Beth Ditto pays homage to legendary drag queen Divine

“Before punk existed, there was Divine."

Beth Ditto

Beth Ditto pays homage to Divine. Source: YouTube

Gossip singer Beth Ditto has paid tribute to legendary drag performer Divine, dressing up in her honour for 's new 'Superfan' digital series.

The series, which sees “a contemporary icon meet the classic, like a green tea-infused four-finger Kit Kat,” debuted this week with Ditto expressing her ongoing love for the LGBTIQ+ icon, trailblazer and longtime John Waters collaborator.

“Before punk existed, there was Divine,” Ditto says in the video.
“A drag queen unlike any other. Who isn’t Divine?” she continues continues.

“We can all embrace the weird parts of ourselves,” the front-woman says. “Beauty is relative, and creativity can be a lot simpler than you think. Everyone I know loves Divine."

Described by magazine as the "Drag Queen of the Century", Divine's mark on popular culture hasn't faded in recent years, with the star regularly referenced on shows including RuPaul's Drag Race. Divine was also the initial inspiration for The Little Mermaid villain Ursula, leading many fans to campaign for a drag queen to play the role in Disney's upcoming live remake.

You can watch the filmmakers behind The Little Mermaid talk about Ursula's origins being based on Divine below:

Share
Published 31 July 2019 10:55am
By Samuel Leighton-Dore


Share this with family and friends


SBS News in your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS On Demand
SBS News
SBS Audio

Listen to our podcasts
Join host Yumi Stynes for Seen, a new SBS podcast about cultural creatives who have risen to excellence despite a role-model vacuum.
The day's top stories from SBS News.
Ease into the English language and Australian culture. We make learning English convenient, fun and practical.
Get the latest with our sbs podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch SBS On Demand
Over 11,000 hours

Over 11,000 hours

News, drama, documentaries, SBS Originals and more - free.