Jinkx Monsoon | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Monsoon in 2022 | |
| Born | (1987-09-18)September 18, 1987 (age 38) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Education | Cornish College of the Arts (BFA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Television | |
| Spouse | |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Labels |
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Musical artist | |
| Website | jinkxmonsoon |
Hera Lilith Hoffer (born September 18, 1987), best known by thestage nameJinkx Monsoon, is an Americandrag queen, actress, singer and comedienne, best-known for winning thefifth season (2013) ofRuPaul's Drag Race. She made herBroadway debut in 2023[1] and has appeared in character roles on television and in cabaret.
Nine years after her first win onRuPaul's Drag Race, in 2022, she returned as part of anall-winnersAll Stars season, featuring a mixture of crowned queens from several seasons competing against one another for the title of "Queen of All Queens" and a $200,000 prize. Monsoon placed first, becoming the first two-time winner of the show across its many global franchises. Throughout her drag career, she has been noted for her wit and comedic timing, hermusical theatre-inspired performances, and forcelebrity impersonations, includingJudy Garland,Edie "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, andNatasha Lyonne.[2]
She has also pursued a career in music, releasing two studio albums titledThe Inevitable Album (2014) andThe Ginger Snapped (2018). She has appeared in cabaret acts. In film, Monsoon appeared with her collaborative andtouring partnerBenDeLaCreme in the holiday filmThe Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special (2021) which was later released onHulu. On television, Monsoon appears in theWOW Presents Plus originalSketchy Queens, a series she created alongside Liam Krug, and theBBC seriesDoctor Who as the villain Maestro. In 2023 she made her Broadway debut inChicago as "Mama" Morton, continued in musical theatre as Audrey inLittle Shop of Horrors in New York and, in 2025, made aCarnegie Hall debut and returned to Broadway inPirates! The Penzance Musical.
Hoffer was born in anIrish Catholic household on September 18, 1987 inPortland, Oregon and raised in an unstable environment.[3][4] Her father, 17 when Hoffer was born, grew up in agroup home and was absent during her childhood.[4] Her mother Deanne Hoffer, was a heavyalcoholic, leaving Hoffer at age 12 to take on a parental role for her younger siblings.[5][6] She described her mother as "a woman who wasn't ready to be a mom."[7] Her mother isintersex and has an underdeveloped testicle.[8] She has two younger brothers and a half-sister.[9][10]
Hoffercame out as gay at age 13.[11] She first performed in drag when she was 15 years old, at the all-agesEscape Nightclub under the name Heidi Destruction.[12][13][14] She later took the stage surname Monsoon after Edina Monsoon from the British sitcomAbsolutely Fabulous.[15] Hoffer attendedda Vinci Arts Middle School andGrant High School.[16][17] She worked as ajanitor through college and graduated with aBachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater fromCornish College of the Arts in 2010.[18][19][20]
Hoffer learned she was of partialAshkenazi ancestry as a teenager; after her maternal grandmother, Judith Irwin-Hoffer, died in 2008 from complications of astroke, she learned Judith was born to Jewish parents of Polish and Finnish descent and had been adopted by an Irish Catholic couple.[21] Hoffer initially toldThe Times of Israel she was ofRussian Jewish ancestry.[22] Hoffer has said that she uses Jinkx Monsoon as a way to connect to her Jewish heritage, describing the character as a "failed Jewish actress who became every gay boy's favoritecabaret act."[22]
After moving to Seattle from Portland, Hoffer and creative partner Nick Sahoyah wrote and starred in multipleFunny or Die webisodes titledMonsoon Season in which she played Jinkx Monsoon as an overbearing, substance addled, near-psychotic mother to Sahoyah's character, Kamikaze Monsoon.[23] In 2011, Hoffer appeared in theWes Hurley filmWaxie Moon in Fallen Jewel.[24]
In June 2011, Hoffer became the subject of a YouTube docu-series by Alex Berry, aSeattlevideographer. Named afterDeath Becomes Her, one of Jinkx's favorite movies,Drag Becomes Him explores Hoffer's life in and out of drag.[25]
In January 2012, Hoffer appeared as Moritz in therock musicalSpring Awakening at the Balagan Theater in Seattle. Controversy arose fromThe Seattle Times review by Misha Berson, who said that she was "overly flamboyant" for the role.[26][27]Dan Savage defended Hoffer's portrayal of Moritz.[28] From July 21 to August 19, she starred as Angel in the5th Avenue Theatre's production of the musicalRent.[20][29]
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In November 2012,Logo announced that Jinkx Monsoon was among fourteen drag queens who would be competing on thefifth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race.[30] Monsoon was inspired to audition after seeingSharon Needles on thefourth season of the show.[13] Monsoon won the main-challenges for the episodes "Snatch Game" and "Drama Queens".[31][32] For the "Snatch Game", Monsoon impersonatedEdith Bouvier Beale, nicknamed as "Little Edie."[12][33] Monsoon also impersonated third-season contestantMimi Imfurst in the episode "Lip Synch Extravaganza Eleganza".[34] Monsoon later won the season, with two maxi-challenge wins.
In January 2013, Monsoon played Hedwig in theMoore Theatre's production of the rock musicalHedwig and the Angry Inch.[35] Balagan reprised the production in December 2013 for a week long run with Monsoon and the original cast/production team. In June 2013, she played Velma Von Tussle in the Seattle Men's Chorus/5th Avenue Theatre's production of the musicalHairspray.[36]
Hoffer also performed as Jinkx Monsoon in the original one act cabaret musicalThe Vaudevillians under the name "Kitty Witless." She was accompanied by musical partner and co-creator Richard Andriessen who performs under the name "Dr. Dan Von Dandy." The Vaudevillians performed at theLaurie Beechman Theatre in New York City from July to November 2013.[12][37][38] After touring Australia withThe Vaudevillians, she received a nomination for theHelpmann Award for Best Cabaret Performer.[39] In 2013, Monsoon was chosen as one of the Artists of the Year byCity Arts magazine along withMegan Griffiths,Macklemore,Ryan Lewis, andWes Hurley.[40] She played Tallulah/Dennis, the owner of Lipstick Lounge in an episode ofBlue Bloods entitled "Manhattan Queens", which aired on January 31, 2014. In 2015, Monsoon joined the cast of Wes Hurley's comedy seriesCapitol Hill.[41]
On May 6, 2014, Monsoon released her debut studio albumThe Inevitable Album through Sidecar Records. The album is a blend ofblues,jazz,traditional pop, andcabaret, and was inspired by artists likeBette Midler,Marlene Dietrich,Peggy Lee,Amanda Palmer, andRegina Spektor.[42] The song "The Bacon Shake" featuresFred Schneider ofThe B-52s, and tells of "a bawdy, after-hours gentleman's club and this woman is 'getting the boys thirsty,' and it turns into a big dance that everyone joins."[43]
In May 2017, Monsoon appeared in the celebrity roast ofMichael Musto alongsideBianca Del Rio,Orfeh,Michael Riedel,Randy Rainbow, Crystal Demure, CountessLuann de Lesseps,Judy Gold, andRandy Jones. The roast which was produced by Daniel DeMello and directed by Rachel Klein, was hosted byBruce Vilanch and introduced by Rosie O'Donnell.[44][45][46]
On January 12, 2018, Monsoon released her second studio albumThe Ginger Snapped throughProducer Entertainment Group. The album is inspired by 90sgrunge,garage rock, andska, and features appearances fromAmanda Palmer,Fred Schneider, and Lady Rizo.[47] She released an animated music video for the song "Cartoons and Vodka", which sees Monsoon transform into various cartoon styles, includingBetty Boop,The Jetsons,Sailor Moon,Doug,Dragon Ball Z,Steven Universe,Beavis and Butt-Head,Adventure Time,Rick and Morty,Peanuts,Dexter's Laboratory,The Powerpuff Girls, andThe Fairly OddParents.[48] The same month, Monsoon voiced the character Emerald onSteven Universe in the episode "Lars of the Stars".[49]
In 2019, Monsoon was cast asCalliope in a North American tour of the musicalXanadu, though the tour was cancelled.[50] In June 2019, a panel of judges fromNew York magazine placed Monsoon 18th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 formerDrag Race contestants.[51] In 2020, Monsoon appeared in theHulu original Christmas filmHappiest Season.[52] The same year she starred in and co-wroteThe Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special, a feature-length holiday film with fellow Seattle drag queenBenDeLaCreme based on theirvarious Christmas shows over the years. The duo toured the show around the world in 2021.[53] They continued to tour in 2022, 2023[54] and 2024, writing a new show each year.[55]
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In April 2022, it was announced that Monsoon would be competing on theseventh season ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, the first all-winners edition of the franchise. She won theSnatch Game in the second episode with her impressions ofNatasha Lyonne andJudy Garland.[56] She also won the fourth, fifth, ninth, and tenth episodes. On July 29, 2022, she was crowned the winner and anointed with the title "Queen of All Queens" with a cash prize of $200,000.
Monsoon joined the Broadway company of the musicalChicago, playing the role of Mama Morton for eight weeks, becoming the second drag queen to perform in a major Broadway musical afterPeppermint.[57][58]
Monsoon was cast in thefourteenth series ofDoctor Who (Season 1), produced by BBC and Disney+.[59] Monsoon played the villain "Maestro" in the episode "The Devil's Chord", which aired in May 2024.[60]
From April 2, 2024 to May 26, 2024, Monsoon portrayed Audrey in theoff-Broadway production ofLittle Shop of Horrors.[61] After headlining a concert atCarnegie Hall in February 2025, Monsoon returned to Broadway in April as Ruth inPirates! The Penzance Musical.[62][63] She earned a rave review inVariety for the role: "Monsoon is a triumph. Broadway should be honored to have her gracing the boards, as she is sure to be canonized as one of the all-time comedy greats."[64]
On June 18, 2025, it was announced that Monsoon would take the lead role ofMary Todd Lincoln in Broadway'sOh, Mary! starting on Aug. 4, 2025.[65][66]
In 2017, Hoffer stated she identified as "non-gendered" ornon-binary,[67][68] and went bysingularthey pronouns when not in drag. In an April 2017 interview, Monsoon stated, "I've never identified as fully male. I've always identified as more gender fluid or gender ambiguous, but I never knew the vocabulary to explain it for myself."[69]
In a 2024 interview, Monsoon stated that she identifies astrans-femme non-binary and usesshe/her pronouns.[70] In the same interview, she said she'd begunhormone replacement therapy and had undergonefacial feminization surgery. In 2025, she revealed that she identifies aspansexual.[71]
Hoffer struggles withalcoholism and substance abuse.[72] She is a cannabis user and “a huge weed advocate.”[72] She had been hit by a car while intoxicated and almost hit again a few years later in 2019 while "blackout drunk."[72]
Hoffer hasnarcolepsy, a fact that she revealed in the season five premiere ofRuPaul's Drag Race.[73]
In January 2021, Hoffer married her partner Michael Abbott in a small ceremony at home with their friends and family witnessing through video call. The marriage was officiated by comedianDeven Green.[74] In February 2024, Abbott announced they had separated.[75]
In April 2024, Hoffer legally changed her name to Hera Hoffer, but still kept her stage name of Jinkx Monsoon.[76]
She had lived inSeattle, Washington up until 2018.[77] In October 2018, she moved back to Portland and currently lives in a house named Monsoon Manor.[78]
Hoffer writes on her Instagram and Twitter accounts about her views onUS PresidentDonald Trump and LGBT equality. She is aDemocratic Party supporter and donated to bothElizabeth Warren's andBernie Sanders's campaigns to be theDemocratic nomineefor president in 2020.[79] She is a public supporter of trans rights and frequently makes posts on social media advocating for trans people.[citation needed]
Hoffer's drag persona is inspired by her mother and the comediansLucille Ball,Maria Bamford,Deven Green, andSarah Silverman. Her drag persona's last name, Monsoon, is derived from the characterEdina Monsoon from theBritish sitcomAbsolutely Fabulous.[13] Hoffer also performs as the drag character Deirdre A. Irwin, who is aSouthernmedium.[77]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Inevitable Album[80] |
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| The Ginger Snapped[81] |
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| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Red Head Redemption[82] |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Jinkx & Dela Holiday Special(with BenDeLaCreme)[82] |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| ReAnimated[83] |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Inevitable Commentary Album[84] |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Virgo Odyssey: Prologue |
|
| Song | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Coffee & Wine"[85] | 2014 | The Inevitable Album |
| "The Bacon Shake"[86] (featuring Fred Schneider) | ||
| "Creep"[87] | ||
| "Hold On JMX (GlitterMix)" (featuring Jean Morisoon) | 2015 | ReAnimated |
| "Cartoons and Vodka" | 2018 | The Ginger Snapped |
| "Know-It-All" | 2022 | The Virgo Odyssey: Prologue |
| "Internationolidays" (withBenDeLaCreme) | Non-album single | |
| "Strange Magic" | The Virgo Odyssey: Prologue | |
| "Space & Time" | ||
| "Looking at the Lights" (with BenDeLaCreme) | 2022 | Non-album singles |
| "The Lavender Song"[88] | 2023 |
| Song | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Can I Get an Amen?" (RuPaul featuring the Cast ofRuPaul's Drag Race, season 5) | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Schizophrenic"[89] (Two Dudes in Love featuring Jinkx Monsoon) | ||
| "Bring It"[90] (Manila Luzon featuring Jinkx Monsoon) | ||
| "Legends" (Cast Version) (RuPaul featuring the Cast ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 7) | 2022 | |
| "2gether 4eva" (The Other Girls) (with the Cast ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 7) |
| Song | Year | Other Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Red & Green" | 2015 | N/A | Christmas Queens |
| "Passive Aggressive Christmas" | 2016 | Major Scales | Christmas Queens 2 |
| "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" | 2017 | N/A | Christmas Queens 3 |
| "The Auld Lang Syne Song" | |||
| "Jingle Bell Rock" | 2018 | N/A | Christmas Queens 4 |
| "I Wanna Fuck a Ghost" | 2025 | Erika Henningsen,Jack Plotnick | Helluva Boss: Season Two (Original Soundtrack) |
| Song | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Jinkxalicious"[91] | 2011 | Alex Berry |
| "Coffee & Wine"[92] | 2014 | |
| "The Bacon Shake"[93] | Steve Willis | |
| "Creep"[94] | ||
| "Hold On JMX (GlitterMix)"[95] | 2015 | |
| "Red & Green"[96] | Santiago Felipé | |
| "Cartoons & Vodka"[97] | 2018 | Mac Kerman |
| "Just Me (The Gender Binary Blues)"[98] | Santiago Felipé | |
| "She Evil"[99] | Brad Hammer, Shawn Adeli | |
| "Strange Magic"[100] | 2022 | Frank Correa |
| "Know-It-All"[101] | Assaad Yacoub |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Waxie Moon in Fallen Jewel | Herself/Davey |
| 2013 | East of Adin | Anthony Johnson |
| 2014 | Drag Becomes Him | Herself |
| 2019 | Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts | Herself |
| 2019 | The Queens[102] | Herself |
| 2020 | Happiest Season[103] | Em K. Ultra |
| 2020 | The Jinkx & Dela Holiday Special | Herself |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Season 5 – Winner |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | |||
| NewNowNext Awards | |||
| 2014 | Blue Bloods | Tallulah/Dennis | Episode: "Manhattan Queens" |
| RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself (guest) | Season 6 – 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | Season 7 – "Countdown to the Crown" – Guest | ||
| 2016 | Season 8 – 2 episodes | ||
| Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul | 1 episode | ||
| 2018 | Steven Universe | Emerald (voice) | Season 5 – "Lars of the Stars" |
| Mighty Magiswords | Hairmosa (voice) | Season 2 – "To Balderly Go" | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Season 10 – "10s Across the Board" – Guest | |
| Bravest Warriors | Jenna (voice) | 3 episodes | |
| 2019 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Season 11 – "Snatch Game At Sea" – Guest |
| Blame the Hero | The Queen | 1 episode | |
| 2020 | AJ and the Queen[104] | Edie | Episode 2 |
| Blood & Makeup: The Last Laugh of Blah Blah the Clown | Melora Oswald | 3 episodes | |
| 2022 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Herself | Season 7 – Winner |
| Countdown to All Stars 7: You’re a Winner Baby | VH1 special[105] | ||
| The View | Guest[106] | ||
| 2023 | Late Night with Seth Meyers | Guest[107] | |
| CBS Mornings | Guest[108] | ||
| Good Morning America | Guest[109] | ||
| RuPaul's Drag Race | Season 15 – "Grand Finale" – Guest performance | ||
| Drag Me to Dinner | Hulu original[110] | ||
| Red Head Redemption | Amazon Prime original | ||
| HouseBroken | Mrs. P Cockx | Episode: "Who's a Party Pony?" | |
| Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake | Normulon, Lemongrab, additional voices | 4 episodes | |
| Teenage Euthanasia | Cafe Cashier | Episode: "A Very Fantasy Vacation" | |
| Here & Queer | Herself | Episode: "Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme" | |
| 2024 | Doctor Who | Maestro | Episode: "The Devil's Chord" |
| BBC Proms | Episode: "Doctor Who at the Proms" | ||
| 2025 | Krapopolis | Donna (voice) | Episode: “Love Week” |
| Resident Alien | Bruce (voice) | Season 4– 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Hieeee" | Alaska Thunderfuck | [111] |
| 2017 | "Doom or Destiny" | Blondie | [112] |
| 2018 | "Now or Never" | Blair St. Clair | [113] |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Monsoon Season | Herself |
| 2011 | Drag Becomes Him | |
| 2013 | 31 Days of Jinkx | |
| 2016 | Capitol Hill | |
| 2019 | The X Change Rate | |
| 2020 | Blood and Makeup | Melora Oswald |
| 2020–2024 | Helluva Boss | Martha,[114] various characters (7 episodes) |
| 2021 | I Like to Watch | Herself |
| 2022 | Around the Table | Herself |
| BuzzFeed Celeb | Herself[115] | |
| Friendship Test | Herself[116] | |
| Drip Or Drop? | Herself[117] | |
| Portrait of a Queen | Herself[118] | |
| Sketchy Queens | Herself | |
| 2023 | The Pit Stop | Herself[119] |
| Song Association withELLE | Herself[120] | |
| 2024 | Very Delta | Herself[121] |
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Red Ranger Came Calling | Red Ranger | Book-It Repertory Theatre |
| Henry V | Alice | Center House Theatre | |
| 2011 | Turning Parlor Tricks | Deirdre A. Irwin | Theatre Off Jackson |
| The Threepenny Opera | Filch | Intiman Playhouse | |
| 2012 | Rent | Angel Dumott Schunard | 5th Avenue Theatre |
| Spring Awakening | Moritz | Balagan Theatre | |
| 2013 | Hedwig and the Angry Inch | Hedwig | Moore Theatre |
| Hairspray | Velma Von Tussle | 5th Avenue Theatre | |
| 2023 | Chicago | Mama Morton | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway |
| 2024 | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey | Westside Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| Chicago | Mama Morton | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2025 | Pirates! The Penzance Musical | Ruth | Todd Haimes Theatre, Broadway |
| Oh, Mary! | Mary Todd Lincoln | Lyceum Theatre, Broadway |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Helpmann Awards | Best Cabaret Performer | The Vaudevillians | Nominated | [39] |
| 2021 | Queerty Awards | Drag Royalty | Herself | Won | [122] |
| Lockdown LOL | The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special | Won | [123] | ||
| 2023 | Badass | Herself | Won | [124] | |
| Podcast | Hi Jinkx! | Runner-up | [125] | ||
| 2024 | Live Theater | The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show | Won | [126][127] | |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | The Pirates of Penzance | Nominated |
Jinkx made her Broadway debut in the role of "Matron 'Mama' Morton" on Monday, January 16, 2023, making history by becoming the first drag queen to play the role on Broadway.
The RuPaul's Drag Race legend, who made her debut on Broadway this week as Chicago's Matron 'Mama' Morton, flexed her legendary imitation skills during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
I was raised Catholic, in a primarily Irish Catholic family.
They found out she was intersex. They thought she had a cyst in her abdomen. Turns out it was an underdeveloped testicle that's been there her whole life.
I have a half-sister who doesn't have the same mom, but she's pretty queer adjacent
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)I, myself do not identify as cis-gendered. I am genderless.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Winner ofRuPaul's Drag Race US season 5 | Succeeded by |
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded by | Winner ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars US All Stars 7 | Succeeded by |
| Seasons | |
|---|---|
| Winners | |
| Episodes | |
| Related | |
