Drag, With A Touch Of Plastique
Plastique Tiara, one of the most popular drag performers on social media, was a fan favorite, too, when she appeared in the most recent season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She is now among the stars of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World Tour 2019,” which plays Foxwoods Resort and Casino on Oct. 25. Others featured in the touring show are Asia O’Hara, Aquaria, Detox, Monet Exchange, Naomi Smalls, Violet Chachki and season winner Yvie Oddly.
We caught up with Plastique (Duc Tran Nguyen) by phone when the tour was in England.
Q: What is the essence of Plastique?
I’m your Asian Barbie fantasy come to life where everything is always perfect — prim and poised, polished and proper. And she has a heart of gold, too.
Q: Any drag make-up tips?
For me, I have to glue my eyebrows down because if I don’t I would look like a Neanderthal. I don’t shave them at this point though it’s tempting now that I’m doing drag every day, so who knows? Maybe down the line when I have a mental breakdown I’ll shave them off.
Q: When did you ‘become’ Plastique?
It happened gradually. I was still in the closet and when I turned 18 I went to a bar in Dallas [where they had drag shows] and signed up for amateur night. I went out with just like a body suit and wig and performed and somehow I was the winner that night. Then it went on from there
Q: How does being Asian factor in what you do?
Growing up, I never saw anyone on TV who was like me, who I could look up to. So going on “Drag Race,” I wanted to be that person. I wanted to be able to have some young boy in Vietnam or maybe a first-generation immigrant boy here see a gay Asian drag queen somehow making a life for himself. I am always very mindful of that.