Life Was A Drag!: August 2007

A Suitable Brooch For Elton?

This rarely seen photograph of The Goddess was taken in 1996 by Gordon Rainsford at the official opening of the newly installed hydrotherapy pool at East London’s Globe Centre. The Globe Centre was established in 1981 with the aim of providing practical and emotional support for those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Sir Elton was invited in his capacity as patron for the centre to open the hydrotherapy facility. Millie was there in her capacity as ‘something gorgeous’ for Elton to wear on his lapel!

The superstar would later 'support' The Goddess on stage at the 1999 Stonewall Equality show. Flanked by six Drag Queens, including The Goddess, Sir Elton infuriated British scouting leaders when he performed alongside 'six strip-teasing teenagers' attired in Cub Scout uniforms. The 'boys' grabbed their crotches and bared themselves down to their skimpy shorts to the classic tune "It's a Sin" by the Pet Shop Boys. At the time, a spokesman for Elton explained that the sexy-scout spectacle "was a bit of high camp in the great British tradition of comedy like Benny Hill. It was meant to be a bit of fun for an appropriate audience."(Millie would later testify that if these 'boys' were teenagers, she was the long lost love child of John Wayne)!

A 'Knight' To Remember!

Photo published in Hello! Magazine, issue number 563. June 8th, 1999

The Goddess was thrilled to have been asked to meet and greet such a distinguished group of friends from stage, screen and television who were brought together to celebrate Sir Ian ‘Serena’ Mckellen's surprise 60th birthday in May 1999. Arriving in a red Bentley at The Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, Sir Ian was overwhelmed at the reception he received. Assembled friends included Sting, along with wife Trudy Styler, David Hockney, Jane Asher, Lynn and Lady Redgrave, Janet Street-Porter, Geri Halliwell, Dawn French, Neil Tennant, Richard E Grant, former Whitehouse intern Monica Lewinski, the actor and activist Michael Cashman, Graham Norton, Michelle Collins and Trevor Nunn, to name but a few. Ever the professional, The Goddess took to the job in hand with ease, not being at all phased by the assembled throng (deep down inside she was screaming, uncontrollably). As supper was served, Millie went to her suite upstairs to change into her ‘supper outfit’.

As Millie descended the staircase and entered the room, all eyes fell upon her. Absorbing her ‘natural’ drag beauty, a deathly hush fell upon the masses as The Goddess struck a pose…there appeared to be no seats left at any of the immediate tables for her. Millie cast a steely eye across the room; there was a vacant seat at Lynn and Lady Redgrave’s table. Who dared to stop her from sitting with the members of this distinguished and much admired acting dynasty? Millie sauntered across the room; her 'sylphlike' figure likened to that of a stick insect clad in royal blue crushed velvet, she boldly took her place next to Lynn Redgrave. Lynn turned to The Goddess and said, ‘my mother is in awe of your hair, where do you have it styled?’ ‘Alfredo’s down the Walworth Road’ snorted The Goddess. ‘A shampoo and set on Saturday and a dry carmen comb-out on a Wednesday works wonders!’ 'You must give me his number', piped up Lady Redgrave, a wry smile crossing her face.
With the ice broken, the wine flowed; and from that moment on, whilst engaging in social chit chat and swapping make-up tips, Millie enjoyed one of the most exhilarating and memorable evenings of her career. A light fork supper with The Redgrave’s whilst Sting sang 'Happy Birthday' to Sir Ian, not ten feet from The Goddess. Along with a photo in Hello! Magazine...what more could a Goddess ask for?

Quote from Hello! Magazine: The compass of Sir Ian's circle of friends could hardly be called narrow: Lady Redgrave cuts his Jane Asher-designed chocolate cake watched by daughter Lynn, The True Drag Goddess Millie Mopp (dressed by the House Of Geden), Richard III director Richard Loncraine's children, and Jane herself.

Monica Who?...& Great Aunt Regina!

Richard & The Goddess!

The Tesco Club-Card Frock!

The Tesco Club Card frock was originally created for the Gay Pride celebrations held at Victoria Park, London in 1995 where the Goddess was appearing alongside many of her colleagues and doyennes of the drag circuit. Inspiration for the Club Card Frock came from the dress worn by costume designer Lizzy Gardiner at the 1995 Oscars. Made entirely from Gold American Express cards, Lizzy wore the dress when she went to collect the Oscar for best costumes designed for the international global phenomenon, ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’.

Rumour has it that whilst filming Priscilla, a dress made out of credit cards was rejected by all the major credit card companies (one can only presume this was because of the content matter of the film). Not to be beaten, costume designers Tim Chappel and Lizzy gardiner popped into K-Mart in Warringah Mall and purchased several pairs of thongs (flip-flops) to make the now (in) famous thong dress. With the film such an international hit and with a coveted Oscar nomination, one can only presume that all the major credit card companies were literally 'bending over backwards' to accommodate Miss Gardiner for the ceremony. Publicity like that was priceless; American Express was the credit card company finally chosen, publicly associating themselves with Priscilla. One can only assume all the others were ceremoniously rejected, one by one!

Deciding to go from the sublime to the ridiculous whilst aided and abetted by her guru Mad Margaret, The Goddess had very little trouble in persuading Tesco’s to supply her with the much coveted supply of club-cards. They understood the power of the pink pound; all they requested in return was a photo for their in-house magazine. This was duly supplied, and for the summer of 1995, The Goddess became this blue plastic club-card clad, walking, talking, singing advertisement for Tesco’s. She never shopped at Sainsbury’s again and was able to collect thousands of extra club-card points for her troubles, allowing her to indulge herself in her favourite cosmetics range, Rimmel!