Plasma (drag queen)

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]

Plasma
Plasma at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2024
Born	Taylor Ratliff (1998-11-06) November 6, 1998 (age 26)[1] Austin, Texas, U.S.
Other names	Plasma LaRose
Education	University of Oklahoma (BFA)
Occupations	Drag queen actor singer
Television	RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16)
Relatives	Bill Ratliff (grandfather) Bennett Ratliff (uncle)

Early life and education

Ratliff was born in Austin, Texas and grew up in Mount Pleasant, a small rural town in Northeast 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]

Career

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.

Her debut album Is Miss Thing On? is slated to be released in November 2025.^[11]

Personal life

Ratliff is based in New York City.^[12] His father is a Republican lobbyist in Texas,^[13] who has fought against anti-drag legislation.^[14] His grandfather is Bill Ratliff, former lieutenant governor of Texas.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

• RuPaul's Drag Race season 16
• RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
• Bring Back My Girls

Music videos

• "Don't Rain on My Parade" (2024)^[15]
• "Bloody Mary" (2024)^[16]
• "Anything Goes" (2024)
• "Thanks A Lot But No Thanks" (2025)

See also

• LGBTQ culture in New York City
• List of LGBTQ people from New York City
• List of people from New York City
• List of University of Oklahoma people