Ginny Lemon
{{Short description|English drag queen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ginny Lemon
| birth_name = Lewis Matthew Lumiere Croucher
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Worcester, England, UK
| other_names = Lewis Spelt Backwards (until 2016){{cite news |last1=Card |first1=Kirsty |title='We're breaking the binary baby!' Singer bids for Drag Race UK crown |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/were-breaking-binary-baby-worcerster-19608035 |work=BirminghamLive |date=13 January 2021 |language=en |access-date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203112119/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/were-breaking-binary-baby-worcerster-19608035 |url-status=live }}
Lewis Mandall
| education = University of Worcester
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|Drag performer}}
| television = The X Factor (2017){{cite news |last1=Laws |first1=Roz |title=Why Midland drag act Ginny Lemon stands out on X Factor |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/midland-drag-act-ginny-lemon-13696136 |work=BirminghamLive |date=29 September 2017 |language=en |access-date=28 February 2021 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124124853/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/midland-drag-act-ginny-lemon-13696136 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Sharpe |first1=Liz |title=Ginny Lemon's 5 reasons not to miss Worcestershire Pride today |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/15553380.x-factor-star-ginny-lemons-5-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-miss-worcestershire-pride-today/ |work=Worcester News |date=23 September 2017 |language=en |access-date=28 February 2021 |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311004951/https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/15553380.x-factor-star-ginny-lemons-5-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-miss-worcestershire-pride-today/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Laws |first1=Roz |title=What happened after Ginny Lemon's 'hideous' X Factor audition |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/what-happened-next-after-drag-13696221 |work=BirminghamLive |date=30 September 2017 |language=en |access-date=28 February 2021 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023003707/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/what-happened-next-after-drag-13696221 |url-status=live }}
RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2)
| website = [https://www.instagram.com/ginnylemon69/ Instagram]
[https://twitter.com/ginnylemon69 Twitter]
}}
Lewis Matthew Lumiere Mandall, {{nee}} Croucher,{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Hilary |date=2021-02-18 |title=Every drop of tea about Drag Race UK Series 2 from Dawn French to the Brit Crew |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/18/drag-race-uk-season-2-air-date-queens-how-to-watch-eliminations-pit-crew-judges-and-episodes/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=PinkNews |language=en-GB |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819114029/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/18/drag-race-uk-season-2-air-date-queens-how-to-watch-eliminations-pit-crew-judges-and-episodes/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/15528514.worcesters-ginny-lemon-fancy-a-slice-appears-on-x-factor/ |title=Worcester's Ginny Lemon - fancy a slice? appears on X-Factor |last=Sharpe |first=Liz |website=worcesternews.co.uk |date=11 September 2017 |publisher=Newsquest Media Group Ltd |access-date=September 17, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/song/im-so-offended/1636322108 |title=I'm so Offended |website=music.apple.com |publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=October 13, 2023}} 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.
Education
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.{{cite news |title=Ginny Lemon from Drag Race UK claims they were 'hounded out of job' at uni for being gay |url=https://thetab.com/uk/2021/02/03/ginny-lemon-from-drag-race-uk-claims-they-were-hounded-out-of-job-at-uni-for-being-gay-193532 |work=The Tab UK |date=3 February 2021 |access-date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213095215/https://thetab.com/uk/2021/02/03/ginny-lemon-from-drag-race-uk-claims-they-were-hounded-out-of-job-at-uni-for-being-gay-193532 |url-status=live }}
Career
Ginny has appeared at Birmingham's SHOUT Festival of Queer Arts and Culture.{{cite web |title=SHOUT Festival Opening |url=https://www.redbrick.me/shout-festival-birmingham/ |website=Redbrick Culture |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=28 February 2021 |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311004952/https://www.redbrick.me/shout-festival-birmingham/ |url-status=live }} They appeared on The X Factor in 2017.
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.{{cite news |last1=Day |first1=Harvey |title=Ginny Lemon: 'Why I quit Drag Race UK' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/96d2e917-2c9b-4fcb-bfad-6d558b35e0a7 |work=BBC Three |date=5 February 2021 |access-date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=16 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216014811/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/96d2e917-2c9b-4fcb-bfad-6d558b35e0a7 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite news |last1=Warner |first1=Sam |last2=Opie |first2=David |title=Drag Race UK's Ginny Lemon explains why they "felt uncomfortable" on the show |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a35479349/drag-race-uk-ginny-lemon-uncomfortable/ |work=Digital Spy |date=11 February 2021 |access-date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224202526/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a35479349/drag-race-uk-ginny-lemon-uncomfortable/ |url-status=live }} 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."{{cite news |title=Drag Race's Ginny Lemon had absolutely no time for RuPaul's explosive H&M rant |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/12/drag-race-uk-rupaul-hm-twitter-ginny-lemon/ |work=PinkNews |date=12 February 2021 |access-date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222004339/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/12/drag-race-uk-rupaul-hm-twitter-ginny-lemon/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web|title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK Tour|url=https://vossevents.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-tour/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Voss Events|language=en|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032451/https://vossevents.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-tour/|url-status=dead}}
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{{Cite web|url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/19825894.worcesters-ginny-lemon-appears-celeb-coach-trip-clashes-paul-danan/|title=Worcester television star clashes with angry actor on Celeb Coach Trip|date=5 January 2022 |access-date=17 January 2022|archive-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106175457/https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/19825894.worcesters-ginny-lemon-appears-celeb-coach-trip-clashes-paul-danan/|url-status=live}} and Birds of a Feather stars Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/celebrity-coach-trip-2022-line-up/|title=Celebrity Coach Trip 2022 line-up: Meet the cast of the brand new series|access-date=17 January 2022|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104194131/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/celebrity-coach-trip-2022-line-up/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/celebrity-coach-trip|title=Celebrity Coach Trip - All 4|access-date=17 January 2022|archive-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106175356/https://www.channel4.com/programmes/celebrity-coach-trip|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/20586947.drag-race-icon-ginny-lemon-performs-opening-commonwealth-games-birmingham-2022/|title=Worcester Drag Race star opens Commonwealth Games in giant lemon-shaped balloon|date=29 July 2022 |access-date=4 October 2022|archive-date=12 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812120545/https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/20586947.drag-race-icon-ginny-lemon-performs-opening-commonwealth-games-birmingham-2022/|url-status=live}}
Personal life
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 of the closet.{{cite news |title=Drag Race UK: 'I came out to my mum as non-binary watching the show' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-55857270 |work=BBC News |date=3 February 2021 |access-date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205145132/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-55857270 |url-status=live }}
Filmography
=Television=
- The X Factor (2017)
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2021)
- Celebrity Coach Trip (2022)
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist !Ref. |
|---|
| 2021
|"My House" |
Discography
;Studio albums
- Greatest Pips (2021){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/greatest-pips/1555300915|title=Greatest Pips by Ginny Lemon|website=Apple Music|date=22 February 2021|accessdate=7 March 2021|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311004924/https://music.apple.com/us/album/greatest-pips/1555300915|url-status=live}}
- Tonic (2022){{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Rachael |date=2022-08-05 |title=How Drag Race's Ginny Lemon shattered huge LGBTQ+ boundaries in Commonwealth opening ceremony: 'This is a huge deal for queer people everywhere' |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/05/drag-races-ginny-lemon-honoured-to-represent-lgbtq-at-commonwealth-17128165/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Metro}}
;Singles
- "I'm So Offended" (2021){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/im-so-offended-single/1554766402I|title=I'm So Offended - Single by Ginny Lemon|website=Apple Music|accessdate=7 March 2021|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311005001/https://music.apple.com/us/browse|url-status=live}}
- "I Am Over My Overdraft" (2021){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-am-over-my-overdraft-single/1554762165|title=I Am Over My Overdraft - Single by Ginny Lemon|website=Apple Music|date=March 2021|accessdate=7 March 2021|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311004924/https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-am-over-my-overdraft-single/1554762165|url-status=live}}
- "Woolworths Sneaky Butchers" (2021){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/woolworths-sneaky-butchers-single/1555670860|title=Woolworths Sneaky Butchers - Single by Ginny Lemon|website=Apple Music|date=6 March 2021|accessdate=7 March 2021|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311005007/https://music.apple.com/us/album/woolworths-sneaky-butchers-single/1555670860|url-status=live}}
Stage
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Promoter ! scope="col" | Location ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 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 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race UK}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemon, Ginny}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people
Category:Alumni of the University of Worcester
Category:English non-binary musicians
Category:English gay musicians
Category:English comedy musicians
Category:Musicians from Worcester, England
Category:Non-binary drag performers