Latest news with #Minj
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
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@ '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.'
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Minj wins 200m in record time
Gumla: Jharkhand lad Shaket Minj brought laurel to the state by clinching the 200m gold in record time at the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games 2025 in Patna on Wednesday. Minj, who came fourth in the 400m event, made a strong comeback to win the gold with a timing of 21.54 boys' team clinched gold defeating Odisha 7-6 via sudden death in Begusarai on Wednesday evening. For the first time Jharkhand emerged victorious in the prestigious meet. Last time they finished third to bag the bronze Minj made his national debut at National Junior Athletics Championship in Guwahati in 2022, where he was ranked fourth. In 2023, he participated in inter-district athletics championships held in Patna representing Gumla district."I participated in the 200m category at Khelo India Youth Games but my favourite category is 400 metre," a jubilant Minj told TOI before receiving his medal. He emerged fastest among eight competitors from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and by Ramesh Khoya, the Jharkhand footballers dominated the proceedings trying to take the game to their the opponents, but after full time both sides were locked on 2 goals Hembram scored the opener for Jharkhand in the 17th minute while Dasmat Mardi netted the second in 52nd minute. As the game was tied 2-2, it went to the tie-breaker. In the penalty shootout, Jamdar Kalotoyia and Manish converted their attempts while the 3rd chance was missed out. Thereafter, Prit Sona and Balbir Oraon scored from the spot. But the winner in the sudden death came through their captain Khoya."Jharkhand played with 10 players as Akash Gagrai was shown red card," said coach Rizwan. "We got only a four-day camp. Such camp should be longer for at least one month in order to allow time to the coaches to understand the players. To improve technically and get the team combination right, you need time."
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘India's defeat is…': Former Congress MLA's post on Pakistan triggers BJP backlash
Former Chhattisgarh Congress MLA UD Minj has sparked controversy after a Facebook post from his account said, 'India's defeat is certain in an India-Pakistan war.' The ruling BJP has lashed out at him, while Minj claimed his account was hacked. The post, which was purportedly shared on April 26, just days after the horrific Pahalgam attack, is no longer visible on UD Minj's Facebook account. Slamming Minj, chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai's media advisor, Pankaj Jha, said, 'Almost every Congress worker is a potential traitor.' According to screenshots shared by Pankaj Jha, the message posted on Minj's Facebook account read, 'Those who are talking about a decisive war against Pakistan today, should know that this time India will have to fight China along with Pakistan and in such a situation India's defeat is certain.' 'China has invested in several parts of if India directly attacks these places, then China will automatically stand with Pakistan in this war. Think about the result. So after Pulwama part 2, be ready for Balakot Kauwa Maar strike part 2,' it further said. 'Unemployment in the country is the highest in the last 45 years. Inflation has gone out of control. In such a situation, any war would be suicidal and would put an unbearable burden on the hardworking people of both countries,' the post said. The post further added that this was a time for the leadership of India, Pakistan, and China to come together and seek a solution to the problem of terrorism, rather than engaging in political expediency. Reacting to Minj's post, Jha said, 'Another anti-India, anti-national statement by a Congress leader! You can be sure that almost every Congress worker is a potential traitor. And if they are converted, then consider it as a worse thing. You cannot understand when they (Congress worker) will fool you.' He further said the Chhattisgarh Congress must give an answer to Minj's post. Under fire, Minj, in a Facebook post, said, 'Dear friends, I want to inform all of you that my Facebook account was hacked recently. During this time, some activities have taken place in my account, which were not in my control, and this may have caused some misunderstandings.' 'I sincerely apologize for this inconvenience. I have contacted Facebook support to fix this problem and I am taking all necessary steps to secure my account. Please do not pay attention to or respond to any suspicious message, link or post coming from my account. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding,' Minj added.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CG Cong neta faces backlash over ‘India will lose...' post
Raipur: Former Congress MLA UD Minj finds himself at the centre of a controversy over a social media post from his account that says India is "sure to lose" in a war with Pakistan. The former Kunkuri legislator says his Facebook account was hacked and he didn't post the remark. The post on Minj's FB page discussed possible scenarios following an India-Pakistan war, mentioned 'pressure from China', and suggested that 'those eager for war with Pakistan should be recruited as Agniveers and sent to the frontlines'. The post triggered a wave of criticism with social media users calling Minj a 'traitor' and targeting Congress as well. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glicemia alta? Coloque isso na água antes de dormir e veja o que acontece no outro dia. Saúde Melhor Idade Leia mais Undo Amid the backlash, Minj issued a statement: "Dear friends, my Facebook account was recently hacked. During this time, certain activities occurred from my account which were beyond my control and may have caused misunderstandings. I sincerely apologize for this inconvenience. I have contacted Facebook Support to resolve the issue and am taking all necessary steps to secure my account." BJP wasn't convinced by the clarification. "It has become a tradition to spark a controversy through a social media post and then claim the account was hacked. Minj or anyone shouldn't say or do anything that goes against the sensitivity of the issue," said BJP's Ajay Chandrakar on the matter.
