Summary
RuPaul’s Drag Raceseason 11 alum, Plastique Tiara, returns forRuPaul’s Drag Race All-Starsseason nine, bringing multipleSailor Moon-inspired fashions to the main stage. Plastique is a Vietnamese-American drag performer, dancer, and model with a following of 11.6 million onTikTok, where she showcases her impeccable style influenced directly by anime and manga. So far,Plastique has usedAll-Starsas an opportunity tocosplayas anime iconsSailor Moon and Sailor Star Healer.
Naoko Takeuchi’sSailor Moonis an international best-selling manga and anime about magical girls fighting evil while navigating young love and friendships. Takeuchi’s character designs draw heavily upon the haute couture runway designs of the early 90s, such as Thierry Mugler, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.
These remain timeless today and allow Plastique to layer high-fashion references within anime references.The result is a dream come true for anime fans, seeing beloved queer characters brought to life on a major platform.
New Sailor Moon Film’s Netflix Release Date Officially Revealed
Sailor Moon Cosmos' is finally coming to streaming service one year after the movies were released in Japanese theatres.
Plastique Tiara Is a Drag Race All-Star Who KnowsSailor Stars
Her Sailor Star Healer cosplay is a subtle nod to anime’s cultural impact
During theAll-Starsseason premiere’s main challenge, Plastique nails complex choreography while dressed in a sleek black leather two-piece set with gold accents, and thigh-high boots. The outfit easily passes as a standard pop star frock to the untrained eye, but it is actually a perfect recreation of Sailor Star Healer’s heroic uniform, as seen inSailor Stars,the final arc ofSailor Moon.The reference is a deep cut, sinceStarsnotoriously did not receive an English dubduring the height ofSailor Moon’s popularity in the 90s, and remains relatively unknown in the West.
Plastique’s refined taste, attention to detail, and devotion to authenticity elevate what could have been corny, into an undeniable,ahead-of-its-timefashion moment. Guest judge, Keke Palmer, is visibly awestruck by Plastique’s elegance, as the drag superstar performs her verse of Ru’s song, “Drag Queens Save the World” as she’s carried across stage by her backup dancers. While Plastique’s outfit looks similar to others onstage,those who recognize the niche reference know just how painstakingly accurate to the source material the outfit is.
Plastique Channels Sailor Moon and Brings RuPaul to Tears
The roast performance earned Plastique praise from the judging panel
Episode six, “The National Drag Convention Roast”, sees the queens tasked with delivering a roast of the judging panel and their fellow contestants. Color-coordinating with the red, white, and blue theme on stage,Plastique dons the instantly-recognizable sailor costume and long blonde hair styled in a pair of buns with cascading pigtails. The cosplay is embellished with her own unique details and is not an exact replica, likely to avoid copyright infringement, but it is crafted with such care that the reference is unmistakable.
The roast challenge requires the queens to deliver a tribute to the honorees in the form of insults, and while Plastique is normally sweet-natured,the Sailor Moon disguise gives her the confidence to attack her targets. The jokes are unrelated to the anime heroine she’s dressed as, but the judges are impressed by Plastique nonetheless. Ru is moved to tears, reminiscent of theSailor Moon: SuperSepisode, “A Couple Made for Each Other! Usagi and Mamoru’s Love”, whenUsagi makes the ridiculous monster of the week cryuncontrollably, giving her an opportunity to strike.
Both Sailor Moon and the Sailor Starlights can be seen inNetflix’supcomingSailor Moon Cosmostwo-part movie, August 10, 2025.
