Jinkx Monsoon’s Doctor Who Proves Drag Race stars can enter the mainstream

If anyone knows how to make the most of their fifteen minutes, it’s a drag queen. While an appearance on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” can catapult a showgirl to new levels of fame, most former contestants are still clutching tips at the club long after their season. That’s just the way the game is played, and the smartest know to put on a show if they want a lasting career.

Since its debut on LogoTV in 2009, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has brought worldwide recognition to the art of drag, introducing a new generation of drag artists and innovators. Shangela, Trixie & Katya and Bianca del Rio have all parlayed their “Drag Race” fame into lasting and successful careers. But for every former contestant who has gone on to a lucrative comedy, podcast and reality TV career, there are dozens more who are never heard from again.

As with all breaks, this is only a starting position if you know what to do with it.

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As a two-time winner and fan favorite, Jinkx Monsoon’s sense of theatrics has always set her above the rest. The adorable freak won the fifth season of “Drag Race” and the second season of “All Stars” (which also featured a very memorable Judy Garland in “Snatch Game”), so it’s no surprise that she’s been one of the most successful queens. beyond his tenure on “Drag Race.” An accomplished cabaret singer and entertainer, Monsoon made her Broadway debut earlier this year as matron “Mama” Morton in “Chicago” and won rave reviews for her quirky portrayal of the Sapphic prison warden.

Now he’s crossing another frontier as he takes on a ‘starring role’ in Doctor Who, the BBC’s beloved and long-running sci-fi series. By deadline. Without diminishing the success of other beloved “Drag Race” alumni, Monsoon, who landed a major role on the wildly popular scripted show, may be the most significant milestone of any former contestant.

“In the galaxy of comets and supernovae, the biggest star comes here. Jinkx Monsoon is on a collision course with the TARDIS and Doctor Who will never be the same,” said casting director Russell T Davies.

“I am honored, excited and beyond excited to be joining Doctor Who! Russell T Davies is a visionary and brilliant writer – I can’t wait to get into the weeds with him and the crew! I hope there is room in the TARDIS for my luggage, Monsoon said.

“Doctor Who” has taken on a significantly more LGBTQ+ bent since Davies returned as showrunner in 2021 (he previously oversaw the series’ 2004 reboot). In May 2022, the BBC announced that “Sex Education” star Ncuti Gatwa had been cast as the titular Doctor, an alien called the Time Lord who has a human appearance.

Gatwa, who also played a proudly gay character in “Sex Education,” is the first black actor to lead the show. With the non-binary Monsoon in the mix, there’s no limit to how fun, fabulous and weird the future of ‘Doctor Who’ can be. Also pioneering in season 14 is Pete MacHale, the first trans person in the history of the “Doctor Who” cast.

With the introduction of anti-trans legislation across the country, drag shows have become the latest target of conservative politicians. Anti-towing bills have been introduced in at least 14 statesby linguistically targeting “adult cabaret shows” that include “male or female impersonators” to target trans people.

In light of recent attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, news of Monsoon’s “Doctor Who” casting is a much-needed boon for queer audiences and their allies. Well, if only we could get that note across the pond.

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