RuPaul Hugs Plastique Tiara in Vulnerable 'Drag Race' Moment

It's not uncommon for the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race to hold back parts of themselves once they get on the show. Competing on an internationally televised show with a rabid fanbase comes with the possibility of exposing some of your deepest insecurities, and it's not too much of a stretch to see why people are nervous showing the world the totality of who they are. It's scary to be yourself, because what if people see you and don't like it on an international scale?  

During yesterday's episode, "Farm Fresh to Runway," Brook Lynn Hytes and Plastique Tiara shared some emotional moments with RuPaul. Both queens have been critiqued for not showing enough personality on the runway and in challenges, so Ru asked them specifically why they were so hesitant to show their vulnerabilities.  

"That's a hard thing for me to do," said Hytes. "I used to be a super emotional child. I would cry at everything. I think as I got older, I would get embarrassed and kinda closed off. So I really became closed." 

Hytes teared up even sharing that with Ru. "Talking about serious things always makes me cry. It gives me anxiety just thinking about it."

Tiara revealed that she's trying to live up to her idea of the Season 11 winner, but being open about her flaws wasn't a part of that plan.

"Coming here, I had this idea of what America's Next Drag Superstar should be," she says. "It should be this polished individual." 

Tiara wasn't free to be her authentic self around her more conservative Immigrant family, so she shut a lot of her unpolished personality away. "Growing up, it wasn't okay in my family to say what I wanted to say or do what I wanted to do... because who I am is not okay.

Tears well as she continues:

"In the past, when I tried to [show myself] it didn't end up so well. I've seen a lot of unhappiness in my family," Tiara begins to sob, "resulting of me trying to come out of my shell and show them who I am. So all I've known is to just hide it away. What they can't see can't hurt them."

Those coping mechanisms we use growing up can be very hard to unlearn, but we have to in able to show the world just what we can do and spread our wings.

Her relatable story touches RuPaul. "Show it! Show it," she tells Tiara. "The tears, the bits you may be ashamed of, do it here. This is your new home."

Then for the first time in Drag Race herstory, Ru then leans over and hugs Plastique and she cries into her arms. "I'm your new mommy. You'll always be my baby. Let's see it on that runway."

It looks like Plastique, as well as Brook, listened to the critiques and both landed in the top girls in this weeks challenge, with Tiara nabbing the win. 

The power of vulnerability, y'all! Thank goodness those cameras were rolling!