Jinkx Monsoon, the stage name of Hera Lilith Hoffer, is an American actress, singer, comedian, and drag performer internationally recognized as the first and only contestant to win RuPaul’s Drag Race twice. After being crowned the winner of Season 5 in 2013 — and winning audiences over with her eccentric charm and unforgettable impersonation of Little Edie in the “Snatch Game” episode — she cemented her legacy in 2022 by triumphing in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, a special season featuring only past champions, where she earned the title “Queen of All Queens”. Her style blends theatrical humor, classic cabaret, and live music, along with impersonations of icons such as Judy Garland, Little Edie, and Natasha Lyonne, making her one of the most influential drag artists of her generation.
After her triumph on Drag Race, Jinkx built a successful career in cabaret, music, and acting. She released albums such as The Inevitable Album, The Ginger Snapped, and The Virgo Odyssey. She also starred in stage and cabaret productions like The Vaudevillians and toured internationally with The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show alongside BenDeLaCreme. On television and in animation, she appeared in projects including Steven Universe, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, Helluva Boss, and Sketchy Queens.
Jinkx further expanded her career into theater and international television. In 2023, she made her Broadway debut as Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago. Her performance broke box office records during an extended ten-week run, making her one of the few drag artists to headline a major Broadway production. She later played Audrey in the off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors alongside Corbin Bleu. In 2025, she returned to Broadway with Pirates! The Penzance Musical, a role that earned her a Drama League Award nomination. Finally, in 2026, she appeared in a new London staging of End of the Rainbow, portraying Judy Garland during the final months of the legendary actress and singer’s life.
Jinkx identifies as pansexual. In 2025, during an interview with Ziwe on her YouTube show You’d Be an Iconic Guest, Jinkx Monsoon publicly came out as pansexual in a moment that was both humorous and revealing. The conversation began with Jinkx reflecting on the strangeness of enjoying Broadway success while still facing homophobic and transphobic insults from strangers on the street.
In that interview, she remarked on the contradiction of leaving a Broadway theater — where she is celebrated as a star — only to be verbally attacked outside. Jinkx joked:
Clearly I’m a straight woman. Well, pansexual… but I’m not any [slur].
Using comedy to reclaim her identity and challenge the absurdity of the insults she receives.
During the episode’s premiere, Jinkx — who was watching live — wrote in the chat a message that reinforced both her declaration and her humorous tone:
Wait did I just come out publicly as pansexual on Ziwe?
Fans and viewers’ reactions filled the chat as well. Many celebrated the moment as a win for pansexual visibility, expressing enthusiasm, humor, and affection for the artist. Some messages highlighted the importance of representation.
The clip quickly went viral, and Jinkx shared it on her X account with the caption: