When we first arrived in Milan, everyone immediately insisted that I meet Amanda Lepore. She responded to our knock on her hotel room door lounging in a silk robe and looking absolutely flawless at only five o’clock. She was in the process of styling her hair and constructing an outfit for the evening, and yet without any hesitation offered to do my makeup and even trimmed my bangs. Fifteen minutes later I left the room with sparkly blue eye-shadow, bright red lips, and the best bang trip ever given with a small pair of rounded nail scissors.
I was amazed at the kindness and generosity of a person I had only just met, especially someone so prestigious, and found that this kindness only increased through the course of the week. On the afternoon of our final day in Milan, Amanda invited me to a dress fitting with a designer named Francesco Scognamiglio. Although his initial intentions were originally to give a few outfits to Amanda, upon her subtly whispered request, Francesco presented me with the most beautiful silk dress I had ever seen- backless and a rich shade of eggplant- to which I slipped on behind a paper shade and later wore to the hotel party while adorning my blonde wig from the Elton John video. I was so touched by Amanda’s initiative to find me something beautiful to wear and Francesco’s immediate, generous response to bestow such an extraordinary gift.
