The Grande Dame

Pepperica Swirl, The Empress of Caftans and Cocktails, (I knew the Mistress loved her for a reason) was born in a bathroom sink at Studio 54 to proud mother, Rhonda the coat check girl. Liza dropped her spoon, Andy Warhol flipped his wig, and Steve Rubell immediately put the tiny baby, Pepper, on the guest list. By the age of three, Pepper was disco dancing and performing in Parisian nightclubs with Grace Jones… Well, no, but seriously, Pepper made her debut in a small Greenwich Village theater as an usherette in All About Christmas Eve. By the beginning of this century, Pepper had gained fame as a DJ in downtown clubs, and in 2004 Pepperica Swirl joined the Imperial Court of New York. Pepperica Swirl is quick-witted with a strong sense of humor. You’ll find this Pepper at monthly ICNY meetings, running committees, selling tickets and making candidacy speeches. This Pepperica realizes she is not a real Princess, but that she is a party clown, doing important work for the community. You will find her in her studio or backstage at shows and events. She has a pocket full of safety pins and double-sided tape. She can pull you in, zip you up, and push you out on stage. Pepperica is a colorful belle with “all style, and no substance.” You’ll meet her at bar shows and many events. You will recognize her immediately by her long eyelashes and “slightly scaled up” hair. If you approach her, it’s best to have a smile in your heart and a song on your lips, because she likes to swirl around the room, hence her name, and get photographed crushing the competition with a smile. Oh yeah, she is also the new Empress of the Imperial Court on New York!!!