Wednesday, September 25, 2019

THE MUSE

In my opinion, Amanda Lepore is much under appreciated. I'm sure at some point you've heard of her, or at least of seen her photo on the interwebs or a magazine. I have long adored her, even as a young gayling, I remember seeing her, and I assumed she was just a drag queen. She is also one of the reasons I wanted to do drag. She made me realize just how much I loved woman's fashion and all the glamour. Anyone involved in fashion, the club scene, or music has probably seen or met Amanda. When I found out she was actually a transsexual, if blew my mind. I didn't even know it was possible. What I respect the most, is that she never once hid the fact she was a transsexual, but flaunted it in a time when there was not much known about the process or even talk of trans people. That's ballsy you ask me. Yet I feel she is over looked for being a trailblazer and a hero. And she had it tough. She grew up in New Jersey to a chemical engineer father, and a mother who was a housewife but suffered from severe schizophrenia, and who spent most of her time in mental institutions. Ever since she could remember she felt like a girl, and thought her parents were crazy dressing her like a boy.  I her early teens she beginning making costumes for a transgender friend in exchange for female hormones.  She parents ended up withdrawing her from school and getting her a private tutor, and then to a psychologist, who helped her obtain a prescription to begin female hormone therapy.  When things soured with her parents, she eventually met and married a male bookshop owner, who again wasn't the best influence, but her father in law saw to it that she got a reassignment surgery at 19, and then left her husband to head to New York. 
 It's wasn't easy for her there at first either.  She tried to establish herself as a nighttime figure, including being a member of New York City's Club kids, she supported herself by working in a nail salon, and a part time dominatrix, and later a cosmetics girl at the infamous, but now defuncted Patricia Fields.  After meeting some time later photographer David LaChapelle, at the Bowery Bar one night, everything changed and she became a muse for him on several projects. You could say her career took off. Clubs noticed, and soon she was getting paid and still does, to just show up.
I think she is amazing. While her appearance may be very extreme and exaggerated to some, and her glamour over the top, and no one can work a pair of pasties on their ta's ta's like her, one must have respect for her. Not only did she brave and buck back against society with being trans, she supported herself and made a name for herself. I think she is actually a good business woman you ask me. Oh sure, she gets paid to show up just like Kim Kardashian to things, but the difference is Amanda has talent. Her modeling work is incredible,  she can work a room and a runway like no one's business, and she has a entertaining cabaret act where she sings and does simple burlesque. She's been a muse not only for LaChapelle, but several times for Cazwell,  and lately for Suki Waterhouse.  I also have to respect her for keeping her roots. She started in the club scene with Ru and Gaga when they were all club kids. But unlike the prior two, Amanda, just like James St James, Richie Rich, Lady Bunny Kyle Farmery and Linda Simpson, she kept,  and  still in deep to the club scene, which I think is cool. She has had songs, cosmetics endorsements,  and a photo book deal called Doll Parts. Hell, I wish I got paid just to show up at clubs!!!! 
And on top of all that, she is a real sweet heart. I have met her three times, twice at Susanne  Bartsche events and once right here in New Hope for her cabaret show. She is not stand off at all and will talk with anyone, and I must say she also has some of the most eye-popping day looks I've seen
Amanda Lepore should not be discounted....she is a brave soul and to me, she is just pure magic.  Here is her latest gig getting steamy with Suki Waterhouse, and also one of my favorite Amanda camp videos.
 
And is she not lucky to be all over the hot and hunky Steven Delher???

23 comments:

  1. Interesting life story. xoxoxoxo :-)

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  2. I agree with you completely. She has never gotten the recognition she deserves for being one of the first to be openly trans and not caring what people think of her, and never hiding the fact she was trans. Girlfriend is FIERCE!!!!!! Nice post.

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  3. While she may be controversial and highly sexual, she is super sexy and hottt !!! I only wish I could wear clothes as good as her. Such glamour. Loved the songs. Simple but catchy.

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  4. Great post. Iv'e seen her and know of her but never knew her story. No denying, she has style, balls and nerve!!!!!!!!

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  5. I love that she is so over the top with everything! And that she is still doing her thing in 2019, she's doing something right. I would love to meet her one day.

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  6. The reason I love her is because shes a clubkid! And we all know how original and creative they are. I love how she does her thing without regrets. A lesson to learn here.

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  7. I salute anyone who has lived life on their own terms, like she has.

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  8. She is one true person, and there really aren't a lot of those.

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  9. She is oddly beautiful...and then there those tits. Yes, she is magical.

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  10. To me, she is the modern day Mae West. I get angry when I hear people call her freak or a trannie mess. She is a intelligent woman who forgored her career from nothing, and created her personality, and became a nyc nightlife legend. I adore her fashion. Yes, she deserves her place in LGBTQ history.

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  11. I never heard of Amanda Lepore but her story is intriguingly unique. And those photos are eye-popping fantastic!

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  12. In Buckle up!!?!?!?!?!

    She is one lucky woman to have her hands all over Steven Delhr and get him in a rhinstoned jock strap. I cant think WHO she reminds me of....mistress? I like thos post too.

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    1. Steven just reeks of sex appeal. You put me in that room with him in a glam jock strap, and you'll be peeling me off the ceiling.

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  13. She is the original "triumph of art over nature"... Jx

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  14. Usually that much plastic surgery turns me off, bit there is something about her that is truly amazing. And one does remember her. So she's doing something right.

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  15. I don't remember where I first heard of Lepore, but I follow her on Twitter, as I do with just about anyone who I find out is LGBTQ.

    I'd be curious to see what she looks like without all the makeup. For so many trans women, it's that jawline that gives them away. If she's had some sort of reconstructive surgery, well, then that may not be an issue. Since ciswomen tend not to wear as much makeup as those who perform drag, she may be more likely to pass without it than with it! (Not that she, or any transgender person, has any obligation to pass.)

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    1. I have seen pictures of her right after her transition and minor plastic surgery, and she looks completely different then now. She appeared almost wholesome. She admits to being just a tad addicted to plastic surgery, much like Joan Rivers.

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  16. I think she’s her own art installation. She’s created the image of herself she knew she was all along. She’s awesome because she’s absolutely artificial.
    I agree she’s under appreciated. I usually look forward to her collabs with Cazwell.

    XoXo

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    1. That's a good term art installation!

      As sexy kitten as she appears it blows my mind how down to earth and sweet she is.

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  17. Such a f*cking legend. So honored to live in NYC and see her at all of Susanne’s parties in Manhattan

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  18. Dutch VanZandt9/26/2019

    I didn't really know much about Ms Lepore before... she makes me think of another star... Dolly Parton, whom I greatly admire for all she has accomplished and more basically, for the person she is.

    I enjoy seeing Amanda thanks for a wonderful post. Enjoy your blog too.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!