Jinkx Monsoon

Jinkx Monsoon, the stage name of Hera Hoffer, began performing in drag in Portland before relocating to Seattle, where she became active in theater and drag. In 2011, she co-created and starred in the web series Monsoon Season and appeared in the film Waxie Moon in Fallen Jewel. She was also featured in the documentary web series Drag Becomes Him, which began in 2011.

She expanded into musical theater in 2012, playing Moritz in a Seattle production of Spring Awakening and Angel in the 5th Avenue Theatre production of Rent. In 2013, she portrayed Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Seattle's Moore Theatre and later appeared as Velma Von Tussle in a concert production of Hairspray. She also starred as Kitty Witless in the cabaret musical The Vaudevillians, which premiered in New York in 2013 and subsequently toured Australia.

In 2013, she competed on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race as Jinkx Monsoon and won the competition. In 2022, Monsoon returned for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7, the franchise's all-winners season, and won the competition, becoming the first contestant to win two RuPaul's Drag Race crowns.

Monsoon began releasing music in 2014 with The Inevitable Album. The same year, Monsoon released the single "The Bacon Shake" with Fred Schneider. In 2015, Monsoon released ReAnimated and The Inevitable Commentary Album. The second studio album, The Ginger Snapped, was released in 2018. In 2020, Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme released The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special soundtrack in conjunction with their holiday film. Monsoon released the live album Red Head Redemption in 2023 and began the Virgo Odyssey project with The Virgo Odyssey: Prologue in 2022, followed by The Virgo Odyssey: Leo Moon in 2026.

Monsoon continued developing original stage and cabaret productions with BenDeLaCreme, including The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special, which was adapted into a 2020 feature film. The pair resumed touring their holiday productions in 2021 and continued presenting new versions in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

In 2023, she made a Broadway debut as Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago, becoming the first drag performer to play the role on Broadway. She returned to Chicago in 2024 before appearing as Audrey in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors. In 2025, she made a Carnegie Hall debut and returned to Broadway as Ruth in Pirates! The Penzance Musical. Later in 2025, she joined the Broadway production of Oh, Mary! as Mary Todd Lincoln and reprised the role in 2026 for the show's West End production at London's Trafalgar Theatre.

Her television work includes voicing Emerald on Steven Universe and appearing as Tallulah/Dennis on Blue Bloods in 2014. In 2015, Monsoon joined the cast of Wes Hurley's comedy series Capitol Hill. Monsoon appeared in the 2020 Hulu film Happiest Season and portrayed the villain Maestro in the 2024 Doctor Who episode "The Devil's Chord."