Parties
White Party 25 with the Most Glamorous Trinity on the Circuit :: An EDGE Interview with Elaine Lancaster, Chyna, and Kitty Meow by Mark Thompson and Robert Doyle
EDGE ContributorMonday Nov 23, 2009
Certainly one of the most ground-breaking print ads to emerge in the history of American advertising was Bacardi’s "Tom, Dick, and Harry By Day" campaign, starring drag divas Chyna, Kitty Meow, and Fantasy in a full-page national spread that brought the three gender-bending performance artists into mass America’s living rooms-and sealed their position at the pinnacle of the circuit world’s entertainers.
Throughout their subsequent careers, Chyna and Kitty Meow, alongside fellow diva, Elaine Lancaster, became the circuit equivalent to supermodel triumvirate Naomi, Christy, and Linda-serving it up with grace and style-and heaps of love.
And now, in a rare reappearance, the super-fabulous threesome are reuniting at-where else?-Villa Vizcaya, the fabled Italian Renaissance palazzo, for the 25th incarnation of the nation’s most glamorous charity fund-raiser, White Party, benefitting Care Resource.
Celebrating her tenth anniversary as White Party Hostess, Elaine Lancaster returns with her customary winning combination of class, sass, wisdom (and hair), while Kitty Meow serves it up as Master/Mistress of Ceremonies atop the mount at the Casino Lounge, ably assisted by the equally gorgeous, Chyna Girl-and a supporting cast of bombshell beauties.
Where better than Vizcaya to catch up with the three supernovas-and to find out what’s been happening and what’s in store for the silver anniversary of White Party.
EDGE: First of all, congratulations to you all for your long association with White Party. Do you remember your first White Party at Vizcaya?
CHYNA: Yes, honey, I sure do. It was back in the late Nineties, everyone arriving in their white attire, and I thought to myself, "WOW! This is what heaven must be like."
ELAINE: My first date to White Party was Chris Ciccone-you know, Madonna’s brother. But honestly, to me, I think everyone is a star at White Party that night.
CHYNA: I was amazed at how beautiful the event was. Everyone was so glamorous.
"This is the silver anniversary of White Party. Let’s embrace everyone who’s embraced Care Resource."
~
EDGE: You probably both arrived by yacht, right?
CHYNA: [laughing] My first year, I arrived in a limo. We went on the yacht a few years later, when we were with Bacardi.
EDGE: Chyna, you and Kitty became something of national icons for your role in the Bacardi campaign, "Tom, Dick and Harry By Day."
CHYNA: That campaign became much bigger than we could have imagined. I feel very blessed to have been part of such a memorable experience.
EDGE: There’s great footage of you working the runways, with that Bacardi campaign as backdrop. Was that period of your life a swirl of champagne and caviar? Did you get to meet people that you’d always wanted to meet?
CHYNA: I sure did. I met amazing people and went to so many places. I would never have thought a little boy from a third-world country could have gone so far.
EDGE: That is so touching. Too much sincerity-you’re gonna make us cry. Did you go shopping with Mariah, Chyna?
CHYNA: laughing] She called-but I was a little busy entertaining at the moment.
EDGE: Elaine, you’re known for having a heart as big as your hair-and you’ve worked with some of the best LGBT service organizations in the nation. What motivates you?
ELAINE: You know, I was the love child of Lana Turner and Burt Lancaster, and I always say, I got my altruism from Burt-and my sex appeal from Lana, the Hollywood heartbreaker. But seriously, you don’t have to be rich to be charitable. All you need is the desire. I fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. I try to give voice to those who are victims of injustice. Change the life of one person and you’ve made a huge difference.
"I thought to myself, ’WOW! This is what heaven must be like.’"
~
EDGE: Very empowering. You’re celebrating an anniversary at Vizcaya this year, Elaine. A special anniversary. What’s it mean to you?
ELAINE: Well, I think of my friendship with Elton John and Pamela Anderson- I look at what the name can do. How they’re able to associate themselves with a worthy cause. And lemme tell you, there’s no denying the ego of Elaine Lancaster. There’s no lying about it. But if I can create good out of it-then perfect.
EDGE: The bigger the hair, the bigger the voice, right?
ELAINE: My life is an open book. I was born on a dirt road in a little town in Alabama. If you live your life with total honesty, then no one has any control over you.
EDGE: You’re a little bit Dolly Parton.
ELAINE: Well, as morning follows night, I don’t live in the shadows. Take me as I am. I would rather say something I feel.
EDGE: So what can we expect at Vizcaya this year?
ELAINE: The thing is, I met with Chris Donahue [of Care Resource], and since I already have the keys to both the City of Miami and Miami Beach, as well as a proclamation for Elaine Lancaster Day-I simply said, "Look, this is the silver anniversary of White Party. Let’s embrace everyone who’s embraced Care Resource-and especially those who were there when others weren’t." It’s all about gratitude.
EDGE: Given your roles as White Party ambassadors and representatives of White Party glamour and grace, what would you want people to take from their experience at White Party 25 at Villa Vizcaya?
CHYNA: It’s a breathtaking party benefiting a great cause. It’s a party that will give you memories of a lifetime.
ELAINE: White Party is an opportunity to celebrate life for people who have come and gone. It’s more than a party; it s life and death. And 87 cents out of every dollar goes to Care Resource client services.
"And 87 cents out of every dollar goes to Care Resource client services."
~
EDGE: Of course, as we all know, it’s a tough economy for people. Any glamour tips you can give the kids so that they can save money-and still come to Vizcaya and support Care Resource?
ELAINE: In the words of Moschino, cheap and chic. Beauty on a budget. Rent the DVD "The Great Gatsby." It’s all about real and sophisticated elegance. Wear the dress; don’t let the dress wear you.
CHYNA: A bag of glitter and some spray adhesive can go a long way.
EDGE: [laughing] How do the two of you handle a wardrobe malfunction mishap in the middle of a performance?
CHYNA: Take it off-and throw it out. I got a show to do.
EDGE: Too funny. Have you ever had a style calamity at White Party?
CHYNA: The first year we went with Bacardi, I had mud on the train of my dress. And a girlfriend of mine had an accident with her shoe. The heel fell off-and the Bacardi boys ended up taking her around the back and pulling out a power drill to screw her shoe back together.
EDGE: Are you working vintage or haute couture this year?
CHYNA: You’ll have to be there to find out.
ELAINE: Vintage haute couture. Listen, I was able to buy an entire couture wardrobe from Barbara Davis. She’s the woman whose life Aaron Spelling used as the basis for the t.v. show Dynasty. Anyway, I knew Marvin and Barbara from Aspen. Rich, rich, rich. And the Carousel Ball was Barbara’s charity. Picture it: their estate, the Knoll, nineteen acres, three houses filled with couture. So I bought what I could-and so-from the Carousel Ball to White Party, from one charity to another. Except I couldn’t buy the shoes because they were too small for my size eleven hooves.
EDGE: [laughing] Giddyup, honey.
ELAINE: Lemme tell you something- Clothes have their own mythology.
And I wouldn’t wear the furs now because I’m involved with PETA.
EDGE: Good for you.
"It’s a party that will give you memories of a lifetime."
~
ELAINE: Besides, as I always say, the greatest accessory is a smile and a happy attitude.
EDGE: Speaking of attitude, the three of you have graced the covers of numerous periodicals and been photographed by many of the industry’s greats-and yet one photographer in particular seems to capture your vivacity and energy, your beauty and your grace-and that would be Dale Stine. Comments?
CHYNA: I love working with Dale. He always knows how to give a girl some good lighting-and we all need that extra special lighting.
EDGE: What’s a photography shoot with Dale Stine like? Is Miss Strawberry hanging around, serving whipped cream and shortcake?
CHYNA: [laughing] With sprinkles on top.
EDGE: The three of you’ve been stars on the scene and in the biz longer than some other girls-and if you’ll excuse us, you seem even more beautiful today than when you were first coming up. Recently, Chyna, we saw you channeling J.Lo, and then Maya, at CLICK-and really, those girls have nothing on you.
CHYNA: Well, thank you, honey. That’s very kind of you.
ELAINE: Health is a mental attitude.
EDGE: Maybe it’s your politesse. So charming. One rumor we’ve heard, Chyna-and maybe you’ll spill-is that you and the Dalai Lama are quite close. Care to comment?
CHYNA: He’s a very dear person to know. We share the same religion.
EDGE: And speaking of star quality, Elaine, what’s this we heard about a documentary?
ELAINE: Yes, it’s called "Fabulous" and it was for Sky One television in the UK. All week leading up to the White Party and the day after, the cameras pursued me, following me everywhere-even while I was filming E Entertainment’s "Wild on South Beach" show, which I hosted-and which was focused all around White Party week.
"But honestly--I think everyone is a star at White Party that night."
~
EDGE: Did they catch your star turn at the Colosseum in Orlando-where you entered looking like Julie Christie as Lara at the Winter Palace in Dr. Zhivago? We’re talking a blizzard of snow-white fur and sequins.
ELAINE: Tracy [Young] was deejaying-and I had only rehearsed for three days-and in all honesty, the dancers were the real stars. They made me shine and showed me how to do it. I’m a good actor so long as I have a good director.
EDGE: You know, Elaine, given your reputation for style, wit, and wisdom, we have to ask-what’s your daily mantra?
ELAINE: Don’t underestimate the power of love.
EDGE: So, gorgeous ones, what then is the secret to a successful White Party at Vizcaya?
CHYNA: There is no secret to having a good time and raising money for a good cause.
ELAINE: Self-destruction in moderation.
EDGE: What’s that?
ELAINE: You try walking around on coral rock slabs in four-inch heels, hair piled atop your head, with Swarovski chandelier earrings swinging from your lobes... That is self-destructive-but then, what price beauty?
EDGE: [laughing] You’re quick, Elaine. Last year at White Party, you and Jennifer Holliday were hysterical going off script onstage.
ELAINE: Life isn’t about a script. I like to say, let’s just wing it a minute and go from the heart. Nine out of ten times, you follow your heart; it’ll always lead you in the right direction. Too many people sleepwalk through life blind.
EDGE: Given your friendship with those who’ve graced White Party’s stage at Vizcaya, what can you share with us about working with Jennifer Holliday, Cyndi Lauper, RuPaul, Deborah Cox, Jodi Watley-amongst others?
ELAINE: RuPaul was my mentor, back when Lady Bunny and I were children in Atlanta. They terrified me and fascinated me at the same time. And I love Jennifer. The woman is one of the most gifted singers I know. She’s extremely spiritual with a heart of gold.
EDGE: Sounds like some people in the immediate vicinity. Thanks for taking the time, you gorgeous creatures-and most of all, for having as much generosity in your souls as you have glamour on your persons. Here’s to White Party 25!
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. With a PhD in American history and literature, Mark is the author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE. Robert is the producer of the documentary WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.
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