Jinkx Monsoon for One Hour Photo
It’s impossible not to fall under her spell.
Recently, I showed someone Season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race for the first time. There’s nothing like introducing someone to Jinkx Monsoon—you get to watch them fall in love in real time. Her laugh, the timing, the way she pulls you in. It’s impossible not to fall under her spell.
Over the past few years, Jinkx has been steadily taking over Broadway—starring as Mama Morton in Chicago, appearing in Pirates! The Penzance Musical, and most recently completing an eight-week sold-out run as Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!, followed by another sold-out four-week run. Next, she’s headed to London to play Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow.
Last fall, we shot together for Interview Magazine—a series of photos that have since been referred to (affectionately, and accurately) as “The Cuntification of Jinkx Monsoon.” We got to shoot together again for One Hour Photo, and Jinkx did not disappoint. The shoot was lively—and the interview, even more so.
What’s your relationship to New York right now?
I don’t live here yet, but I’m looking for a second place. I have a home base in Portland that I love, so New York would be a second location—Monsoon Manor East.
I never thought I could handle New York until recently. I think I’ve hybridized my Pacific Northwest passive aggression with New York active aggression.
When has your narcolepsy betrayed you most?
I fall asleep in cars a lot and wake up really disoriented.
Recently I had what I call a “sleep attack” and woke up in a meeting—with no idea what meeting it was. I faked my way through the whole thing. Then I looked it up after and was like… okay, everything I said still stands.
There was also a press junket where I was asleep between every interview. My music partner would nudge me awake, I’d sit up, do the interview, and then pass back out. You learn how to just snap into gear.
Tell me about this production of End of the Rainbow. What is it?
End of the Rainbow is a really lovely, heavy play about the end of Judy Garland’s life. It’s an intimate look behind the curtain at her final days—what she was dealing with. If you’ve seen the Judy with Renée Zellweger, it’s based on this play. It’s running in London at Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
Have you always been passionate about taking jobs from British people?
Yes! Specifically British people.
What do you think about AI?
AI can eat it.
AI itself isn’t evil—but what capitalism is doing with it is. I can see benefits in medical research, maybe. But we don’t need it for entertainment. That’s what I’m here for.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I styled a music video recently. It was last minute—the stylist situation didn’t line up—so I just did it myself.
You’ve used our Interview Magazine photos on dating apps?
I’m not on Grindr anymore, but I’d use those photos to show “This is me… and this is also me. You need to know what I look like out of makeup too, because, like a team built that.”
There’s been a lot of gender affirmation in the last few years. I waited until I was 35 to transition, but then it was off to the races.
One Hour Photo Creative Production: Carly Kane
Stylist: @americanwastoid
Hair: @daveydidmyhair
Makeup: @velisadiku
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Jinkx talks bi-men…