Jay Jackson, aka: Laganja Estranja
Laganja struts her stuff for the cause
Jay Jackson is Texas raised, but California savvy, when it comes to her favorite herb of cannabis. As a California cannabis patient, the drag queen’s persona, Laganja Estranja, embodies the plant, with her signature fingers-to-mouth, taking a drag off a joint pose, outing herself at every dip and turn.
Trained classically in dance since a child, Jackson studied at the Booker T. Washington School for the Performing Arts in Dallas, Texas, then earned a bachelor’s degree in dance at Cal Arts; the Disney owned arts college located in Los Angeles.
While studying in California, a chiropractor advised Jackson to try cannabis for chronic pain suffered from a dance injury while performing. Cannabis helped the performer replace pain killers and sleeping pills, with emotions also kept in check by medicating with the plant.
“The herb keeps me calm under pressure and my emotions level,” she shared. “It also deals with the physical pain of a career in dance, and helps immensely with physically getting into my drag costumes, which can be painful in itself.”
Presidential Awards & Persecution
Laganja Estranja debuted as a Drag Queen at Micky’s in West Hollywood, Los Angeles in 2011. She became a regular “Show Girl” after winning the Amateur Competition shortly thereafter. Just three years later, Laganja was presented to the national stage at the age of 24, when she appeared on Season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2014.
But, Jackson’s recognition as a performer began as a teenager when she was awarded the Presidential Scholar in the Arts, performing at the White House for then sitting President, George Bush, Sr. As an adult, Jackson returned to the program as a mentor and artist in residence. This experience moved the performer to tears, as she shared, “I was respected as an artist.”
Respect is meaningful when you are a member of the LGBTQ community. Add being a cannabis advocate, and you are constantly asserting yourself in the face of misinformation and daily discrimination. Add the layer of Drag Queen to the title, and the obstacles become more complicated.
The stigma of cannabis became more apparent as he was strip-searched and made to give up his cannabis remedies, after arriving for production of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Though the show filmed in her home state of California, where Jackson is a registered patient, nationally aired television shows must adhere to federal law where sponsors are concerned, and ban all restricted substances from set.
The lack of remedies affected the emotional drag queen, as evidenced in the outtakes. Taking herbal remedies away from someone who relies on them can be just as impactful as withholding prescription medications from a full-fledged patient with diagnosed maladies - symptoms and ailments present themselves quickly.
“Without the herb during production of the race, I was challenged emotionally and physically,” she shared. “My emotions ran high, tears flowed, and my body ached – I was not at my best and it showed.”
Fortunately, Laganja “sashayed away” with eighth place and her popularity intact.
Starpower Worthy of Inclusion
Today, Laganja crisscrosses the globe, delivering athletic performances to adoring fans, all the while promoting her favorite beneficial herb.
Jackson has choreographed for celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Brooke Candy. Laganja opened next to Cyrus and a plethora of drag queens for Cyrus’ performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2015. She’s taught dance around the world, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Peru, Australia, Germany, and London. Jackson worked with super model Heidi Klum on Germany’s Next Top Model; was featured on the television show, Inked (cover Dope Magazine, 2014); has appeared twice on Viceland’s Bong Appetite; and has been producing Puff Puff Sessions, for RuPaul’s World of Wonder Productions since 2016.
Jackson has several television show concepts in the works, including a variety show with Laganja Estranja blending the colorful fun of Pee Wee’s Playhouse with the iconic 70s Diva, Elvira, “Mistress of the Dark.”
Laganja recently launched a podcast, HIGHconic, which features segment, What’s the THC?, referenced from the LGBTQ community’s saying, “What’s the T,” as in truth.
Jackson has produced many musical singles, including, “Look at Me,” and “Smoke Break,” with highly produced music videos on Langanja’s YouTube channel. Her first official album, HIGHconic, is launching soon, with a Trademark pending for the catchy phrase.
Civilized 420 Games invited her to its event this past year, but, the one role left off her resume to date is celebrity Influencer at any number of cannabis events.
“The games were awesome, and I was honored to be a part of them, but I’d like to be more involved in the cannabis festivals as an Influencer in the space, overall,” Jackson shared. “My persona is able to reach a wider audience than has been accessed by the, shall we say, mainstream cannabis crowd? Gays and men in drag get just as high as white straight men at cannabis cups.”
This past year she partnered with Roxanne Dennant of Fruit Slab of Los Angeles; creating organic, vegan, Kosher certified, infused fruity candy in 10 milligram doses, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and gender expression.
“Every Pride month each year, they introduce a new flavor that I have the honor of creating. Last year’s flavor, Pride Passion, was a mix of passion fruit, mango and lemon-lime,” Jackson shared. “I definitely think the industry is changing, as more LGBTQ entrepreneurs step up and create products with opportunities for us.”
Jackson said the collaboration with Fruit Slabs was meaningful, as the company is the real deal when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ community.
“You can’t just slap a rainbow sticker on a product and say you are inclusive, you actually have to include us,” she added, with a wink.
As an Influencer within the cannabis community, Jackson’s selling power can’t be denied; for the buying power of the LBGTQ community can’t be ignored at more than one trillion a year in the U.S. alone.
As reported by Bloomberg in 2016, Bob Witeck, of Witeck Communications in Washington DC., has been gathering stats on the LGBTQ community for nearly 15 years, stating, this fact has caused many mainstream companies, such as Disney, Target, and Dow Chemical, to raise a rainbow flag of inclusion, ignoring federally mandated laws that may discriminate, updating company policies and practices to protect their employees and those who shop with them.
This year Jackson said he’d like to launch the release of her new album on National Dab Day on July 10.
“Coming together as a community is something both the LGBTQ and the cannabis communities already do, naturally. Four-twenty is global, but it’s a puff, puff, pass event – and those events are changing as we speak with the current pandemic,” Jackson laments. “Perhaps it’s time for a dab day – bring your own silicone hit protector and be safe. Party hats aren’t just for the bedroom, kids.”
As Laganja Estranja currently performs by live stream during California’s lock down during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson shares, “Performing is my life and as tragic as it is, a little virus won’t stop these legs from dancing. But, I do look forward to everyone being well again – and for the festival season to begin, that’s where I shine. Those are my people, that’s my tribe. No matter if you are straight or gay, we can rise above and come together over the plant.”
For more information on Laganja Estranja visit, Laganja Estranja www.laganjaestranja.com
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