Plasma | |
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![]() Plasma at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2024 | |
Born | Taylor Ratliff November 6, 1998 [1] Austin, Texas, U.S. |
Other names | Plasma LaRose |
Education | University of Oklahoma (BFA) |
Occupations |
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Television | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16) |
Relatives | Bill Ratliff (grandfather) Bennett Ratliff (uncle) |
Plasma [2] is the stage name of Taylor Ratliff (born November 6, 1998), [3] an American drag performer, actor, and singer. Plasma is best known for competing on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race . [4]
Ratliff was born in Austin, Texas and grew up in a small rural town in the northeast area called Mount Pleasant, Texas. [5] [6] After listening to singers like Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, and Barbra Streisand, and participating in junior high theatrical plays, he developed a love of theatre. [7] Ratliff earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theatre performance from the University of Oklahoma. [7] [3]
After graduating, Ratliff moved to New York City in June of 2021 to start a career in theatre before deciding to engage with the city's resurgent drag scene. [8]
Plasma started her New York City drag career at the Lady Liberty pageant hosted by RuPaul's Drag Race alum Brita Filter. [9] Her drag is heavily inspired by the actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood and seeks to unite vintage and modern American pop culture. [6]
Plasma competed on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race . She won two "maxi challenges" before being eliminated from the competition in the season's ninth episode after a lip-sync contest loss to fellow contestant Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige to a remix of "Bloody Mary" by Lady Gaga. [10] She holds the series record for lowest placement by anyone with at least two solo "maxi challenge" wins.
Ratliff is based in New York City. [11] His father is a Republican lobbyist in Texas, [12] who has fought against anti-drag legislation. [13] His grandfather is Bill Ratliff, former lieutenant governor of Texas.[ citation needed ]