NYLON Magazine - September 2007 - (Page 126) FILMMAKER, ARTIST, AND ALL-AROUND PROVOCATEUR JOHN WATERS LIVES TO SHOCK. OF THE MANY CHARACTERS SPRUNG FROM HIS MADCAP MIND OVER THE YEARS, HERE ARE THE THREE WE FIND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL––AND BIZARRE. WILD WATERS DIVINE IN PINK FLAMINGOS In their childhood everyone had at least one peculiar friend. And for Divine, born Harris Bernard Milstead, it was no different. Though one has to wonder who, between Divine and John Waters (the neighborhood kid who would become her best buddy) was considered more unusual on the suburban streets outside Baltimore. The pair’s friendship eventually evolved into a now legendary creative collaboration, with Divine serving as star in Waters’ many cinematic experiments. A crucial part of a regular cast of characters Waters referred to as the Dreamlanders—the group also included Mink Stole, Edith Massey, and Cookie Mueller—Divine was the highlight of a number of Waters creations from the early Eat Your Makeup (1968) in which she played Jacqueline Kennedy, to the role in Hairspray (1988) most recently reprised on film by a portly John Travolta. But, love it or loathe it, the movie that earned Divine the most notoriety was Pink Flamingos (1972). Produced with a paltry budget, and shot in and around Baltimore, the film Waters himself once called an “exercise in poor taste,” has in recent years become a cult classic and was even named one of 50 films to see before you die by a British newspaper. An all-out raunchy romp that includes everything from black market baby peddling to sex with a live chicken, Pink Flamingos is not for the faint of heart (or stomach). The two most infamous scenes see Divine shoving meat up her dress at the grocery (surely inspiration for the Jane’s Addiction music video “Been Caught Stealing”) and feasting greedily on doggy doodoo. Filthy maybe, but this larger-than-life lady made trashy look divine. MEDUSA’S MAKEUP EYE DUST IN WASABE AND PASSION, AND GLITTER IN LIBERACE Divine’s application was heavy-handed to say the least. $6 EACH, MEDUSASMAKEUP.COM. VICTORIA’S SECRET GIVE ME A WINK FALSE EYELASHES Some are born with luxurious lashes; others have to fake it. $7, AT VICTORIA’S SECRET. BLISS THINNY THIN CHIN NECK FIRMING CREAM Not everyone has a flamingo-slender neckline. $48, BLISSWORLD.COM. M.A.C LIPGLASS IN PRRR At least what went on the lips was a lot prettier than what went past them. $14, MACCOSMETICS.COM. LULU HAIR POWDER Divine hadn’t the time or inclination to wash her hair every day. $40, LULUORGANICSNYC.COM. 3121 BY PRINCE EAU DE PARFUM A scent fit for a man or a woman or a little of both. $70, FOR 100 ML, AT MACY’S. still life: jonathon kambouris. divine: courtesy of the everett collection. LULUORGANICSNYC.COM MEDUSASMAKEUP.COM BLISSWORLD.COM MACCOSMETICS.COM
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