Sashay, shante

Sharing the day with an odd assortment of "names", such as Rock Hudson, Danny DeVito, Fenella Fielding, Peter Cook, Martin Scorsese, Field Marshall Montgomery, Jack Vettriano, Auberon Waugh, Sarah Harding, Jonathan Ross, David Emanuel, Gordon Lightfoot and Louis XVIII of France, it's the "Fairy Dragmother" RuPaul's birthday today!

I have one thing to say...

RuPaul - RuPaul - Supermodel (You Better Work)

Thank Disco It's Friday!

Have a great one, dear reader!

Classical and not-so-classical gayers

It was somewhat appropriate that this afternoon, I ignored Saint Hallmark Valentine's Day and went to a faboo "potted history" talk at the British Museum - to launch their recognition of LGBT History Month (and indeed their establishment of a special gallery dedicated to LGBT history and artefacts in this, the 50th year since the (partial) decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, opening in May).

What better way to start my sojourn through the month's events [we missed week #1 of course, being in Spain] than with the blatant sex scenes of The Warren Cup, the love story of Emperor Hadrian and Antinous, and with the lesbian love poetry of Sappho..?

However, not all things in life are so cultural.

While exploring the darkest recesses of La Nogilera gay scene in Torremolinos last week, we were delighted to discover [we're obviously late to the game, not being fans of RuPaul's Drag Race, from whence the first mix below emerged] the - ahem - talents of a certain Señor AB Soto, and here he is (twice), with Cha Cha, Bitch!:

RuPaul featuring AB Soto - Cha Cha Bitch

(...and the original:)

AB Soto - Cha Cha Bitch (official video)

I like to think that Hadrian and Antinous would have approved.

Strike a pose

Mrs George Clooney, Amal Alamuddin


Amy Adams


Anne Hathaway


Mrs Justin Trousersnake, Jessica Biel


Sarah Jessica Parker


Penelope Cruz and friends

From The Hollywood Reporter:

In September - just weeks before he passed away on Monday at the age of 82 - [we] named Oscar de la Renta one of 2014's most influential red-carpet designers. And that he was, with his graceful, modernly elegant gowns making an astounding 54 appearances on red carpets during the past 12 months.

"I feel very lucky to work with such extraordinary women. It is a tremendous honour and a great pleasure. My role as a designer is to make a woman feel her best. If I have made a woman feel beautiful, then that would be my ultimate contribution," [he said].

Favourite designer of such disparate bedfellows as Oprah Winfrey, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Nancy Reagan, Mr de la Renta - an emigré to Spain from the Dominican Republic in the early 50s - was one of the world's most successful couturiers, eclipsing even his mentors Balenciago and Lanvin to preside over a $200m international empire.

He will be sadly missed by the ladies of the red carpet at events the world over.


with Audrey Hepburn

To mark his passing, here's a little something from two ladies of fashion, RuPaul vs Madonna:

RuPaul vs Madonna - Vogue Cover Girl

Óscar Arístides Renta Fiallo (22nd July 1932 – 20th October 2014)

More Oscar de la Renta over at Dolores Delargo Towers Museum of Camp

Can´t stop now won´t slow down

As we hurtle into the buffers of the end of another week, with a nice mild and sunny weekend in prospect, let us wish many happy returns today to the lovely RuPaul, actor, drag queen, model, author, singer, songwriter and fierce rulin' diva!

Without further ado, here's the grand dame's recent return to her disco roots - all the more reason to Thank Disco It's Friday!!!

RuPaul - Jealous Of My Boogie (Ruru & Rozy Disco Mix)

We love her.

RuPaul's biography in his/her own words

Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous

Many happy returns today to the spectacular RuPaul!

Statuesque, ground-breaking diva that she is, RuPaul hit our screens in the early 90s as a "star" of the weirdo Public Access TV show Manhattan Cable - a weekly freakshow that made compulsive viewing, and also launched the careers of such luminaries as Margarita Pracatan...

But chart success with Supermodel (You Better Work) changed RuPaul from cult status to an outrageous disco diva, idolised by queens on both sides of the channel! Her success since then has been intermittent, but her version of It's Raining Men with Martha Wash in 1997, and the club successes Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous in 2004, and People are People in 2006, stand out as gay classics.

RuPaul's icon status has led to some strange collaborations indeed, including Elton John, and the divine Miss Ross herself...

Diana Ross and RuPaul - I Will Survive

Happy birthday, fierce ruling diva!

RuPaul on Wikipedia