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The Makeup Artistry & Photography
of Devon Cass

An Interview by Angela Gardner with JoAnn Roberts


Angela & JoAnn  -- Before
Before: Angela & JoAnn
New York City, May 25th, 1998, the hottest, most humid day of the year up to that point. We cruised through the sun drenched streets of the city in a big, black car. We wore cheap sunglasses and sexy clothes. We were on a mission. A glamour mission. A glitter mission. A celebrity impersonation mission. How did we end up in a steamy Manhattan that fateful afternoon? Loosen your corsets and take off your stilettos, dolls. It's quite a tale to tell.

JoAnn under Devon's care JoAnn had emailed me a few weeks before about a book called Double Take, by a Cher impersonator/makeup artist named Devon Cass, and a writer named John Fillimon. The book is a step-by-step how-to about celebrity impersonation. JoAnn was impressed by the quality of the transformations and the fact that of the three Marilyn Monroe impersonations presented, the best Marilyn was a guy. Jo suggested we contact the publisher and see if we could do an article on Devon for LadyLike.

Cher's Butt TattooI contacted the publisher's publicity department. We entered sensitive negotiations. Communiques went back and forth. In other words, Devon and the publicist looked over the LadyLike web page, liked what they saw, and said Okay. So, we set up an interview and makeover session. The results of that day's activity are here for your edification and entertainment.

Angela as CherAfter our transformations, we and our entourage (my friend Melodee, a genetic-female Cher impersonator who came along to take snapshots and get makeup hints) went to the trendy West Village watering hole, LIPS, for cocktails and dinner. Without the Cher hair (Devon made me give it back) I was told my eyebrows were scary. It was kind of scary since Devon had moved them up about a half an inch. On the way from the car to the bar we got caught in a drenching shower. Fortunately a pedestrian going my way let me share his umbrella... otherwise my brows would have melted and ran down my face. Now that would have been scary! -- Angela

LL: How did publishing a book change your life?
DC: People now recognize your talent without you having to say anything. It's now your calling card. You become an instant celebrity; everyone knows who you are.

LL: How long did it take to get the book published?
DC: Two years but I'd been working on it for seven years from the time I did the first proposal.

Cher & LizaLL: Did you have a hard time selling the book?
DC: No, once we got the right proposal, the second publisher snapped it up. I think the reason that my book sold was because it wasn't just female-impersonators. I consider myself an "illusionist." I would have done Michael Jackson if I could have. Also, I've seen sooo many bad female impersonators on talk shows. That was one of my real motivations. With all the publicity I've gotten, I think if I had done all men doing women, no matter how good it was, I don't think [the publisher] would have approached it the way they did.

LL: Yes, it makes the book about celebrity impersonations instead of about drag queens. So, do you consider yourself a photographer, a makeup artist or what?
DC: A photographer, makeup artist, and Cher impersonator in that order.

LL: The one thing I really, really liked about your book was the white-guy as RuPaul! (JoAnn speaking)
DC: Really? Great, because you're going to wearing some of his clothes today.

Devon Cass as Cher
Devon Cass As Cher

LL: How long did it take you to develop Cher?
DC: About six years but I'm still tweaking. The last show that I did, as far as the makeup, I did something a little different and it really worked. I brought the eyes down a little bit more.

LL: Where did you first do Cher and what was your best experience doing Cher?
DC: I first did Cher at the Cafe Society here in New York. My best experience was doing Cher at the Apollo theater. I'd just started doing her.

LL: Did you start out to do Cher?
DC: Yes, always. It came about when I would go to shows with my friend Mark Payne and photograph him do Liza Minelli. He'd say, "Well, who do you think you could do, Devon?" and I would always say, "Cher."

LL: Did you start with the photography first?
DC: No, I did makeup and photography together. When my little sister was four years old, I dressed her up and took pictures and that's how it started. This is my original portfolio (shows us pictures of his little sister). You know how it takes so long to get your family pictures developed? Well, my mother picked up the photos like 6 months later and said, "Who took these pictures?" I didn't know if she was angry, but she loved them.

LL: Where do you go from here? You're not going to do Cher impersonations for the rest of your life are you?
DC: I have another book that I'm working on, but I can't talk about it. We're working on a website, too. I'd like to do some seminars and workshops.

Angela, Devon & JoAnn

This article is © 1998 LadyLike magazine and is used here by permission. The article in the magazine is longer and has more photos.

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