Miss Peppermint

Peppermint, born January 31, 1980, spent her early years in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware. Her childhood included performances in youth theatre at Opera Delaware, Delaware Children’s Theatre, and The Brandywiners Community Theatre, alongside cheerleading at Wilmington High School. She developed a foundational understanding of performance and cosmetic application, later working as a makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics. Moving to New York City to study musical theatre at AMDA, Peppermint became a fixture in the city’s nightlife scene, performing at prominent venues like the Tunnel’s Kurfew parties. Her career in music began in 2005, contributing to Jonny McGovern’s mixtape with her debut single “Servin’ It Up” released in 2006. In 2010, she was featured in the web series “Queens of Drag: NYC” by gay.com, showcasing her alongside other notable New York drag queens.

Her career gained significant momentum when she was announced as a contestant on the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2017. Peppermint had publicly come out as a trans woman in 2012, prior to the show, making her the first contestant to do so. Her performances on the show, particularly her fierce lip-syncs, earned her the nickname “Lip Sync Assassin,” and she ultimately reached the runner-up position. Following her television success, Peppermint made her Broadway debut in 2018 in the musical “Head Over Heels,” where she originated the role of Pythio, becoming the first openly trans woman to secure a principal role on Broadway. This achievement underscored her commitment to visibility and breaking barriers. She has continued to release music, including the albums “Hardcore Glamour” (2009) and “Black Pepper” (2017), and has utilized her platform for activism, notably co-founding Black Queer Town Hall.

In recent years, Peppermint has expanded her acting career with appearances in television series such as “Pose,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “God Friended Me,” where she played a trans pastor. Her dedication to LGBTQ+ advocacy is evident through her participation in projects like “Black Queer Town Hall,” which raised over $270,000 for The Okra Project. She continues to be a prominent voice in the trans community, emphasizing the political nature of drag and fighting for trans rights. In 2023, she was announced as a cast member for the second season of Peacock’s “The Traitors,” further diversifying her portfolio in mainstream media. Her ongoing work continues to combine entertainment with powerful messages of advocacy and representation.