Jinkx Monsoon Reflects on a Breakout Year and Broadway Stardom

Jinkx Monsoon is closing out 2025 as one of the most celebrated stage performers of the year, marking a major evolution in a career that first captured national attention more than a decade ago.

Audiences were first introduced to Monsoon during season five of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2013, where her eccentric humor, emotional sincerity, and theatrical sensibility quickly set her apart. In 2025, those qualities culminated in a breakthrough year on Broadway.

In the spring, Monsoon starred in “Pirates!,” a reimagined Gilbert and Sullivan production. But it was her turn as Mary Todd Lincoln in the hit play “Oh, Mary!” that cemented her status as a leading lady. Taking over the role from playwright and original star Cole Escola, Monsoon delivered a performance that critics and audiences embraced as both outrageous and deeply human.

Though “Oh, Mary!” is written as a broad farce, Monsoon infused the character with unexpected vulnerability, blending slapstick comedy with emotional weight. Her portrayal transformed Mary into a chaotic, tragic, and unforgettable figure, helping keep the show a must-see production.

Reflecting on the year as part of CNN’s Annual Self-Assessment series, Monsoon cited watching Cole Escola accept a Tony Award as one of her most memorable moments. She also shared that recording an album from her sold-out Carnegie Hall concert was a dream come true, with its release planned for 2026.

Looking ahead, Monsoon is set to revive her iconic Judy Garland portrayal in “End of the Rainbow” on London’s West End next year. When asked what she learned about herself in 2025, her answer was characteristically playful: she discovered her sense of smell is “top notch.”

As for surviving the year’s challenges, Monsoon credited having a stage and an audience. She identified apathy as the biggest existential threat to humanity and named “Mame” as a dream role still on her wish list.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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