Michelle Visage is best known for RuPaul's Drag Race, but I knew little about her before now. I thought this would be a fluff book, part of the marketing of her brand that might include a clothing line and a perfume, but was surprised at how good it was. This is more of a true autobiography than is presented.
Starting out in the New York club scene in the late eighties, she was a featured Vogue dancer at events before Madonna momentarily stole her look and style. Yes, that's right. Picked up by C+C Music Factory, she was in two hit bands (Seduction and SOUL SYSTEM) before becoming a radio DJ. Meeting RuPaul led to Drag Race invitations and, after a few seasons, she was able to join him on the hit show as the girls fairy dragmother. This book showed all the work, all the years of false starts it takes to arrive at a place where celebrity and style come easy. Being a diva doesn't always pay the bills, and until it does, you need a day job.
Mixed into her story is real world advice from someone who has lived it. I read a lot of celebrity biographies and this was a book I thought I would flip through for the pictures and a few catty comments. There are so many books out now from YouTube/Instagram "Stars" that are short on quality and substance, it was a nice surprise to find this was so grounded, and it gave me a lot of respect for her. When she reads a queen on Drag Race it's because she knows and wants to elevate you to be your best.
"While Divas make everything they do look easy, they actually work harder than anyone else".
Along with RuPaul, she hasn't sold out, but gradually worked hard to create the look, the work, and the style on her own terms. You'll read this if you are a fan, but recommended too if you like New York 80's club scene, pop music, and great face. Glad I read it.
Review of interest:
2015 / Hardcover / 211 pages
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