Ginger Minj
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Joshua Allen Eads, better known by the stage name Ginger Minj (born September 11, 1984), is an American
drag queen A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses Drag (entertainment), drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate Femininity, female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have ...
, actor, singer-songwriter, and reality television personality. After achieving recognition for placing as the runner-up on the seventh season of the reality television competition series ''
RuPaul's Drag Race ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race (franchise), ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder (company), World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, ...
'', Minj returned to compete on the
second The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of U ...
, sixth, and tenth seasons of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars'' is an American reality competition spin off edition of the original ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', which is produced by World of Wonder, for Logo TV and later VH1. The show premiered on October 22, 2012, on Logo TV, ...
''. Minj has acted in three
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
productions—the comedy feature film '' Dumplin''' (2018), the animated series '' Super Drags'', and
RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. He produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and has received List of awards ...
's fictional series ''
AJ and the Queen ''AJ and the Queen'' is an American comedy-drama television series, created by RuPaul and Michael Patrick King. It premiered on Netflix on January 10, 2020. Premise ''AJ and the Queen'' follows "Ruby Red, a bigger-than-life but down-on-her-luck ...
'', and has acted in numerous theatrical productions. Minj appeared in the 2022 film ''
Hocus Pocus 2 ''Hocus Pocus 2'' is a 2022 American fantasy comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher, written by Jen D'Angelo and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a sequel to the 1993 film ''Hocus Pocus (1993 film), Hocus Pocus'' and the second installment ...
'', the sequel to ''
Hocus Pocus Hocus-pocus is an exclamation used by magicians, usually the magic words spoken when bringing about some sort of change. Hocus Pocus, Hokus Pokus, or variants may also refer to: Books * Hocus Pocus (novel), ''Hocus Pocus'' (novel), a 1990 novel ...
''. Minj has released three studio albums—'' Sweet T'' (2016), ''
Gummy Bear Gummy bears (German: ''Gummibär'') are small, fruit gum candies, similar to a jelly baby in some English-speaking countries. The candy is roughly long and shaped in the form of a bear. The gummy bear is one of many gummies, popular gelat ...
'' (2021), and ''Double Wide Diva'' (2021).


Early life

Eads was born in
Lake County, Florida Lake County is a county in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 383,956. Its county seat is Tavares, and its largest city is Clermont. Lake County is included in the Orlando–Kissimme ...
, and majored in theater at school. Her drag mother is retired Orlando performer Rusty Fawcett and his drag father is legendary male entertainer and pageant promoter, Bob Taylor. Her first time in drag was with “BOYS BOYS BOYS” at the Orlando Fringe Festival in 2005.


Career


''Drag Race''

Ginger Minj competed on the seventh season of the reality television competition ''
RuPaul's Drag Race ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race (franchise), ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder (company), World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, ...
'', which was announced on March 2, 2015. Throughout the competition, Minj won three challenges, most notably the
Snatch Game Snatch Game is a comedy challenge recurring across the ''Drag Race'' television franchise and a fixture of the reality competition series. Since the second season of the original American ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' series in 2010, the challenge ha ...
, portraying
Adele Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (; born 5 May 1988) is an English singer-songwriter. Regarded as a British cultural icon, icon, she is known for her mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting. List of awards and nominations received by Adele, ...
(tying with
Kennedy Davenport Reuben Asberry Jr. (born September 9, 1980), known professionally as Kennedy Davenport, is a drag queen, television personality, and dancer from Dallas, Texas, who came to international attention on the seventh season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', ...
's portrayal of
Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...
). Minj's performance of Adele was later ranked as the sixth best Snatch Game performance in ''Drag Race'' "herstory" by Sam Damshenas of ''
Gay Times ''Gay Times'' (stylized in all caps), also known as ''GAY TIMES Magazine'' and as ''GT'', is a UK-based LGBTQ+ magazine established in 1984. Originally a magazine for gay and bisexual men, the company began including content for the LGBTQ+ comm ...
''. Minj ultimately lost to
Violet Chachki Violet Chachki is the stage name of Paul Jason Dardo (born June 13, 1992), an American drag queen, burlesque/Aerial dance, aerial Performing arts, performer, Content creation, content creator, model, and Music artist (occupation), recording arti ...
in the final episode, placing as a runner-up alongside
Pearl A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle (mollusc), mantle) of a living Exoskeleton, shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pear ...
. Minj was subsequently announced as one of ten contestants for the second season of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars'' is an American reality competition spin off edition of the original ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', which is produced by World of Wonder, for Logo TV and later VH1. The show premiered on October 22, 2012, on Logo TV, ...
'' on June 17, 2016. Minj was eliminated in the third episode, placing eighth overall. Minj then appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere episode of season eleven. Following ''Drag Race'', Minj embarked on several international drag tours. In 2016, Minj was a part of '' Battle of the Seasons'' rotating roster of queens. Minj hosted the '' Haters Roast'' tour, though controversially was later fired from the event. Minj later hosted ''Queens United'' in November 2017, a benefit put together by Phi Phi O'Hara in an effort to raise money for people affected by
Hurricane Maria Hurricane Maria was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that affected the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths. It is the ...
. In April 2020, amid the
coronavirus pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, Minj was announced as a featured cast member for the very first '' Digital Drag Fest'', an online drag festival. Minj returned the following year for the second annual ''Digital Drag Fest'', in May 2021. On May 26, 2021, Minj was announced as a contestant for the sixth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars''. After winning a lip sync against Mayhem Miller in the fifth episode of the season, Minj won $30,000. Minj won another $20,000 in the eighth episode of the season, Snatch Game of Love, after winning a lip sync against Heidi N Closet and making her the second queen to win the Snatch Game twice, after
BenDeLaCreme BenDeLaCreme (born September 24, 1981) is the stage persona of Benjamin Brock Hamlet Putnam, an American drag queen, burlesque performer, and actor based in Seattle, Washington. He is known for being a contestant on the sixth season of ''RuPaul' ...
. Ginger Minj finished the season as a runner-up alongside Eureka! and
Ra'Jah O'Hara Benni Miller (born Bennie Roy Miller; December 31, 1984), better known by the stage name Ra'Jah O'Hara, is an American drag queen best known for winning the first season of '' Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World.'' She previously competed on ...
, ultimately losing to
Kylie Sonique Love Kylie Sonique Love (born May 2, 1983), formerly known as Sonique, is an American entertainer, singer, dancer, model and reality television personality. She rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' in 2009 ...
. On April 23, 2025, Ginger Minj was announced as one of eighteen former ''Drag Race'' contestants participating in the tenth season of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars'' is an American reality competition spin off edition of the original ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', which is produced by World of Wonder, for Logo TV and later VH1. The show premiered on October 22, 2012, on Logo TV, ...
''.


Pageants

Minj has competed in many pageants throughout their career, holding several titles including "Miss National Comedy Queen 2012" and "Miss Gay United States 2013".


Music

Minj released their first single, "Ooh Lala Lala", on June 1, 2015. A second single, "Bad, Bad Boy", was released on October 21, 2016. Minj's debut album, '' Sweet T'', was released in October 2016. The album consists of a mix of original songs and covers and features of variety of styles including
pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...
,
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
,
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
,
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
, and
soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...
. Minj also contributed to the compilation album '' Christmas Queens 3'' in 2017. Another album, ''Clown Fucker'', was set to be released in December 2018, but was pushed back to early 2019, and, as of 2021, remains unreleased. On June 11, 2021, Ginger Minj announced her second studio album, ''
Gummy Bear Gummy bears (German: ''Gummibär'') are small, fruit gum candies, similar to a jelly baby in some English-speaking countries. The candy is roughly long and shaped in the form of a bear. The gummy bear is one of many gummies, popular gelat ...
'', would be released on June 25, 2021, with "Clown Fucker" as one its tracks. She performed the title track "Gummy Bear" on the first episode of ''All Stars 6''. The album peaked at #2 on the iTunes Comedy Album Charts. In September 2021, Minj released their third album, ''Double Wide Diva''. The country album featured seven original songs and a cover of Garth Brooks' "
Friends in Low Places "Friends in Low Places" is a song recorded by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on August 6, 1990, as the lead single from his album '' No Fences''. The song spent four weeks at number one on the Hot Country Songs, and ...
". Minj co-wrote each original song on the album, six of which alongside Brandon Stansell and Jeffrey James with producer Aaron Aiken. In May 2022, Ginger Minj will portray the voice of Puss Puss Dubois in Alaska's '' Drag: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)'', a studio recording of a planned stage production about two rival drag bars that go head-to-head while struggling through financial troubles.


Acting

Minj began their career as a child actor, acting in Christian films and books on tape. As an adult, Minj continued acting, starring in Clandestine Arts' production of ''
Avenue Q '' Avenue Q'' is a musical comedy featuring puppets and human actors with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and a book by Jeff Whitty. It won Best Musical, Book, and Score at the 2004 Tony Awards. The show's format is a parody ...
''. Minj performed with other ''All Stars 2'' queens at the Trailblazer Honors for
Harvey Fierstein Harvey Forbes Fierstein ( ; born June 6, 1952) is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter, known for his distinctive gravelly voice. He gained notice for his theater work in '' Torch Song Trilogy'', winning both the Tony Award for Best ...
as the only singing performer on July 7, 2016. Minj was with
Katya Katya is a feminine given name. It is a very popular name in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, and North Macedonia. It is a Russian diminutive form of Ekaterina, Yekaterina, which is a Russian form of Katherine (given name), Katherine.This name is ...
and Alyssa Edwards on commercial bumpers for a
Mama's Family ''Mama's Family'' is an American sitcom television series starring Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper, Mama (Thelma Harper). The series is a spin-off of a recurring series of comedy sketches called "The Family (sketch), The Family" featured on ''T ...
marathon for the Logo channel. In 2014, Minj played Mrs. Lovett in ''
Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–1847). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet St ...
'' at Orlando's Clandestine-Arts. The casting initially lead to a cease-and-desist order in response to her casting, but this was resolved when a video of Ginger performing the role was sent to composer/lyricist
Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...
, who personally signed off on her performance. Minj voiced the character Lemon Chiffon in the 2018 Netflix original series '' Super Drags''. In 2018, Minj starred in the
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
musical comedy feature film '' Dumplin'''. In 2020, Minj portrayed Tommy and drag queen Fanny Pak on the Netflix comedy ''
AJ and the Queen ''AJ and the Queen'' is an American comedy-drama television series, created by RuPaul and Michael Patrick King. It premiered on Netflix on January 10, 2020. Premise ''AJ and the Queen'' follows "Ruby Red, a bigger-than-life but down-on-her-luck ...
'', alongside
RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. He produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and has received List of awards ...
, in the episode "Fort Worth". In August 2020, Minj starred in ''Drama at Drag Brunch: The Slaying of the Sequin Sisters'', the fifth installment of the virtual interactive ''Broadway Murder Mystery'' story, portraying the role of Casey Closed.


Other ventures

In October 2021, Minj signed a six-figure book deal with Atria Books to publish her first book, "Southern Fried Sass". In August 2022, she will headline the 40th annual Northalsted Market Days, an annual LGBTQ-friendly street festival. In 2023 Minj released a
stand up comedy Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage and delivers humorous and satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical acts. These performances are typically composed of rehearse ...
special, ''Bless Your Heart''.


Personal life

Minj is from
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
, and was married to Ceejay Russell by
Michelle Visage Michelle Visage (born Michelle Lynn Shupack, September 20, 1968) is an American television personality, singer, broadcaster, producer, and actress. She gained recognition as a member of the dance-pop group Seduction (group), Seduction, who char ...
at a DragCon convention in 2017. In an episode of '' RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked'', Minj stated that she is
non-binary Non-binary or genderqueer Gender identity, gender identities are those that are outside the male/female gender binary. Non-binary identities often fall under the transgender umbrella since non-binary people typically identify with a gende ...
. She uses ''she''/''her'' pronouns both in and out of drag. She is
autistic Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing di ...
.


Discography


Studio albums


Singles


As featured artist


Other appearances


Filmography


Film credits


Television credits


Theatre


Music videos


Web series


References


External links

* *
Joshua Allan Eads
at
IMDb IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...

Ginger Minj
discography at
Discogs Discogs ( ; short for " discographies") is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Database contents are user-generated, and described in ''T ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minj, Ginger 1984 births Living people 20th-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American LGBTQ people American drag queens American non-binary actors LGBTQ people from Florida Male actors from Florida People from Leesburg, Florida Ginger Minj Non-binary drag performers Non-binary singers Drag performers from Orlando, Florida Drag performers from Florida Autistic entertainers