Michelle Visage pays emotional tribute to LGBT+ community before voguing on Strictly
Michelle Visage and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice. (BBC)
Michelle Visage held back tears as she spoke movingly about being embraced by the LGBT+ community before dancing to Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ on last night’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Visage is a gay icon for her work as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Before performing to Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ in Blackpool on November 16, the 51-year-old opened up about her insecurities and her relationship with the LGBT+ community.
In a piece to camera, the star said, “It’s less about the song and more about what Voguing has meant to me as a teenager who kind of had no place in New York City and was taken in by the gay community.
“I knew for the first time, that I had found my family. I knew that I was there and I knew that I was home.
One last thing tonight, what Michelle did on BBC Strictly was bigger than the spectacle of the show itself. I believe she fell on her sword for something that meant the world to her. The LGBTQIA community has a forever love affair with her and that will never be taken away. TY!
— David Case (@ReadDavidCase) November 17, 2019
“And I wasn’t alone, I wasn’t questioned for who I was, or what I looked like or if I wasn’t cool enough or skinny enough, I was just me and they loved me for me.
“This couple’s choice dance, I want to dedicate to the community that’s been there for me from the beginning. I will never leave you just as you’ve never left me.”
A lot of people probably didn’t understand the significance of what @michellevisage & @pernicegiovann1 did and it might cost some votes, but it wasn’t for them & wasn’t about getting the highest score. Thank you Michelle for always fighting for our LGBT community. ?️? #Strictly
— Elizabeth ⚡ (@strengthtodream) November 16, 2019
Visage also thanked her family, including her daughter Lillie who came out a few years ago.
“To my beautiful daughter Lillie, I love you for who you are. My beautiful daughter Lola you are just incredible, my husband is a gem,” she said.
Visage added: “This song goes out to everybody but this dance is for the mother’s out there who fight for their kids and the community out there that’s fought for each other. I love you.”
What @michellevisage did last night was bigger than #Strictly Anyone who dismisses it is also dismissing an entire culture in their ignorance. Michelle once again stood up for & shone a light on the #LGBTQA+ community and she did us proud. Thank you! We will love you forever!
— Katie GB (@KatieGrovesBond) November 17, 2019
Michelle’s daughter Lillie also sent a video message for the episode, saying: “I am just incredibly lucky to have a mom like her in terms of acceptance.
“I have only been out for a few years so she’s been doing this fight long before me and she’ll be doing it long after.”
