THE DUO: BRANDY X AND GERI LOVE

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Recently, a duo artists in London has come to my attention. As a matter of fact, I witnessed them perform together at the WayOut Club in Minories as well as at Martha's Restaurant and Bar in Soho. They stupefied the atmosphere at each venue and produced such engaging shows!

Each artist has a winning flair and panache as they can effortlessly fire up an audience and thrill a crowd. It is achieved by individually delivering belt-out songs with humour and by coquettishly dancing around with a gymnastic flip twist. They are both no longer amateurs in the industry of spotlight extravaganzas as each artist has triumphantly accomplished competitions and stood out in shows beforehand. 

Brandy X who is also known to her admirers and friends as Brandy Xtravaganza or Brandy X Mandella was born in America and grew up in a Mexican culture. At a very young age, she outrightly embraced her identity & expression as a transgender woman. She was full of motivation in reaching her dreams and satiated with selfless love which she bestowed to others by acceptance. Her determination was put to the test at the age of 12, which she transcended, she then secured herself a place in modelling, acting and dancing. Her beauty and personality attracted myriads of audiences and like-minded companions. As things inclined favourably, she was signed-up and cast to feature at a clothing company, American Apparel; in a reality competition television series, RuPaul's Drag Race; in a comedy-drama television series, Transparent Season 2 and at various Gay Pride festivals. Moreover, that experience also paved the way for her to work with artist like, the American female highest-selling R&B artists, Toni Braxton; the Austin, Texas multi-platinum singer, Ciara; the Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese; the American entrepreneur rapper, Kesha and the American singer- songwriter, Parson James.

Her unceasing perseverance as a transgender woman of colour contributed to her achieving a life in London while also she was having an influencing over the nightlife. That is why when Martha's Restaurant and Bar launched as a rebranding brand in Soho, she landed a job and became the face of it. Ever since the first opening of Martha's, she has been the prominent receptionist for the curious walk-in customers and the prosperous pre-booked guests. Apart from her glamorous role, she still possess a character in acting; perceptible beauty for modelling; choreography mindset in organising dance numbers as well as savviness in hosting events. Actually, she has been hosting her own live shows like the “The Brandy Brunch” which is currently at Martha's. Because of her gregariousness and versatility, she has been heartily invited to exclusive events in central London and beyond. In particular, the Bombshell Club London; Circa the Club in Victoria Embankment; Glitterbox at Ministry of Sound; The Groucho Club in Soho; Heaven Nightclub in Charing Cross; Metropolis Gentleman's Club in Bethnal Green; O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester and The WayOut Club in Minories. 

Brandy X's supple movements and burlesque outfits in her stimulatingly cavorting around shows is a by product of being affiliated with the ballroom culture world of the LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming society that originated in New York from the 1980's. As a matter of fact, she belonged to the House of Xtrvaganza in Los Angeles for 10 years and is now related to the L.A. Nightlife sensation, Hector X aka Kiki, as a daughter. If you have watched an episode of the drama series entitled POSE, you already know what I'm referring to here? If you would like to become acquainted with her and read more of her future shows, you can follow her on the following accounts:  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/brandmecastellanos 

Instagram username la_fierce 

Geri Love started her passion for singing in her hometown in the Republic of the Philippines. She has had the opportunity to work in the entertainment industry that enhanced her talent and widened her experience. Her first involvement was with a transient R&B band where she was their main vocalist. However, when she decided to leave the band and ventured out single-handedly she ended up in comedy clubs in Timog, Quezon City. Like, the Metro Concert Bar; Laffline Comedy Bar; Punchline Comedy Bar and the Musicbox. Here she adapted the stage name Gee/ Geezel and worked as a regular singer, a whimsical comedienne and a wacky event hostess.

She never stopped loving her passion for singing as she also participated in a few Trans community singing competitions where she met acquaintances, friends and made supportive connections. Because of her drive and hard work, she was noticed by one of the long-established television networks known as ABS- CBN. They hired her as an outside performer for a noon time variety show called MTB's (Magandang Tanghali Bayan) Divading and the first live comedy- gag show called Yes, Yes Show! During her time at ABS-CBN and after being discovered by a talent scout, she was bolstered and encouraged to join famous singing competitions. Like, the Clown in a Million of ABS-CBN where she clinched as a finalist. When Geri Love's enthusiasm in the industry abated, she carried over a different role in the outsourcing industry. However, her attachment to and love for music weighed more that led her to reconvene in Japan as an entertainer or also called newhalf. Before she was ultimately chosen as one of the first class Okama talents for the Satcho's Club, she endured a painstaking elimination process. To be more specific, she was one of more than 800 transgender hopeful talents who were exhaustively screened in a day. Thereafter, her name was shortlisted and her application to become a professional singer in Japan was guaranteed. Upon embarking on the bandwagon to Japan, Geri's fate changed positively. As matter of fact, when she was already working in Japan she also secured additional contracts from different omise (club). This furthered her stay as she was helped in obtaining a supplementary working visa on four occasions. That is why, she has an adequate knowledge about the Japanese people and their rich culture because of visiting a few capital cities in Japan like Tokushima, Kumamoto and Tokyo. 

She treasures her years of working in Japan. It helped her to save enough cash that she then later used in securing her application for a student visa going to the United Kingdom. Coming over to the United Kingdom is another milestone for her especially upon elevating her love for music. She secured a place in an institution and studied a Diploma course in Popular Music. After finishing the course, she eventually propelled and took a B.A. Degree course in Creative Musicianship at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP). She graduated with first class honours. Whilst she was “burning her eyebrows” (studying hard), she was also actively involved with the LGBTQIA+ festivals and various clubs in central London and beyond. This opened doors for her to join singing competitions again which she greatly benefited from. It also enabled her to practice even more her vocalisation outside the institution; she was gradually recognised in the LGBTQIA+ community and that also boosted her stage presence. Her success prevailed because of her singing voice and charismatic personality. Consequently, it trajected her to win victories in numerous singing competitions like the CXR Got Talent in Charing Cross London; Madame JoJo's Tranny Academy in Soho, London and the Q Factor in Frome, England. 

Geri Love isn't just destined for singing as she was once a pageant enthusiast because of her beauty queen friends. When I say enthusiast, she involved herself as one of the entrants to a few prestigious beauty pageants here in the U.K. Such as, Miss Mango Tree 2014 at the Mango Tree in Belgravia, London and proclaimed as the 2nd runner-up; Miss Exilio 2015 of the Exilio LGBT Latino at Guy's Bar in London and proclaimed as the title holder; Alternative Miss London 2016 at the WayOut Club in Minories, London and proclaimed as the title holder as well as Miss Mango Tree 2018 at the Mango Tree in Belgravia, London and proclaimed as the 3rd runner-up. If you would like to become acquainted with her au naturel singing voice and support more of her future shows, you can contact and follow her on the following accounts:

E-mail address gerilovets@yahoo.co.uk 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Miss.geri.love 

 Instagram username gerilovesyou 

Twitter username gerilovesyou

LIP GLOSS: THE LAST NIGHT AT EDEN BAR, BIRMINGHAM

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

We were dressed-up and ready to hit the glossy town in our chosen guises...

Last Friday night, I ameliorated my attire with plain accessories to correspond with the simplicity of my beauty. On the other hand, my sister embraced the demeanour of a glamorous lady with her floor-length turtle neck appliqué gown in striking red. Exquisitely, she finished her aura by pulling back her silky locks and styled in wavy curls. I have to admit that this sensible hairstyle gave more eminence on the heart shape feature of her forehead. 

I was short-fused upon seeing her and didn't hesitate in arresting Miss Dayanara Mesmeize onto the grounds for outcasting my beauty (LOL)! 

Our chauffeur dropped us as at Eden Bar where we were welcomed by the resolutely magnificent Lip Gloss' organisers... 

From Left to Right
Stephen
Miss Tiffany Jones
 Miss Dayanara Mesmeize 
Miss Cassandra Mae Madrigal

The heavy downpour of rain just stopped and petered out to fine drops. What a reviving touch and refreshing sensation given freely by Mother Nature and this was only interrupted when the pre-arranged taxi showed up. Then, we were driven to a Victoria inspired corner building at 116 Sherlock Street, Birmingham. It was a 2-storey refurbished establishment and on entering there was a relaxingly straightforward floor plan. For instance, the small-scale dance floor on the left side had a DJ booth; the inviting couch corner for the legs of binge drinkers; the slightly conspicuous beer joint bar in the middle because of the sheathed pillar; the fantastic outdoor area with airy garden connecting to the vaporous (smoking) site and an indoor game pool zone which was next to the lavatories. Wait a minute, there was an appended double door push bar, too! It was the egress leading to the marquee's domain with an elegant decorated ceiling in metallic silver and established with a cocktail lounge bar on the left, a sturdy elevated stage in the middle, a DJ booth on the right and comforted tables & chairs all set out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The farewell night unfolded... 

We were greeted inside the marquee by the enthusiastic organisers, Miss Tiffany Jones and Miss Cassandra Mae Madrigal, who also welcomed us with a glass of champagne. Both of the organisers were naturally regal in their post Halloween fashion ensembles. Apart from them, some of the guests were wearing daring attire and alluring costumes which were keenly appreciated by the scarce eagled eye admirers.

The venue was ameliorated with reserved tables & chairs for the distinguished guests and a classroom seating arrangement for the invited family & admirers. Geographically speaking, a few of the out-of-towners were from different parts of the United Kingdom who travelled for one purpose. Predominantly, we were there to drink a toast on the ultimate night and after 5 years of triumphs and failures of Lip Gloss. It's a closing celebration and we all highly acknowledged the unceasing determination of the organisers and were strongly reminded of its succinct objectives as a fabulous transgender event. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The core of its objectives as a transgender event in Birmingham is to promote equality, diversity and cohere the transgender community as a family. One of the essentials is to provide a friendly and lively environment at Eden Bar which will encourage crossdressers and transgender to wholly embrace their true identities and selves. A rendezvous brimming with warmth hospitality and cordial people with the same interests and are also in support for combatting society's twisted dogma and discrimination towards the transgender community. Benevolently speaking, this non-judgemental event has a commitment in offering rational communication for partners and relatives to better understand their crossdressers and transgender loved ones. Moreover, this one night event has a desideratum to preserve the transgender community in Midlands and then soundly unites its name all throughout the United Kingdom. 

The celebration progressed with entertaining laudable performances and an occupying aphrodisiac... 

The disco tail lights were on and fixated their brightness onto the stage. In a spur we were overpowered by the quip presence of a Live Cabaret Artiste, Miss Penny. She was dazzling in her thigh-length glossy body hugging dress covered in green sequins. To boot, she surfaced with an intimidating look because of the well-contoured facial cosmetics and the volume 60's sexy bomb hairstyle. Her banter and sarcasm amusedly tickled the audience as well as delighted us with her vocal performance. 

(Live cabaret artiste, Miss Penny)

Miss Penny didn't just devour the stage all alone; she also shared the spotlight with 3 cheerful guests during the the Hula Hoop game. 

After the frolicsome and wiggly performance, we were then invited to enjoy the tasty complimentary canapés. There was a good humoured queue and the prepared light finger food choices were appetising. Our tummies were filled and our energy levels were sustained which kept us all on the qui vive for the rest of the show. 

The venue's fluorescent lights faded and turned dim, thereupon the Drag Idol UK 2016 Finalist and Live Vocalist, Brenda LaBeau, emerged on stage. Her silvery high-pitched voice spiced us with her rendition of “Show a little more, Show a little less...” soundtrack of the Goddess of Pop, Cher, entitled “Welcome To Burlesque”. 

(The Drag Idol UK 2016 Finalist and Live Vocalist, Brenda LaBeau)

After the stunning vocal cords of Brenda LaBeau, she also cheered us with some practical jokes. We were cracked-up and our frisky reaction intensified the venue's mild atmosphere. On top of that, the much anticipated entrance of the male stripper, Icon, who showed up from the crowd made the scene more stimulating. He was in his controlled funky style clothes and one by one, he uncovered and exposed his nakedness. To be more specific, he gained the boldness of his manliness when he took onto the stage 2 of the guests who erotically engaged with during his turtle's pace jiggle and stir. 

With that occupying aphrodisiac concluded, the riveting main hostess for 3 years, Miss Penny, and the stunning Brenda LaBeau called onto stage the company of the unceasing organisers. Sadly, one of the three pillars in the creation of Lip Gloss named Miss Tiffany Jones left the event early because of their planned vacation for the next day. That is why the remaining two, Miss Cassandra Mae Madrigal and Miss Dayanara Mesmeize, accepted wholeheartedly the commendable words given by the hostesses and the audience also gave a great expression of approval. What a standing ovation to which they, the organisers, also distinctively awarded the handcrafted sash for this year's Miss Lip Gloss: Queen of the Night. 

From Left to Right
Miss Penny
Miss Cassandra Mae Madrigal
 Miss Dayanara Mesmeize 
Brenda LaBeau

(Miss Cassandra Mae Madrigal and Miss Dayanara Mesmeize)

The magnificent organisers, Miss Cassandra Mae Madrigal, Miss Dayanara Mesmeize and Miss Tiffany Jones, created the fabulous Lip Gloss to celebrate the community's revelation of strong-minded crossdressers and palpable transgender. For 5 years of pursuing, they have turned this bedrock event at Eden Bar into a safe haven for sexually questioning and evolving individuals who fear society's prejudice towards the LGBTQI+ community. We, the family & supporters, should all not forget their clear objectives and more importantly the organisers who showed perseverance without anticipating a single debt of gratitude. Forthrightly, we must stop factions that divide us and also, to put an end to various unhealthy competitions amongst us. In lieu, we must support one another to hold up the flexible and solid foundation of our characters and self-esteem.

If there is a beginning, there is an end. Per contra, farewell doesn't staggeringly portend the edge to a complete stop as it can also be considered as a milestone for a new beginning!

ENGLAND AND ITS SQUIRRELS

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

It is not just the four seasons that a country like England can offer you as they have adorable animals too, wherever you go. They will follow you around so you better keep your eyes on them!

When I first came here in England, I visited a few places nearby my address such as graveyard, church and parks. I enjoyed the warm weather while exploring these places and I saw a few wild animals who behaved like domesticated pets.

I was very happy and stunned to see the squirrels up-closed as this type of rodents in my beloved Philippines are keep in cages in the zoo; not to mention you need to pay for the entrance fee before you can see them closely.

If you are happy to see these rodents they can sense it and they will even follow you around unless you dispel them. They are not just animals that will make us happy and astonish with their natural behaviour as they have contribution to our ecosystem too. One of the greatest contributions is their collecting and eating of nuts; most of the fallen seeds germinates, thus grows naturally in the wilderness.

This rodent lives down beneath the ground like rabbits or cling on the branches of trees like birds; either cool or dry. And they have the ability to climb, crawl or even fly just to pick and eat seeds that sustain their energy.

Squirrels are the nicest and cutest animals that you can play with using your hands as you can easily fool them!

THE LONDON EYE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

England is one of the countries that constitute the United Kingdom. It is known as being one of the  most amazing and lucrative tourist attractions in the world. Located just opposite the Houses of Parliament on the south bank of the River Thames is Jubilee Gardens, home of The London Eye.

It was erected on the 31^st of December 1999 and was opened to the public in March 2000. The Eye is constructed in such a way as to offer tourists and the locals  the opportunity to see the panoramic beauty of the capital from up above while rotating. There are 32 sealed and air-conditioned passenger capsules that circulate; one revolution lasts for 30 minutes. Ticket prices are set according to age group.

If you are a tourist and would like to experience the elation up above, The Eye is waiting for you. It is highly recommended to check online if you are planning  a ride, as it is often sold-out several days in advance.

https://www.londoneye.com/tickets-and-prices/

Enjoy the 30 minutes revolution and have a delightful day with your loved-ones.

*Photo Courtesy of www.visitlondon.com

YEAR 2010: ECONOMY'S DIRECTION

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

People, mainly buyers and sellers, seem to think that today or at the moment the situation of the economy is doing well, perhaps there's no direction!

Some people think the economy is doing well, mainly those people who think it goes up. A few days ago there was a news about Chinese exports and normally when you hear this type of news and when you get people analyse it you will find that the export were something like not proper goods but something else. Such as electronics stuff or components.

So far, what people are watching when comparing the 'book' is either the Chinese economy will go down or up.

A lot of people cannot see how the Chinese economy will continue growing if everyone itself is no longer buying like America, Europe, United Kingdom or the biggest market. Most of their sales are sold to those countries that reached up to 75% or 80%.

Today, all those countries are in absolute distress, so, how can their market continue growing? There are two ways they can adapt either to export more goods to the far east in which the far east has no big middle class consumers' society or its own people could be buying more goods.

The only way its own people could buy more goods would be if the Chinese government is prepared to give their people more money which would mean increasing the value of their currency. If they increase the value of their currency the prices of their goods will go up, thus, people will buy less offers so they are in catch 22; the buying dilemma!

So, on one hand a lot of people especially fund managers want to put their money into shares, earn dividend and see growth. But the more realist people are, they can see that most growth so far comes from government spending. Those from China, Europe and America, their government just about spend much they can afford to and if they keep printing money, the bond market will stop lending them money. That was happened in Greece as I said before!

So, at the moment the stock market has come to a shaky balance between buyers and sellers because there is no direction. This is because of the export growth in China that people will think and see as a sign that the world economy is picking up. Probably, this is a growth from the very lower, much lower!

The beginning of this year there was growth after a huge down-turn and most of that growth are people, factories, countries etc. that were so frightened in that banking crisis last 2008 and 2009.

A lot of 'people' recommended replenishing inventory, which is re-stopping. It is interpreted as an up-turn in the world economy but it is not really an up-turn but a job less recovery. This is nearly when people adding put-off through fear that is why the government had the cash for clankers which brings purchasing forward and gives the illusion of growth.

THEM AND US

by:  MisS VictoriA DaviD

I wonder if this applies to the United Kingdom?

All those 789 members of the House of Lords can get £300.00 per sitting just for turning up. That's about £60k per year + perks and a thumping good pension too!

Here’s how government really works. The insiders get richer; the outsiders get poorer. The New York Times has the story:

WASHINGTON — When Representative Ed Pastor was first elected to Congress two decades ago, he was comfortably ensconced in the middle class. Mr. Pastor, a Democrat from Arizona, held $100,000 or so in savings accounts in the mid-1990s and had a retirement pension, but like many Americans, he also owed the banks nearly as much in loans. Today, Mr. Pastor, a miner’s son and a former high school teacher, is a member of a not-so-exclusive club: Capitol Hill millionaires. That group has grown in recent years to include nearly half of all members of Congress — 250 in all — and the wealth gap between lawmakers and their constituents appears to be growing quickly, even as Congress debates unemployment benefits, possible cuts in food stamps and a “millionaire’s tax.”

Mr. Pastor buys a Powerball lottery ticket every weekend and says he does not consider himself rich. Indeed, within the halls of Congress, where the median net worth is $913,000 and climbing, he is not. He is a rank-and-file millionaire. But compared with the country at large, where the median net worth is $100,000 and has dropped significantly since 2004, he and most of his fellow lawmakers are true aristocrats.

Largely insulated from the country’s economic downturn since 2008, members of Congress — many of them among the “1 percenters” denounced by Occupy Wall Street protesters — have gotten much richer even as most of the country has become much poorer in the last six years, according to an analysis by The New York Times based on data from the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit research group.

*Source: The New York Times