Ginger Minj: Beyond the eye gloss, pancake and glitter
'Life should be a party, not a prison sentence. Wear too much blush, cover yourself in glitter and put on that damn tutu if it makes you feel like your fabulous self.'
Ginger Minj, drag star extraordinaire, is talking about grabbing hold of life and shaking things up a bit.
She's talking about putting on the big red wig and letting herself go wild on stage. She's talking about stepping out, being part of the party, not hiding in shadows, afraid of living life.
'My show is all about the songs and moments from my life that shaped me into the LGBTQ+ person that I am today.'
But just a minute here. An alumni of series seven of superstar 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' Minj admits she's shy in real life.
Who
Ginger Minj
Where
Theatre Aquarius, 190 King William St.
When
Thursday, June 5, 7.30 p.m.
Tickets
Regular $55, VIP meet the star $75 plus fees and taxes. Call 905-522-7529 or
boxoffice@theatreaquarius.org
'Some people would probably call me a wallflower. If I'm not writing music or shows or books, I'm cuddled up with the husband and dogs, watching the Food Network.
'You know, as a little country boy from a small Christian conservative town in North Florida, I never thought I'd have a clear path to my dreams, but 'Drag Race' gave me that, and I'll be forever grateful. It opened so many doors for me. I've done movies, theatre, written a book and toured the world several times over this past 10 years.'
When you ask Minj where her stage persona came from, she's not shy about answering.
Ginger Minj is a contemporary and bold image in a world of drag that has moved on from just being female imitation, Gary Smith writes.
'Ginger gave me my voice and the permission to speak up. I based her on all the church ladies I grew up around, the ones who would give you the shirts off their backs, but read you to filth for not having your own in the first place. What I do is sassy, it's dry, but it all comes from a place of love.'
The thing is, Ginger Minj is a contemporary and bold image in a world of drag that has moved on from just being female imitation.
'Unlike a lot of drag artists from the past, my persona is more of a heightened, emboldened version of myself than a wholly separate character. Audiences can spot a phoney from a mile away, so I just try to be as open, honest and grounded as possible when I'm on stage, even in the midst of the most ridiculous situations.
'I'm an old-fashioned Broadway belter for sure, but I'm probably best known for my quick wit and work with the crowd. The best part of this job is getting to know new people every single day, and my favourite thing to do is banter with someone I don't know. It keeps the show fresh, fun and funny.'
Once an actor in Christian films and chosen as Miss Gay United States in 2012, Minj admits she's sometimes performed in front of folks who were hostile to the notion of drag.
'My philosophy has always been to use my platform to change minds and curate conversation. Unless someone poses a threat to me, or the audience, I encourage them to think why they're feeling that way, when everyone else is having so much fun. I noticed when hosting 'Drag Race Live in Las Vegas' that the most hostile people at the beginning were the ones singing and cheering the loudest by the end.'
Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's edict banning drag and woke shows at the Kennedy Center Theater in Washington, she's philosophical.
'People try to suppress what they don't understand and seeing people like us, living our best lives out loud, is frightening to folks who have spent their entire lives trying to blend in. I've grown up around these people and I've seen first-hand how earth-shaking it can be when they see someone, not just flaunting, but celebrating themselves, flaws and all.'
But that's just one side of things.
'Let's make it clear, the world has loved RuPaul since the '90s. I think that's because she and other beloved queens have been unapologetically themselves for so long. What we do gives other people permission to put it all out there, laugh at themselves when needed, celebrate the flaws and live for the moment.
'Drag has been around for centuries and it's not going anywhere. Get on board and celebrate with us or stay miserable in your own little bubble.'
Minj admires stars like Harvey Fierstein.
'He's so uniquely himself in and out of drag, demanding respect and attention at a time when that was truly taboo. I learned early on from him to be honest. If there's no space for you at the table, start your own banquet. I admire anyone who is willing to put on a wig and heels and hold their head high in public. It takes a lot of courage to stand out from the crowd and that's something that should always be celebrated and encouraged.'
Offstage, Minj is Joshua Eads-Brown.
'I used to work hard to keep those two separate,' he says. 'However, since we appear out of drag for more than half of 'Drag Race' the audience gets to know both Joshua and Ginger beneath all the makeup. It was scary to blur those lines at first, but it's been a beautiful gift in the long run.
'The artistry is what gets people in the room, but the humanity, is what makes them stay.'
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