Ginny Lemon
Lewis Matthew Lumiere Mandall, née Croucher,[6][7][8] known professionally as Ginny Lemon, is a British drag performer and recording artist best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. They are known for their alternative and highly campy drag.
Ginny Lemon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lewis Matthew Lumiere Croucher |
| Other names | Lewis Spelt Backwards (until 2016)[1] Lewis Mandall Lewis Mandall Croucher |
| Education | University of Worcester |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2008–present[2] |
| Television | The X Factor (2017)[3][4][5] RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2) |
| Website | Instagram |
Education edit
Ginny studied at the University of Worcester, and has said they were "hounded out of a job for being gay" whilst working at the university.[9]
Career edit
Ginny has appeared at Birmingham's SHOUT Festival of Queer Arts and Culture.[10] They appeared on The X Factor in 2017.[3]
While competing on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Ginny Lemon eliminated themself from the competition in a lip sync round with fellow competitor Sister Sister.[11] They have since said they felt uncomfortable with some of the judges' comments, arguing that RuPaul and Michelle Visage did not understand British humour, and pushed Ginny towards a female-orientated concept of glamour.[12] Ginny Lemon also criticised RuPaul's emotional outburst on the show, where RuPaul criticised Joe Black's outfit (which occurred after Ginny had left), tweeting: "Screaming and swearing at desperate out of work queens for being too regional and unable to afford costumes after 7 months of jobless despair... Nah babz I’m better off at home fank u very much".[13] In February 2022, Lemon embarked on RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour alongside the entire cast of the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, in association with World of Wonder and promoter Voss Events.[14]
In January 2022, Lemon appeared alongside fellow cast member and friend Sister Sister on series 7 of E4's Celebrity Coach Trip, joining fellow celebrity travellers in Portugal like Matt Richardson, Honey G, Paul Danan, The Honeyz[15] and Birds of a Feather stars Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.[16][17]
In July 2022, Lemon appeared at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, performing a musical act in a large lemon hot air balloon wearing a steampunk/pirate outfit.[18]
Personal life edit
Ginny is non-binary. A discussion with fellow non-binary Drag Race competitor Bimini Bon-Boulash was credited with helping other non-binary people to come out.[19]
Filmography edit
Television edit
- The X Factor (2017)
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2021)
- Celebrity Coach Trip (2022)
Music videos edit
| Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "My House" | Jodie Harsh | [20] |
Discography edit
- Studio albums
- Singles
Stage edit
| Year | Title | Promoter | Location | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour | Voss Events / World of Wonder | Ipswich, Oxford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Southend, Manchester, Sheffield, Blackpool, Llandudno, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Plymouth, London, Derby, Bristol, Bradford, Aberdeen, Southampton, Stockton, Brighton and Newport | [14] |
References edit
- ^ a b Card, Kirsty (13 January 2021). "'We're breaking the binary baby!' Singer bids for Drag Race UK crown". BirminghamLive. from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Meet the musicians: Lewis Spelt Backwards". worcester music festival. 4 May 2013. from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ a b Laws, Roz (29 September 2017). "Why Midland drag act Ginny Lemon stands out on X Factor". BirminghamLive. from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ Sharpe, Liz (23 September 2017). "Ginny Lemon's 5 reasons not to miss Worcestershire Pride today". Worcester News. from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ Laws, Roz (30 September 2017). "What happened after Ginny Lemon's 'hideous' X Factor audition". BirminghamLive. from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Hilary (18 February 2021). "Every drop of tea about Drag Race UK Series 2 from Dawn French to the Brit Crew". PinkNews. from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ Sharpe, Liz (11 September 2017). "Worcester's Ginny Lemon - fancy a slice? appears on X-Factor". worcesternews.co.uk. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "I'm so Offended". music.apple.com. Apple Inc. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Ginny Lemon from Drag Race UK claims they were 'hounded out of job' at uni for being gay". The Tab UK. 3 February 2021. from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "SHOUT Festival Opening". Redbrick Culture. 14 November 2019. from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ Day, Harvey (5 February 2021). "Ginny Lemon: 'Why I quit Drag Race UK'". BBC Three. from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ Warner, Sam; Opie, David (11 February 2021). "Drag Race UK's Ginny Lemon explains why they "felt uncomfortable" on the show". Digital Spy. from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Drag Race's Ginny Lemon had absolutely no time for RuPaul's explosive H&M rant". PinkNews. 12 February 2021. from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ a b . Voss Events. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Worcester television star clashes with angry actor on Celeb Coach Trip". 5 January 2022. from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Celebrity Coach Trip 2022 line-up: Meet the cast of the brand new series". from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Celebrity Coach Trip - All 4". from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Worcester Drag Race star opens Commonwealth Games in giant lemon-shaped balloon". 29 July 2022. from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Drag Race UK: 'I came out to my mum as non-binary watching the show'". BBC News. 3 February 2021. from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ Jodie Harsh (5 March 2021), Jodie Harsh - My House (Official Video), from the original on 12 March 2021, retrieved 21 March 2021
- ^ "Greatest Pips by Ginny Lemon". Apple Music. 22 February 2021. from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ O'Connor, Rachael (5 August 2022). "How Drag Race's Ginny Lemon shattered huge LGBTQ+ boundaries in Commonwealth opening ceremony: 'This is a huge deal for queer people everywhere'". Metro. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "I'm So Offended - Single by Ginny Lemon". Apple Music. from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "I Am Over My Overdraft - Single by Ginny Lemon". Apple Music. March 2021. from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Woolworths Sneaky Butchers - Single by Ginny Lemon". Apple Music. 6 March 2021. from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.