combat this problem. They have donated millions and millions to funds and foundations everywhere in order to teach AAPI history and to help get Asians across the media and in Hollywood. It is just an all around great foundation.
MC: This cast was filled with some familiar faces to you, along with some new faces that you may not have worked with as much. Is there anyone that you were truly excited to finally get a chance to work with?
PT: Pretty much the whole cast I had at least met, except Angeria (Paris Van Micheals) who I had only met in passing. The whole cast I had gotten to work with prior. Roxxxy (Andrews), Jorgeous, all of them are really amazing contenders but Roxxxy and I got really close and I got really close in Vegas with Naomi (Smalls). Jorgeous and I started doing drag together back when she was like seventeen and I was eighteen or nineteen. It has been a really full circle moment for all of us. This was definitely a reunion and a party of sorts.
MC. People sometimes go into All Stars not just with something to prove to themselves but to the audience and sometimes to RuPaul as well. Did you go into All Stars this season with anything to prove?
PT: I honestly didn’t want to prove anything to the audience. I wanted to showcase to the audience both myself and what I have done. The thing about Drag Race and tv is that when you get on your original season and then when you’re eliminated, people have that preconceived notion about you, both what you have done and what your weakness are from your previous season. I wanted to just show what I have done, how I have grown and what the world has made me. It’s definitely a celebration rather than “I’m trying to win” (laughs)!!
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