The death of Paul O'Grady sparked a flood of celebrity tributes in the entertainment industry and even the royal family.
And the legacy of his blonde alter ego spirit, Lily Savage, has been described by the drag community as pioneering and vital. changing.
The character, inspired by tough but colorful women in her family, had fans across generations - with many saying her rise to fame opened the way to thousands of future drag artists.
'I wouldn't be here without them'
Copper Topp, a contestant in RuPaul's Drag Race UK latest series, says he wakes up to the news that they "had such a heavy heart".
"It was thanks to Paul O'Grady and Lily Savage that British drag culture was born," she said. "They paved the way for legions of drag performers and I wouldn't be here without them."
The 39-year-old said he watched Lily on television in the 90s: "I was in awe of her...at the time, I had no idea who I was or what I wanted to be...but she made me feel comfortable for the first time."
The death of Paul O'Grady sparked a flood of celebrity tributes in the entertainment industry and even the royal family.
And the legacy of his blonde alter ego spirit, Lily Savage, has been described by the drag community as pioneering and vital. changing.
The character, inspired by tough but colorful women in her family, had fans across generations - with many saying her rise to fame opened the way to thousands of future drag artists.
'I wouldn't be here without them'
Copper Topp, a contestant in RuPaul's Drag Race UK latest series, says he wakes up to the news that they "had such a heavy heart".
"It was thanks to Paul O'Grady and Lily Savage that British drag culture was born," she said. "They paved the way for legions of drag performers and I wouldn't be here without them."
The 39-year-old said he watched Lily on television in the 90s: "I was in awe of her...at the time, I had no idea who I was or what I wanted to be...but she made me feel comfortable for the first time."
Image source, Getty Images
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