in the media
Chandalier in Tomorrow Magazine 2023
Hot from the press, Chandalier is featured on the April 2023 edition of the algarvian Tomorrow Magazine. It’s a candid peak into my life from my upbringing to a career that hasn’t slowed down. Thank you Helen Danil for your idea, time and hard work in putting it together and thank you to Tom Henshaw, Sophie Sadler and Phil Harding for your love of this community I am proud to be part of. – Mario
Chandalier on VMan Magazine
After a few weeks they sent me a couple of magazines via mail but I also found copies at Barnes & Noble. There I was, in my own spread photographed by a world famous artist who has shot fashion stories for Vogue, V, Gucci, and Vanity Fair. Celebrity subjects have most famously included Diana, Princess of Wales and her sons. Other subjects have included many actresses such as Kim Basinger, Emma Watson, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, models such as Tyra Banks, Claudia Schiffer, Gisele Bündchen, Elizabeth Hurley, and Kate Moss, performers such as Janet Jackson, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Kristen Stewart, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga, and public figures like Baroness Thatcher. Living in London, he continues to photograph the British Royal Family as well as contributing to the image development of Burberry, Gucci, Zara, Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana, Estée Lauder, Valentino and Versace and now Chandalier……lucky me.
Chandalier was personally chosen by world renowned fashion photographer Mario Testino to pose for his 50 pages article “Extreme World” for the British VMan Magazine (issue #12, Winter 2008). It all started as an email from his assistant Jemima Hobson which I naturally ignored thinking it was a joke from some friends of mine pulling my leg but low and behold the next day another email came in and then a phone call. At this point I started believing that this was true and after a few days I was booked to be in Los Angeles to pose for him and the VMan Magazine. It was a day I will never forget. The shoot was in the beautiful Miauhaus Studios in Los Angeles. We arrived (a true diva always has an entourage) and were welcomed warmly and assigned a private dressing room. While I was getting ready Mario Testino came to introduce himself personally and take some pictures with his Leica camera for his own archive. He is such a down to earth guy and we had a little talk about the shoot. Lunch time came and we all ate outdoors under tents (yes Mario Testino too). I was wearing make-up already and he was surprised about the transformation. In the afternoon I posed for the shoot and with him for my archive too. Everything was so professional without any drama considering a lot of talents, sets and assistants were involved.
Chandalier on Nip Tuck
On February 2009, Chandalier appeared on Starz, part of a documentary called “Ladies or Gentlemen” narrated by the incomparable Ru Paul, in the good company of Tim Curry, John Waters and more.
Men playing women, women playing men – this Starz Originals special takes a playful look at some of the most daring cross-sexual performances in Hollywood history, from ‘Some Like it Hot‘ to ‘Mrs. Doubtfire‘ to ‘Big Momma’s House‘.
Chandalier is featured in the opening sigla from shaving to applying make-up. The production company (Prometheus Entertainment in Los Angeles) under Kim Sheerin, Co-Executive Producer, made this shoot fun and very professional. Although it was a very hot day in LA and the air conditioner broke, we all pulled through beautifully.
Chandalier on Nip Tuck at Paramount Studios
When Paramount Studios was looking for a group of drag queens to recreate a pride parade scene for an episode of the hit show “Nip Tuck” featuring Rosie O’Donnell, they trusted me to bring 6 drag queens representing the gay community.
It was a hard day of work starting with makeup at 6am but we had a lot of fun being part of it. We were treated like stars, driven around the studios and offered a catered lunch with the cast.
Rosie O’Donnell was very sweet to pose with me for the memento shot shown below.
Chandalier on Sin Censura
This was the most surreal experience we had by far. We were invited to participate to an episode of the crazy show “Sin Censura” with Jose’ Luis with 3 drag queens performing and talking about our craft but, upon arrival the producers did a 360 degree dirty move and instead wanted us to participate in a ridiculous talent competition that would put the looser in a humiliating spot having a bucket of water released overhead. The audience seemed to have fun with it and at the sight of the previous contestants getting wet, we firmly refused to be put in such contest. So after a long meeting with the producers, we agreed that 2 of our performers would indeed participate to the talent competition but win for sure and not get wet and I would only perform. What you see in the video explains better the environment we were in. “SECURITY???”