Drag queen bids Taiwan leader farewell

Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind and winner of the hit TV series RuPaul's Drag Race performed a rousing medley of songs for outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, thanking her for being the island's mother.

During Tsai's two terms in power, her Democratic Progressive Party had been a strong proponent of social issues particularly on LGBTQ rights, making the island the first place in Asia to legalize gay marriage in 2019.

She will step down as president on Monday with that under her belt, as well as having been Taiwan's first woman president - two milestones that Nymphia Wind tearfully highlighted in a speech Wednesday at the presidential office.

"Thank you so much for your eight years of dedication, for becoming Taiwan's mother," the Taiwanese-American drag queen said.

Tsai congratulated her then on social media site X, praising her "for being so accomplished in the art form of drag, and for being the first Taiwanese to take the stage and win RuPaul's Drag Race.