The ultimate glamour toad! Dylan Jones had a word or five with drag race contestant Ginger Minj about her love for London, rhinestones and Geri Halliwell.
*Picks up Phone*
Hello, Ginger Minj calling!
Hi Ginger! Where are you calling from?
Chicago.
The windy city…
Well I did have chilli for lunch.
I was just about to say something like that but you beat me to it. So you were here in London recently right? Judging G-A-Y Porn Idol! How was that?
London changed my life and I want to live there forever.
Oh, so you enjoyed it then?
Within three hours of arriving back in America I’d already shaved off half my hair, dyed the other half black and pierced my nose.
That’s very London.
I felt like such a better person for being there. I loved it. I’ve never been embraced by fans the way that I was in London. Even just walking through the airport there was a swarm of people coming up to me to say how much they appreciated me and loved me. I couldn’t walk three feet in the streets of London without people stopping me for pictures. It was wonderful. The reception was incredible.
That’s interesting because us lot have a reputation for being quite a reticent bunch…
I know! That’s what I thought too! But it was just wonderful. I can’t gush about it enough.
Was it your first time here?
It was, but I felt like I’d lived there my whole life. I’m gonna move there. I’m totally gonna move there.
I think you’ve got quite a cynical British side to you.
I love American audiences but I really feel like they don’t understand my dry, sarcastic sense of humour. I think that’s why I’ve been so well-embraced by all of the UK fans. They get it, they understand it.
Let’s chat about Drag Race. I remember you saying that if you won you wouldn’t want it to be just because you were a big girl…
Oh absolutely. The question was asked “Do you think it’s time for a big girl to win?” And yeah, I do think if you look at the line-up big girls are underrepresented. Like, no fat girl has ever won. But, while I would have no problem being the fat girl that won, I would want to win because I was a deserving winner. Not because I eat too much.
By the way where did the phrase ‘Glamour Toad’ come from? And what constitutes a Glamour Toad?
I’ve referred to myself as a glamour toad ever since I started doing drag. I’m built like a rugby player. I’ve got wide shoulders, no neck…so when you dress someone up like a woman and they’re built like that, they kinda resemble a toad. So I said if I’m gonna be a toad I’m gonna be a glamorous toad, and wear sequins, rhinestones and feathers from head to toe.
Yeah I always loved your looks! Who are your dragspirations?
I took a lot of my inspiration from the fifties and sixties in general. I love Adele, I think she knows what works for her and she sticks with it. I love that. I also love the girls like Melissa McArthy or Rebel Wilson, who are fuller-figured girls but aren’t afraid to show every curve, they’re not afraid to show leg…they’re not afraid to be sexy.
Who’s your favourite ginger, Ginger Minj?
Ginger Spice!
Oh of course.
I loved her growing up! I loved the Spice Girls! I’ve always been such an Anglophile anyway, that I always gravitate towards the British thing…Prince Harry, oh my god. Another great British ginger.
So what does the future hold for Ginger Minj then?
I’ve got SO much planned. Losing Drag Race was kind of a blessing. Who would want to be Fantasia Barrino when they can be Jennifer Hudson? If I’d won, I’d have been shoved into that box where I’d have to do the same thing over and over again for a year. But having placed second, it’s opened up a lot more doors and given me a lot more opportunities to do the things I wanna do. I’ve got a show (my one-woman show, starring me and three other people). And I just released a single called ‘Ooh La La La La’. AND I just recorded a duet with Margaret Cho.
Awesome. Well, best of luck with everything.
You too! I’ll look you up when I’m next in England.
