Calling all show-stopping exhibitionists! Prepare to shimmy your man bits, your lady bits and your everything in between bits – yes, you guessed it – the legendary Alternative Miss World is back in town. Well, halleloo for that.
This gender-bending, glitter-balling, downright outrageous art-house pageant, dreamt up by British artist Andrew Logan, will once again see a dizzying array of extraordinary fancy-dressed contestants competing for the ultimate crown of glory.
What started way back in 1972 in an old Hackney jigsaw factory remains a liberating subcultural beacon forging ahead with theatrical prowess, a brand new venue (hello Shakespeare’s Globe!) and not one but two arty alter-ego hosts: Logan’s exotic man-woman together with Grayson Perry’s Clare. All eyes on the prize for best poise, personality and originality as contestants get set to re-imagine themselves in daywear, swimwear and eveningwear, finishing off with that essential ‘all I want is world peace’ ‘interview.
So what’s in store for 2014? Who the freak knows? Just a riotous ritual of glorious misfits letting loose in true AMW style. David Bowie, Divine, Leigh Bowery, Brian Eno, David Hockney, Zandra Rhodes, Jonny Woo, the ’80s Blitz kids, robots, accountants and hell-raising pensioners, they’ve all been there. Because, quite frankly, when you come to think of it, there’s nothing quite like a bunch of cosmically-creative oldies and newbies getting together, giving stupendous costume and having a bloody good time.∎
