Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the female equivalent of kingpin n., i.e. a woman who heads an institution or arranges an event.

1961		Guardian 16 Jan. 4/2: A break for the ‘queen-pin’ [...] is utterly essential if you are to keep going.
1972		Daily Tel. 21 Jan. 13/1: Welcome to Elaine May [...] not just as a voice but as the queen-pin – director, author and actress.
2002		tributes on prayer12.org.uk 🌐 Celitha has always held a very special role in the life of this church – [...] A Queen pin in her own way. A centre of caring and information about people whose families had island roots around the Caribbean.
2016		Guardian G2 8 Aug. 🌐 A brothel-cum-drugs-den [...] overseen by the narcotics queenpin Fat Annie.