Ginger Minj appears to have a natural endowment for singing, dancing, acting and especially for, my personal favorite, the gift of the gab.  And gab she did when our paths finally crossed on an unusually warm Calgary day in February.  Her car, for the time being, her office as she drove to a show rehearsal in Orlando, Florida where she calls home.  Certain that we would be suffering in frigid temperatures, I was happy to report it was 62 degrees Fahrenheit (I did the conversion knowing she might be oblivious to the Celsius world) as she confessed it was a mere 72 degrees Fahrenheit in her home town of Orlando.

Born and raised in Leesburg, Florida The Minj (as dubbed by Carson Kressley) is driving, smoking and talking all at the same time.  Inquiring about her smoking and her smoking habits she confesses that after her separation from a relationship she had been in for eleven years she returned to smoking as one of the few mechanisms of calming her nerves.  "I come from a long line of addicts and the constant go-go-go that my career demands require the odd cigarette or two as a stress reliever".  Born Joshua Eads-Brown and having never done drugs of any kind she takes solitude in that this is the worst of her habits.  "It has never been reported (as she assures me I am about to become privy to her private life like no other) that several months my doctors assured me that cancer was an almost certainty during a routine visit with my physician".  Terrified and despondent she believed her smoking habit would end.  Unfortunately it did not as The Minj discovers she has eluded the death sentence for the time being.  "Coffee, cigarettes and healthy dose of sarcasm are the three things I don’t leave home without", she espouses.

Remaining unaffected by her fame both Ginger Min (in Drag) and Joshua Eads-Brown (out of Drag are recognized everywhere he/she goes and on a daily basis.  "I am still surprised every time I am recognized.  I still see myself as the fat little kid from Leesburg", he confesses.  Even that is quickly changing.  Having separated from his partner, losing 55 pounds and becoming the runner up to Violet Chachki on the Season 7 Race, her world has quickly become unrecognizable.  In April she will be appearing in San Francisco and Seattle, during May she is off to North Carolina and luckily for us in June she will make an appearance in Calgary.  Rupaul’s Battle of the Seasons (2016 Extravaganza Tour) hits Edmonton on June 16, 2016 at Union Hall and Calgary on June 17 at MacEwan Hall.  "I was in Edmonton just a week or so ago".  Informing me as though she was part Canadian.  Performing at Brixx Bar and Grill on February 27 she refers to Albertans affectionately and with child-like anticipation that she gets to return.  "The show is not only an opportunity to celebrate Rupaul’s Drag Race; it is an opportunity for each of the Queens to show off their individual talents that may not have been showcased during the taping".

"If you have noticed Ginger is an outspoken character and is often described as both mean and opinionated", she confesses as though the whole world saw her in that light.  By contrast Joshua (the boy Ginger) lacks confidence, is socially awkward, and rarely speaks up.  Ginger describes rarely seeing Joshua anymore and that, in fact, he had been sacrificed for a life of Drag.  Rebellious and eager to get Joshua out there she stopped shaving her eyebrows, became unconscious of her weight, and grew her hair long and suddenly Joshua had a life and personae.  However short lived is the anti-grooming campaign as each performance requires a complete transformation within a schedule that appears grueling.  "Ginger Minj is a name that was given to me (I did not choose it) during her employment stint at Sleuths Mystery Dinner".  "I needed to raise money to do my first pageant and the owner of Sleuths agreed to be my sponsor if I used the name," says Ginger.  And so she did resulting in a character that cites other redheads like Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball as her idols.

If you have ever questioned whether Ms. Ginger Minj (a runner-up in this pageant of pageants) will hold a place of reverence in Drag Queen Herstory perhaps her album, which drops shortly, will change your mind.  "It’s Meatloaf meets Jennifer Holiday". Ginger proclaims.  Margaret Cho and Carney Wilson are also slated to sing along side The Minj.  She really is the whole package.  Her ability to sing, dance, and act has kept her extremely busy on the Drag Circuit for many years.  In addition her comedic talent has become somewhat legendary as the reigning Comedy Queen of the South.

Ginger is an extremely confident character, Joshua is more flawed.  "People want Ginger’s advice not Joshua’s, she comments"  She believes that Rupaul’s Drag Race (with viewership increasing by 20% in Season 7) is reaching the masses and Drag Queens as well as their alter egos (themselves) are seen as people.  Humans who have stories not unlike the rest of us.   When asked to reveal one of her secrets to success she responded without hesitation.  "If you don’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else".  "I know that sounds really trite and cliché but it is what RuPaul espouses and lives by and it rings true for all of us", Ginger explains.

Amongst the sounds of traffic, the incessant honking of horns and the sound of the warm Orlando breeze there emerged a warm, sensitive and caring person who just wants to be accepted for who she is.  "I’m a crossdresser for Christ.  I’ll have you down on your knees and begging for Jesus in a minute", remains the language of Ginger Minj and reflects very little of the personality of Joshua Eads-Brown.