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Jinkx Monsoon is an American drag performer, actress, voice actress and singer, as well as the winner of Season 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
She later returned to All Stars 7, the first All Winners season of Drag Race. At the end of the season, Jinkx was declared the winner of the season, taking the title of Queen of All Queens and becoming the first ever two-time winner of Drag Race.
Quick Answers
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Biography[]
Early Life[]
Born in 1987 as the oldest of four children, Jinkx attended DaVinci Arts for middle school (where she came out as gay) and graduated from Grant High School. In 2002 at the age of 15, she performed in drag for the first time at the underground nightclub "Escape" and in 2006, moved to Seattle, Washington from Portland, Oregon.
Jinkx worked and paid her way through college, graduating summa cum laude with a BFA in Theater from Cornish College of the Arts in 2010.
Career[]
Jinkx appeared as the lead dancer in the world's largest drag queen chorus line, which made the "Guinness Book of World Records". By 2012, she had advanced to roles in Seattle theaters, playing Moritz in "Spring Awakening", Angel in"RENT" and starring in the title role in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch". In 2013, she starred in "Hairspray the Musical" as Velma Von Tussle.
A trained singer, Monsoon is half of the musical duo "The Vaudevillians" (with Richard Andriessen a.k.a. Major Scales), a 1920s revival act. After she won Season 5, they were booked for the Laurie Beechman Theater on Broadway in New York City.
Jinkx also started her own musical career and appeared on the popular cartoon Steven Universe as a voice actor for the character Emerald. In 2024, she portrayed a villain in the British sci-fi show 'Doctor Who' named Maestro.
Drag Name Origin[]
Jinkx's drag name was her nickname at an outreach center for gay youth in Portland and comes from "jinx", a verb that means "to subject to bad luck". She says if there's a one in a million chance that something will go wrong it's most likely going to happen to her. Monsoon came from the character Edina Monsoon from Absolutely Fabulous[citation needed].
Track Records[]
Statistics | USA Season 5 | USA All Stars Season 7 |
---|---|---|
Ranking: | 1st Place (Winner) |
1st Place (Winner) |
Maxi Challenges Won: | 2 (Eps. 5, 9) | 5 (Eps. 2, 4, 5, 9, 10) |
Mini Challenges Won: | 1 (Ep. 4) | 2 (Eps. 1, 3) |
Times as Team Captain: | 1 (Ep. 4) | 0 |
Times in Bottom: | 1 (Ep. 11) | N/A |
Episode Eliminated: | N/A | N/A |
Memorable Quotes[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5[]
- "You know, I can hear the cackling from down the street." (entrance quote)
- "Water off a duck's back."
- "Delusion - convince yourself!"
- "I am Seattle's premier Jewish narcoleptic drag queen!"
- "I'm not gonna make an excuse for it; I wear my narcolepsy as a badge of pride. It's something I've had to... *falls asleep*"
- "When you're dealing with people judging what you do, you just have to let it roll off like water off a duck's back."
- "Well I don't know her personally, but she looks older than mother darling, so I said when she steps into the voting booth she just siezures, spelling?" (in the "Snatch Game" as Little Edie)
- "Quite the scandal actually, with my cousin in law really. It was in all the magazines at the time." (As Little Edie on "Snatch Game")
- ♪ "CAN I GET, CAN I GET AN AMEN" ♪
- ♪ "CAN I GET AN AMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN" ♪
- "Detox, you won the challenge, you can take the chicken mask off now."
- "*Pffft* Hmhmhm, okurr..."
- "It's gonna be hard to top Coco, but look at her: who would wanna top Coco?"
- "Michelle Visage is so full of semen, period. No, seriously, she's a whore."
- "Now it's time to go to the Grand High Bitch herself."
- "You're so full of shit the toilet's jealous."
- "I tried to tease it but I just pissed it off." (After being criticized for the state of her wig.)
- "I know this will be hard to believe, seeing as I'm the most polished, prettiest drag queen here."
- "I am serving up some Sofía Vergararara realness."
- "Hilda, you are muy estúpido if you think you are going to take over our familia!" (in the "telenovela acting challenge")
- "You ever been blowed by a girl with silicone lips? I call it the slip and slide. I just put my mouth on it and go *blublublub* MESH!" (as Detox in "Everybody Loves Puppets")
- "GET READY BITCHES 'CAUSE IT'S MONSOON SEASON!" (winner acceptance speech)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 7[]
- "...Line?" (entrance quote)
- "I'm Jinkx Monsoon, internationally tolerated drag queen superstar."
- "Let's be honest; being successful begets better drag."
- "Did you get the warning ahead of time? You came dressed as the table." (to Shea Couleé)
- "It's Sia." (when Raven walked into the workroom with her face covered)
- "Rodger… You've always been like a sis- You've always been like a mo- You've always been like a grandmother to me." (Reading is Fundamental)
- "Jaida Essence Hall... look over there! It's the exit." (Reading is Fundamental)
- "Hello world, I'm Jinkx Monsoon, here to make your stepson swoon, I'm in it to win it, I'm fierce like a cougar, rise to the challenge, get the judges saying "Ooh girl." Rub-a-dub-dub get in my tub, mommy's gonna scrub down all of these SOBs, yes I'm Jinkx and I aim to please, if you don't believe me, check my knees" (verse in 'Legends')
- "Well it was a set Ru, it- it wasn't real." (in Snatch Game as Judy Garland)
- "Broom." (saying Ru's name wrong as Judy Garland in the Snatch Game)
- "Did I ever tell you about the time I was in a Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra sandwich?" (in Snatch Game as Judy Garland)
- "Frank Sinatra's penis was so big, when I was doing a line of coke off of it, I had to stop half-way through to catch my breath!" (in Snatch Game as Judy Garland)
- "Is that my camera?" (in Snatch Game as Judy Garland)
- "I'd like to take a moment. You see there's a veteran named Dave who's been on your show, and he said he was worried that he killed me. And I wanna say; Dave, if you're watching, you're not responsible, darling. You're forgiven. Yes." (in Snatch Game as Judy Garland, referencing the Season 5 Makeover Challenge.)
- "Do we have time for one more?" (in Snatch Game as Judy Garland)
- "NO ONE GOES HOME!!!"
- "So basically, I was rolling around in my own shit like I do every night." (as Spare Rib in Fairytale Justice)
- "He can't even howl right." (as Spare Rib in Fairytale Justice)
- "That's not an insult, it's made out of shit." (as Spare Rib in Fairytale Justice)
- "I have on occasion had encounters with the Big Bad Wolf, but I don't think it counts as sex cause he only puts it in my ass" (as Spare Rib in Fairytale Justice)
- "You knocked my teeth out!" (as Spare Rib in Fairytale Justice)
- "JESUS CHRIST! The stress is really getting to me." (when her pig ear fell off as Spare Rib in Fairytale Justice)
- "I'm sorry you're gonna have to speak up, I can only hear you half as well." (as Spare Rib in Fairytale Justice)
- "Like my hip our love is titanium and we're aging at the same rate 'cause I'm very young, pledge your heart to me eternally, gonna be around forever like a CD and I've still got two years left to have your baby 'cause I've fallen for you and I can't get up!" (verse in 2getha 4eva)
- "I am so honored to be honored at this imaginary event." (during the Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall Of Shade Roast)
- "YOOU SHALL NOT SPEAK OF THE BEARDED ONE THAT WAY!!!" (as Holly in the Santa's School For Girls acting challenge)
- "Happy holidays everyone....*screech*" (as Holly in the Santa's School For Girls acting challenge)
- "I HAVE SEX! GET OVER IT!" (during the Social Media Dance Challenge)
- "If your kid wants a snack, he can get A GODDAMN JOB." (during the Social Media Dance Challenge)
- "You are such a kinky bitch, you've been edging Shangela for eleven years now. And we all just sat and watched, so I guess we're complicit." (to RuPaul during the Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall Of Shade Roast)
- "Yvie Oddly has been objectified a lot this season and I don't want to contribute to that… Anyways, here's some dick jokes!" (during the Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall Of Shade Roast)
- "Yvie Oddly's dick is so big, when I was doing a line of coke off of it, I had time to stop and reflect, and realized...I've become my mother." (during the Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall Of Shade Roast)
- "Trinity, my goodness, so kind and compassionate and caring. She even let her last boyfriend down easy, she said: 'Let's just be cousins'". (during the Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall Of Shade Roast)
Trivia[]
- Jinkx suffers from narcolepsy.[citation needed]
- Jinkx came out as non-binary by the end of 2013. Prior to this, she had identified under the trans umbrella since her teens.[5]
- Jinkx's catchphrase "Water off a duck's back" comes from a saying she heard from fellow Seattle drag queen Robbie Turner, who later competed on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8.[citation needed]
- On RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5, Jinkx...
- ...set the record for placing on top for most consecutive episodes, with eight (Episodes 3 to 10). This record has so far not been beaten by any queen, and instead has been tied by Keiona from Drag Race France Season 2.
- ...was the first Drag Race winner to not win a Maxi Challenge within the first three competitive episodes.
- ...became the first ever winner to have won the Snatch Game.
- She was later followed by Bob the Drag Queen, Aquaria, The Vivienne, Envy Peru, Blu Hydrangea, Sharonne, herself for the second time, Gisèle Lullaby, and Ra'Jah O'Hara.
- ...became the first winner to have never won either the Design or the Ball challenge.
- ...achieved the longest run before her first time in the bottom 2, competing in 11 episodes.
- She has so far been followed by Raja, Chad Michaels, Bandit, Miz Cracker, Nina West, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and Crystal Methyd, who all competed in 11 episodes on their original seasons before their first time in the Bottom 2.
- This record would be broken by RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 contestant, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, who competed in 12 episodes before their first time in the Bottom 2.
- She has so far been followed by Raja, Chad Michaels, Bandit, Miz Cracker, Nina West, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and Crystal Methyd, who all competed in 11 episodes on their original seasons before their first time in the Bottom 2.
- ...had a crush on Ivy Winters, and interestingly enough, they ended up being the Winner and Miss Congeniality pairing of the season.
- ...was the first queen to be on a season with immunity as a prize for wins, be the first queen to gain a solo win on that season and not gain immunity the next episode, and then not go home the following episode. Ongina, Jessica Wild and Stacy Layne Matthews all were the first queens on their seasons to not gain immunity after their solo win and they all went home the subsequent episode.
- ...became the first ever winner of a season to receive the most votes after queens were asked, "Who Should Go Home Tonight?".
- She would later be followed by Le Filip.
- On RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 7, Jinkx...
- ...became the first queen ever to have won two seasons.
- ...won the largest cash prize for a single contestant, $232,500.
- ...became the fourth/fifth queen to win the Snatch Game twice, and achieved this along with Trinity The Tuck. She was preceded by BenDeLaCreme on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 3, Ginger Minj on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 6, and Baga Chipz on RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World Season 1. She was followed by Jimbo on Canada’s Drag Race Season 1 and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8 and Hannah Conda on RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2 and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Season 2.
- ...was the first to win two Legendary Legend Stars and be blocked by the Platinum Plunger twice.
- ...became the third queen ever to win five Maxi challenges in a single season, following BenDeLaCreme on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 3 and Angele Anang on Drag Race Thailand Season 2.
- She was followed by Cristian Peralta on Drag Race México Season 1.
- ...was the only queen to win the Maxi challenge every time she was mentioned in judges' deliberation as one of the best of the episode (i.e. she never placed high).
- ...was the only queen to win Mini Challenges, having won both that took place during the season.
- Jinkx won Episodes 5 and 9 on both seasons that she competed on.
- Jinkx, along with RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, Alaska, and Katya, was made into a Funko Pop! figurine.[citation needed]
- Jinkx became the 24th queen to reach 1 million followers on Instagram, on June 20, 2019.[citation needed]
- This made her the tenth winner and the fourth RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 contestant to reach this milestone.[citation needed]
- Jinkx appeared...
- ...in one of Blair St. Clair's songs, "Now or Never", along with Manila Luzon.[citation needed]
- Jinkx has frequently collaborated with YouTube-based comedian Brandon Rogers and is featured in a number of his series, such as "Blame The Hero" and "Blood & Makeup: The Last Laugh Of Blah Blah The Clown" and "A Day with Karen".[citation needed]
- Hoffer's journey as Jinkx Monsoon is documented in the five-part documentary web series Drag Becomes Him. The title is a reference to Death Becomes Her, one of Jinkx's favorite movies.[6]
- Jinkx was added to the Season Pass of RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar in October 2023, alongside the tag "Enchanting".[citation needed]
- Jinkx made her Broadway debut on January 16, 2023 as Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago for a limited run until March 26, 2023. She returned to the show from June 27, 2024 to July 12, 2024.[7][8]
- Jinkx appeared as Audrey in the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors starting April 2, 2024.[9]
- Between April 4 and June 22, 2025, Jinkx will return to Broadway as Ruth in Pirates! The Penzance Musical, which will mark her first Tony-eligible role.[10]
- In a 2024 interview, Monsoon stated that she identifies as trans-femme and uses she/her pronouns.[11]
- Jinkx won $332,500 during her time on RuPaul's Drag Race, making her the queen to win the most money on the show.[12]
Gallery[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 Looks[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 Looks[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 Looks[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Looks[]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 7[]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 7 Looks[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 Looks[]
Videos[]
Lip Syncs[]
Filmography[]
TV[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 5) | Self | Contestant (Placed 1st) | |
2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked (Season 4) | Self | ||
2013 | Steven Universe | Emerald (voice) | English dub | |
2014 | RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 6) | Self | Special Guest | |
2015 | RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 7) | Self | Special Guest | |
2016 | RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 8) | Self | Special Guest | |
2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 10) | Self | Special Guest | |
2023 | Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake | Earl of Lemongrab (voice) | English dub |
Webseries[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Helluva Boss | Martha (voice) | English dub | |
Party Girl (voice) | English dub | |||
Crane (voice) | English dub | |||
Elevator (voice) | English dub | |||
Vikki (voice) | English dub | |||
Rita (voice) | English dub |
Discography[]
Albums[]
- "The Inevitable Album" (2014) (Tracklist: 1. Ladies in Drag 2. No One As Sorry As Me 3. Coffee & Wine 4. My Heart Belongs To Daddy 5. The Bacon Shake ft. Fred Schneider 6. Everybody's Girl 7. Hold On 8. Hi-Jinkx Samba 9. Witchcraft ft. Major Scales 10. What About Debbie 11. Ballad of Johnny and Jack 12. One Tiny Taste 13. Creep 14. A Song to Come Home To 15. Falling in Love Again)
- "The Ginger Snapped" (2018) (Tracklist: 1. What's On 2. She Evil ft. Fred Schneider 3. Cartoons and Vodka 4. Boys in The Band ft. Amanda Palmer 5. I Just Wanna Make Love to You 6. Just Me - The Gender Binary Blues - 7. Friends 8. Sugar Mama 9. This Town 10. Pianoman ft. Lady Rizo 11. Take It Back 12. You've Really Got A Hold on Me)
Appearances[]
- "Can I Get An Amen?" (2013) by RuPaul ft. Drag Race Season 5 Cast
- "Schizophrenic" (2013) by Two Dudes in Love ft. Jinkx Monsoon
- "Bring It" (2013) by Manila Luzon ft. Jinkx Monsoon
- "Now or Never" (2018) by Blair St. Clair
External Links[]
References[]
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Winner | Jinkx Monsoon |
---|---|
Runners-Up | 2nd & 3rd: Alaska & Roxxxy Andrews |
Other Contestants | 4th: Detox • 5th: Coco Montrese • 6th: Alyssa Edwards • 7th: Ivy Winters (Miss Congeniality) • 8th: Jade Jolie • 9th: Lineysha Sparx • 10th & 11th: Honey Mahogany & Vivienne Pinay • 12th: Monica Beverly Hillz • 13th: Serena ChaCha • 14th: Penny Tration |
Judges | RuPaul • Santino Rice • Michelle Visage |
Pit Crew | Jason Carter • Shawn Morales |
Winner | Jinkx Monsoon |
---|---|
Runners-Up | 2nd: Monét X Change • 3rd/4th: Shea Couleé & Trinity The Tuck |
Other Contestants | 5th-8th: Jaida Essence Hall, Raja (QOSDADHH), The Vivienne & Yvie Oddly |
Judges | RuPaul • Michelle Visage • Carson Kressley • Ross Mathews |
Pit Crew | Bruno Alcantara • Bryce Eilenberg • Calixto Quan |