PARIS (TVBS News) — Drag queen Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅) captivated the audience on Thursday (Aug. 8) at the Paris Cultural Olympiad's Taiwan Pavilion with a performance celebrating Taiwan's democracy and openness.
Interacting with the audience in English, Nymphia Wind declared, "I know it's called 'Chinese Taipei,' but in my world, it's called 'Taiwan.'"
French fans remarked that they learned more about Taiwan because of Nymphia Wind.
Nymphia Wind and the House of Wind's (瘋家) performance sparked a wave of excitement, drawing many French spectators unfamiliar with Taiwan to the pavilion. The RuPaul's Drag Race Taiwan champion has gained significant recognition in France.
The Central News Agency (CNA) reported that French fans Jérôme and Antoine attended the event to see Nymphia Wind, stating "We came to see the drag queen from Taiwan, Nymphia Wind. We know her from the American RuPaul show, where she is a big star."
Antoine believes Taiwan must be very open "to let Nymphia Wind shine." He added, "It's great that she can share messages of openness, inclusivity, and excellence with the world."
Jérôme highlighted that Taiwan is the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, saying, "But I only learned about Taiwan's vibrant drag community through RuPaul and Nymphia Wind."
Nymphia Wind created a new show, Formosa Follies (寶島富麗秀), for the Cultural Olympiad, featuring an adventurous narrative that showcases Taiwan's natural landscapes and cultural sites like night markets and temples.
French spectator Stéphane praised Nymphia Wind, saying, "She is incredible, presenting Taiwan so well in the U.S. and raising its profile in France. Her talent and experiences are amazing."