Miss Diamond Pearl

2019-06-14T13:53:00.001+01:00

EDIT: I have reposted this old blog post due to the popularity gained by the gender-swap/old age feature in FaceApp! It applied to that as well, of course! ;)

Lately the Faceapp.com ‘personality test’ “How would AI color my hair” has gained popularity on social media, and people are frivolously jumping on the bandwagon and giving it a go, because it’s “just a bit of harmless fun”, right?
Or is it?
This particular “personality test” shows what you’d look like with a different hair colour. We have seen similar tests before, and the app itself is nothing new. Websites like Quizzstar and Namestest are using the same app on their pages. You’ll also find the same app available for mobile, both IOS and Android. A whopping 70 million people are using this app. That must be good, right?
It’s obvious that most people using this app have no idea of what they have entered into. It’s clear and known that many do not bother with reading the terms and conditions when doing one of these “tests” because it’s simply a bit of time wasting nonsense… but you really SHOULD.
Let’s check it out on a desktop computer first. You’ll have to log in using Facebook.

Faceapp on Facebook:
Just to make it clear, this is a Russian company. It is unknown if their servers are stored in Russia, but it’s a possibility. Are you ok with sending all your Facebook photos, name and profile picture to Russia?
You can check who owns and operates a domain name on the website www.whois.com. When entering wwww.faceapp.com, all traces are hidden.
Whoisguard is a site that helps companies hide their “whois” information, so this tells us that they are actively covering up who owns the website.

The FaceApp privacy policy you are accepting when you take part in this fun test is interesting. It states that they (FaceApp and their Mother Company) are able to share all your data with outside companies, and are under no obligation to inform you who their collaborators are and how they will use your info. They can use anything from pictures, email, contacts, log files, location data. You have already agreed to this by accepting the T&C.

Here’s a fun excerpt from their T&C’s:
(I have written it in small type because there's a 99% chance you won't read it, like when you accept T&Cs anywhere, but if you want to read it, here it is.)

You grant FaceApp a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferable sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform and display your User Content and any name, username or likeness provided in connection with your User Content in all media formats and channels now known or later developed, without compensation to you. When you post or otherwise share User Content on or through our Services, you understand that your User Content and any associated information (such as your [username], location or profile photo) will be visible to the public.
You grant FaceApp consent to use the User Content, regardless of whether it includes an individual’s name, likeness, voice or persona, sufficient to indicate the individual’s identity. By using the Services, you agree that the User Content may be used for commercial purposes. You further acknowledge that FaceApp’s use of the User Content for commercial purposes will not result in any injury to you or to any person you authorised to act on its behalf.
You acknowledge that some of the Services are supported by advertising revenue and may display advertisements and promotions, and you hereby agree that FaceApp may place such advertising and promotions on the Services or on, about, or in conjunction with your User Content. The manner, mode and extent of such advertising and promotions are subject to change without specific notice to you. You acknowledge that we may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such.
You represent and warrant that: (i) you own the User Content modified by you on or through the Services or otherwise have the right to grant the rights and licenses set forth in these Terms; (ii) you agree to pay for all royalties, fees, and any other monies owed by reason of User Content you stylise on or through the Services; and (iii) you have the legal right and capacity to enter into these Terms in your jurisdiction.

Furthermore you are granting FaceApp worldwide license to reproduce and distribute your information on your behalf. You are also made liable to pay for all and any royalties, any costs and charges regarding their use of your images.
They can use your images and photos in commercial circumstances and sell them on for this purpose, meaning your face and likeness can be used in advertising worldwide without your knowledge and/or approval.
Many online sites and news facilities have reacted negatively to this app and their T&C:
Gadgetstv
Ibtimes
Abcnews.au

FaceApp on Android: I would react strongly to allowing this app permission to read, change and delete images, media and files you have stored on your smartphone.
Many people today store their entire lives on their smartphones and on Facebook. This in itself should be a great worry to you.
But there is even more to be worried about with FaceApp on your iPhone or Android.
You’re also giving them permission to receive data from the internet, gain an overview of and full access to your home network and other networks.
This app can also take pictures and video from your phone.
I’d strongly recommend that you remove the app from both your phone and from Facebook. You can do this in Settings -> Apps. On your android, select Google Play select Uninstall in Faceapp.
After reading all this you might want to get FaceApp to delete your data. You can reach FaceApp on the following email addresses:
contact@faceapp.com
support@faceapp.com
support.android@faceapp.com
act@faceapp.com

So, what can we learn from this?
▪ Read the terms and conditions of what you’re agreeing to.
▪ Read personvernpolicy på hva du deltar på.
▪ In reference to GDPR, apps are obliged to tell you where your information is going and where it’s being stored.
▪ Pay attention to what the app can access to on Facebook.
▪ Pay attention to what the app can access on your phone.

A quick refresher on what FaceApp does:
▪ Collects mail, photos, profile photo and email address(es).
▪ Collects LAN network information from your phone.
▪ By accepting, you allow them to sell your info, images and details.
▪ FaceApp could delete all your images and personal data from your phone if they wanted to.
▪ FaceApp could use your phone camera to take pictures, video or audio, and use this as they wish.

The lesson to learn here: Be more critical on the internet and regarding what you allow on your phone or computer. Yes, there is a chance nothing will ever happen to you, your information, your contacts etc, but better to be safe than sorry.. Right? If all of this seems too complicated, ask someone to look at your phone settings for you, and fix it if needed.

I hope this is a wake-up call for many out there.

2015-09-06T17:14:00.001+01:00

Hey guys and dolls, how have you all been? Missed me?

As the summer comes to an end, I have decided to spend some time on my blog, as well as work more on my YouTube channel, and so I had to pop by here to dust the cobwebs off and sweep the corners a little, and boy was it dusty in here! It was a sorry state of affairs to be honest, but I have now re-set the background and started the renovations, and I even have a few posts in the pipeline, so be sure to follow this little blog if you want the updates.
There will be posts about makeup, wigs, styling, dresses and shoes, as well as travel related tid-bits, and even some stories. And of course, links to new YouTube videos as they happen!

I hope to see you all soon! Take care! xxx

Things are not always what they seem - 2014

2014-01-13T08:39:00.001+00:00

Happy New Year kids!

Here's my first video of 2014, and things are not always what they seem..
Hope you like it! Share, comment, rate and subscribe at your pleasure!

Love, Diamond xx

The return, a journey, and a new look!

2012-08-27T21:51:00.000+01:00

Hey boys and girls, wow, so it has been over 9 months since I posted anything here on my blog! I guess it is about time I revived it a little, and as the last few months have been very busy and extremely exciting for me I decided that the time is now! In the last month and in the coming months I have been and will be doing some exciting things, and I'd like to share this with you.

So, without further ado, I hereby launch my new look blog! Hope you like it!

For those of you who follow me on Twitter and/or Facebook, you wll already know that 2012 has been a very exciting year so far for me. Late November last year I took on a residency at Molly Moggs in Soho as the hostess for their Friday night Open Mic event, and in the new year I was given the opportunity to do their Saturday nights as well! I jumped into it and haven't looked back!

Now, aside from the joy and pride I felt and am still feeling about having been given this opportunity, the journey of self discovery and personal development I have had is beyond belief! My background as a drag performer has only ever been as a lip sync queen, and although I still don't sing (it is, after all karaoke, it's all about everyone else singing!) I still have to use a microphone for 3 hours a night. Now, you might think that this is a doddle, but trust me, it has been a challenge! You see, I don't want to be the cruel bitchy queen who makes fun of my singers, I'd like to encourage people, and I have to be on the ball all the time and can't have a script, and this has been a learning curve for me!
At first I felt somewhat uncomfortable with it, but soon I fell into it and found my rhythm and character more and more, and thanks to the lovely comments I have gotten from regulars as well as random people dropping in from the street (some of which have since become regulars!) I now feel very much at home on the little stage at Molly's!

Not only this, but I feel I have been on a journey with my look too, and where I was last year isn't where I find myself now. My make up skills have improved, and I am more secure in my style too, which has been exciting to look back at.

This year, London played host to World Pride, and there was a lot of chaos around the arrangements and funding situation, which I'll leave aside for now. I was given the opportunity to do something fun for Pride, together with my friends Julie Paid and Cookie Monstar. We were chosen to be the first people on board a double decker routemaster that had been completely renovated to look like a handbag, courtesy of the MCM Brand. Click here to read about our fabulous day out on this amazing bus!

It is now the height of summer (believe it or not, if you are in the UK like me) and I'm about to go on another very exciting and amazing journey. Read more about this by clicking the link!

So, I'd like to thank you for staying with me, and promise that there will be more and more posts here at The World According to Diamond Pearl!
Don't forget, dreams are only reality in the making!

Love and kisses, Diamond! xxx

Los Angeles, Monday 5th Aug 2012

2012-08-06T20:59:00.001+01:00

Ok boys and girls, my idea was to write a blog post a day while here, but today is the first day I have been able to sit down and relax, be it by the pool (I know, hard life!) in the sun! But I thought I'd give you a brief run down of what I have been doing so far! Day by day, and then link it to separate blog posts for each day as I finish them. Sound good? Ok!

I’m going to start with my arrival in LA and go up to today, and then add the week in SF after!! Here goes!

Thursday 1st Aug 2012

Today was my last day in San Francisco before travelling to LA, and I had yet to see the shopping areas, and the department stores, so that was first on the cards. It made for a nice way of killing an hour or so before heading to the airport.

Click here to read more! (coming soon!)

Arriving in LA I had strict and precise instructions on what to do and where to go, and after about an hour and a half I was in a bar with Joseps flatmate Rob. He made it his mission to show me as many gay bars in West Hollywood as possible!

Click here to read more! (coming soon!

Friday 2nd Aug 2012

In the morning, my lovely host Josep had hired a car so we could drive to one of his favourite places in LA, the Getty Museum. They currently have an exhibition on Herb Ritts, LA Style, which we both wanted to see, but he freely admitted that the Getty museum is probably better known for its grounds and architecture than the art! I can see why!

Click here to read and see more! (coming soon!)

In the evening, we had tickets to see Pixar in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which is an outdoor concert venue accommodating approx 18.000 people. We were going to a premiere, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra were playing pieces from Pixar movies, set to clips of the films on 3 huge screens.

Click here to read and see more! (coming soon!)

Saturday 3rd Aug 2012

Universal Studios day! I was secretly looking forward to this as I am a bit of a theme park buff, and I like behind-the-scenes things (sometimes I will buy a dvd depending on the extras content only!)

We set off in the car, Barbara, Robert, Josep and me, and Barbara was driving. We had passes courtesy of Josep, and once parked, we went straight for the best ride! Transformers 3D The Ride! I have to say I’ve never quite experienced anything like it, not a rollercoaster but still a rollercoaster, in 3D! i won’t say anymore! Afterwards we had some food as none of us had eaten, and then we did the Jurassic Park ride, and queued up for the Studio Tour including the back lot. This was amazing for me, seeing the CSI stage and Wisteria Lane, Cabot Cove/Jaws-land etc.

Driving back, we took a detour to avoid the traffic, a lucky detour for me as it took us up Mulholland Drive to the view point. I’m going to have to watch the David Lynch movie again!

Click here to read and see more! (coming soon!)

The evening had already been planned, we were going to Bar Sinister just off Hollywood Boulevard, a goth bar/club that my hosts really like and felt I’d enjoy! It was brilliant, the venue is perfect, decor and crowd amazing!

Click here to read More! (coming soon!)

Sunday 4th Aug 2012

Today I was let loose on my own in Hollywood, as my friend had to edit and translate his interview with Liza Minnelli (if you speak Spanish you can read it here!) Needless to say it was very sunny, so I popped on a baseball cap and some factor 30 and headed out into Hollywood. From the flat you can walk down Sunset Boulevard or head one block up to Hollywood Boulevard under the hills, and as this was where i was headed I chose to go direct. It is however a bit of a walk, but soon you get to the Walk Of Fame, where the pavement is peppered with Stars!

The shops lining Hollywood Boulevard are a real mish-mash of souvenir shops and tattoo and piercing studios, stripper clothes, wigs and shoes.

Click here to read more! (coming soon!)

In the afternoon we had planned to go to a superheroes party called Hard Heroes, at MJ’s bar, hosted by the LA Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence! My friend Christophe picked me up in his convertible, his friends already in the car with him. As this party was somewhat a surprise on me, I didn’t have a costume. I had looked for one on Hollywood Boulevard that day but not found anything appropriate. But the guys told me that there was no strict rule about costumes, and that there were makeup artists on hand to paint on a mask, or even do full a body paint! That’s what I went for!

There were raffle tickets ( I didn’t win) and a N2N fashion show (hot guys in skimpy revealing underwear) and freebies thrown out at the end (I didn’t catch one). There were also gogo dancers and some really amazing costumes.

Click here to read and see more! (coming soon!)

“Hooking up” with Social Media

2011-09-05T17:24:00.001+01:00

Hello boys & girls!

I don’t know if you have seen my Facebook profile. I don’t know if you care! Haha! But if you haven’t, I’ll have to explain this first. When I joined Facebook and uploaded my profile picture, I started getting a lot of chats/messages from guys asking in I was on MSN or Skype, and could they add me. I’d also get a lot of “proposals” for meet-ups and questions about if I was available (for lord knows what!) on such and such date.

I quickly disabled my chat box. Eventually, I had to try and make it very clear what I am and what I stand for, so to speak. Or rather, what I am not and what I am not looking for! Here’s what I wrote to clarify!

Please read:
It's just an illusion:
I am not a transsexual.
I am not a transvestite.
I am not on Facebook for sex.
I am not on Facebook to find random men to "talk dirty" on MSN.
I am here to promote myself as a "gender illusionist".
I feel I have to explain this even clearer to some people, so here goes:
*If your profile/username/picture is an obvious fake, you know, like Long John or Hung Low, I will not accept you.
It's surprising how many faceless anonymous brainless 'gods gifts to women' there are here on Facebook, and most of them can't read.. I won't just automatically accept friendship requests from every Tom Dick and Harry who contact me.
And I don't see why I should have to keep the FB chat function permanently offline to avoid all the questions about when and where we can meet and how good I am at giving head!
It's not that I don't understand the attention and appreciate the compliments, don't get me wrong..
It's just getting tiring and boring now...

Kind regards Diamond x

Now, don’t get me wrong, this didn’t stop the advances, as it’s clear some men cannot read, or if they can, they still believe they are so much better than other men, so they still try!
But so far I have never been approached on Twitter. So far. That changed today! Here’s a conversation as it happened live on Twitter, from a 21 year old boy who, surprisingly, wasn’t following me!

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl hi there

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Hello!

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl how r u?

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Yeah fabulous thanks! (Twitter is the new Chat Roulette now??)

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl lol.. yes.. try skype yet?

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Hahahahahahahahaha! Yeah I have thanks!

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl bigbiceps21 :)

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Cool! Lemme guess... you want me to add you on Skype so I can
show you my titties and you show me your bulging... biceps? ;)

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl nah. ill still show my biceps

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Aww! Well I have news for u! I left my titties in storage in South London &ur biceps are far from big, in fact, mine are bigger

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl well we can see about that

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles No. We can't.

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl why?

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Just cause!

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl scared of my guns :)

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Hahahahahahahah! GUNS??? Are you for real??? More like firecrackers, and sad wet ones at that!

NickMuscles @MsDiamondPearl and urs are so much bigger

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Seeing as I'm a bloke that is highly likely, yes! ;)

That is when it went quiet… so I added:

MsDiamondPearl @NickMuscles Aww... are you embarrassed that you tried to pull a bloke? ;)

I know! Cheeky, but I couldn’t help myself!

Now, I had to go check to be sure, as I seemed to remember writing “Drag Diva” on my Twitter profile, and lo and behold, there it was, on my profile… “Drag Diva”!

It’s not that I’m annoyed by this kid’s “efforts”, I find it amusing in a way! but, having looked at his account, this is what he does, approaches girls asking them to Skype him… Good luck, at least he’s not running around the streets killing people!

Love, peace and biceps, Diamond! Mwah! xx

Being a drag queen!

2011-07-26T12:26:00.000+01:00

...or getting ready to go out in drag.

While I don't consider myself a professional at anything drag or beauty related, I'd like to think that with my years of experience I might be able to help or give advice to anyone who has questions about do's and don't s in the world of drag or dressing as a woman.

With this in mind, I posted on Twitter recently to see if anyone had any questions they wanted to ask, about anything drag related, and I was thrilled with the fast response I got!

So, I spent some time talking to my drag queen friends and wrote their and my own answers, and while writing I discovered that it wouldn't all fit in a simple post.To be able to respond I created a separate page where I'm going to try and answer any questions I've received, and would like to welcome further questions on Twitter or by email! This page will be ever evolving and expanding, so this is only the start!

Click here to go to the page and see answers to questions such as how to deal with wearing a wig and full makeup in wind and rain or how to cope with alcohol when in drag! Hope you enjoy!

Also, as you for some reason can't have a comment box on a separate page, please feel free to leave comments below this post!

Love peace and push up bras, Diamond! xxx

Farewell Soho! Part 1

2011-06-04T21:35:00.001+01:00

It's official! I am no longer a Soho Queen!

(Note: this turned into a very long post and I started writing it in early July. I decided to split it up for ease of reading. Part 2 coming very soon, on this page!)

Yesterday was my last day in my little Soho Palace, all my furniture and possessions left in a van last night. Today I spent a few hours cleaning and putting out the rubbish, and then locked the door for the last time!
I should perhaps explain why I've decided to write a blog post about this! I have lived in Soho for quite a substantial time, almost 8 years. After being a Stokey "Girl" for a while I moved in with my boyfriend in Soho in 2003, and we lived together for over 5 years. On top of that I have always worked in Soho, since coming to London in 2000, and have taken a keen interest in the local life, culture and gay scene, working closely with charity organisations based in Soho.

After almost 6 years my boyfriend and I broke up. For a while I thought that this was my natural cue to leave London, and I even did, for 2 months. I went abroad, the aim was to start a new life, but no matter how I looked at it I felt like I had left my heart and soul in London, in Soho! So I came back, I found a flat in Soho and got on with it!

This is when I "found myself" so to speak. I had friends, sure, but they were mostly part of my ex's group, and I felt the need to go out and make my own social circuit so to speak! So, I bought some supplies, made an outfit, and ventured to Trannyshack! Having heard and read about the club, and having done drag in the past (link) it was something I was keen on doing again and getting back into.
Going alone to a place like this can be daunting, and I was a little tense as I walked in, but the crowd were very welcoming and I had a blast! The first time there, and I met some very interesting people and formed some great connections, and I wanted more!

My sewing machine became busier than ever, knocking up little numbers as often as I had time to sit down! Next, I went to an event at G-A-Y at Astoria, and bumped into my old friend Cookie Monstar, who at the time didn't know I had gotten into doing drag! Cookie and I go way back, but she had spent some time away from London so we had lost touch. Now back together we started hanging out a lot, and as Cookie is a brilliant and very busy performer I started coming to most of her shows. She did a regular Sunday spot at Molly Moggs in Soho, hosted by the magnificent Dame Julie Paid, and after a while the three of us got together and created the West End Girls. For our first production we took on a mini version of Priscilla the musical, a 45minute extravaganza with more than 10 costume changes, complete with a 10foot glittery stiletto! We performed our show at various locations around Soho with great success.

Click image to watch video on YouTube!

By this time, I had moved into my new flat, literally on the doorstep of Trannyshack! I set up my sewing machine and got busy, making costumes for the shows. My little one bed soon became more reminiscent of the wardrobe department of a theatre, with dresses, boas, wigs, handbags and shoes!

(To be continued!)

Wooden Fascination!

2011-05-28T21:24:00.001+01:00

Last weekend I went to Made In Clerkenwell, a kind of open-day at two studio collectives in Clerkenwell where resident artists and designers were exhibiting and selling their products. Dominated as it was by jewellery of all kinds, with a sprinkling of baskets, garments, prints and photography, one artist stood out from the crowd. By miles!

Emma Yeo makes fascinators, and while you might be right in saying she is not alone in that craft (I myself have at least 3 friends with that skill) there is a nice twist to her work, if you pardon the pun!

Emmas fascinators are wooden! No, I don't mean as in boring, they are litterally made from wood! She works in the thinnest sheets of exotic wood I've ever seen, some coated in a resin, making them extremely soft and plyable. She then laser cuts the sheets into exquisitly delicate patterns of swirls and twists, some bent into wing like shapes, others layered to resemble flowers you might find on a desert. Her forms are backed in suede or the sweetest Liberty style printed fabrics, some are large enough to please Lady Gaga, others are a brilliant final touch to an evening outfit teamed with tan or brown leather accessories!
All of them beautiful and intriguing.

At her stall, Emma displayed some of the wooden wonders in white frames on the wall, perfectly illustrating how perfectly well they could work as art when not worn!
Well worth a look so visit her website andsee for yourself! I bet you'll be as amazed as I was, even if you wouldn't wear one you will surely appreciate the complexity of the design.

www.emmayeo.com

Note: this is my first blog post from the Pen Your Blog app, will add some images when at my laptop!Love as always, Diamond x

Nail varnish: Shimmering Anthracite

2011-05-20T18:17:00.001+01:00

Recently I went shopping with my best friend Cookie, I was looking for matte black nail varnish, suitable for every day wear, as well as a few other trinkets but couldn’t find any! Eventually we ended up in the huge Boots at Piccadilly Circus, and I caved in and picked up a grey one from 17 called Smoke Signal. The same brand also did a black so I picked that, and a gorgeous peacock blue too! I’m going to write a separate post about that!

I was ready to pay for my new items when cookie found a crackle glaze in gold which I swapped for the black, and I will blog about that later!

Anyway, the 17 Smoke Signal looks ok on it’s own, probably not a colour I would wear as it is, but I tested it with the crackle glaze and it looked cool!

Grey on its own on pinky, ring finger has one coat of glitter.

Today however, I dug out a 2True Glossywear glitter varnish Shade 2 from my kit and after 2 coats of Smoke Signal I added a coat of glitter. On it’s own the glitter is iridescent clear with a hint of blue, but with the charcoal grey 17, it turned into the most gorgeous graphite anthracite colour! The camera won’t quite capture the colour but have a look!

There’s almost a lilac/mauve look to the glitter which can be seen in some of the pictures! I’m not a huge fan of lilac, but with the grey it looks stunning! I’d definitely try this combination again, for sure!

Kylie on a cupcake!

2011-04-12T18:12:00.000+01:00

There's a place where you can get a little piece of heaven... with Kylie on top!

Cox Cookies & Cake (yes that is their name) had a special on Kylie cupcakes this weekend, in honour of the pint sized pop princess' shows at the O2 arena (last show tonight by the way!

The only bakery I've ever heard of opened by a shoe designer, Patrick Cox, had sparkling cupcakes adorned with images of Kylie, as well as some topped with glittering pink "K"s, and the shop playing only Kylie tracks.

Attention to detail is key, and the staff wear studded black leather aprons and black jeans, and the walls and floors are glossy black, shelves trimmed in bright neon strips! This is not your typical bakery, but more like a cake covered disco! Lush!

Should you find yourselves in Soho, make your way to Brewer street to sample the delights! Should the Kylie promotion be over, worry not, as their regular range is deliciously naughty, featuring black and red skulls made from icing, fizz whizz cola cakes and bling cakes with sugar diamonds. There is also an XXX rated range with boobs and bodies and biceps!

Cakes have never been naughtierwww.coxcookiesandcake.com

Rage against the machines!

2011-01-21T19:43:00.000+00:00

Those of you who have experienced the London bus service might know about the ticket situation, but for those who don't, here's a short introduction:

Unless you have an Oyster card, to ride a bus within central London, you will need to buy a £2.20 ticket at the stop, from a little red machine. This machine will sell you a ticket for one journey only, it used to sell day travel passes, but I don't think they do anymore. Paying your fare on the bus is not an option within central London, but as soon as you are outside an invisible border of sorts, this suddenly becomes possible! Strange but true!

The other monday I was going home with my boyfriend, and I didn't have my oyster card on me so I tried to buy a ticket at the stop, but the machine wasn't co-operating.
Now, on the Saturday before I went to his place from the same bus stop and the machine didn't work then, but this time it did react to pressing the button by displaying how much to insert so I thought it had been fixed. But this was not the case! Somehow I ended up somehow putting abt £4.50 in the machine but it wasn't providing a ticket... and that's when the bus arrived!

So we got on the bus, my boyfriend had his Oyster card, and I told the driver the machine wasn't giving tickets even though it had taken more than the fare money, but he wasn't having it and said I had to buy a ticket at some other stop in the area. I repeated that I had used enough money for 2 fares and told him I wasn't going anywhere, and he claimed that since I couldn't prove this, I couldn't ride.

At this point, enough was enough, and we informed him that the defect ticket machine was not our problem and that I had paid and we were going to sit down... to which the driver reacted by shouting after me that he wasn't going anywhere till I had a valid ticket! And then he promptly stopped the bus!
So I got up, went up to himand asked him if he seriously wasn't going to drive the bus anywhere... to which he replied yes, so... I called the police!

Now this never happens when it's something serious, but as luck would have it there were 3 police men on the opposite side of the street and they came over. I calmly explained the situation and told them the outcome and the attitude that the driver had presented us with, even added that if there was a ticket control and I had no ticket I would be to blame and would have to defend myself. and they agreed with me and said he was being unreasonable, and even vouched for me! One officer quoted his badge number and told the driver to contact him if there was any further issues.

Begrudgingly the driver had to start the engine and keep moving "not to further clog up traffic" as the police officers said.

I'm not normally one to cause a commotion, but I know when I'm right and I won't stand down. TfL has set up this system which fails on a very regular basis, and buses are extremely infrequent in Central London. Personally I feel that if their system fails it is not the customers problem. If you have to buy a ticket at the stop in Central London the machines should be checked and serviced at least every day if not even several times a day. And, as a customer services person myself I find the attitude shown by not only this driver but several drivers on TfL buses shocking.

From that day I will stand up to any TfL bus driver who does not meet my expectations. TfL say they will not tolerate abuse towards their staff, so why should we, the paying customers tolerate it from them?

Feel free to share your experiences with bus drivers and the like with others here.

Love peace and justice, Diamond xxx

New Mini-series on YouTube: "Bearded Beauty!"

2010-06-01T18:55:00.000+01:00

Hey kids,

so it would seem I am back with a vengeance... having not only posted 2 videos in as many days, but also have a couple more in the making! Yay! I'm so thrilled to be back, even if some of my YouTube subscribers might have forgotten about me or given up on me! LOL!

Yes, I cam up with the idea of doing a little mini-series, as I have a beard between each time I do Diamond, I thought I could incorporate this in my videos! Hence the "Bearded Beauty" series, and first out in this series is Tutankhamun, King of Egypt! Well, that was my inspiration anyway, take it as you like!

I looked up all kinds of images of King Tut, and obviously all you can find are pics of his sarcophagus so I took my inspiration from that. The eyebrows and eye liner is quite significant and defines the look, and I used mainly gold and orange and red with it on the eyes, all from my 88 palette! I used black eye liner and gold eye shadow on my lips, and a dark shimmery (cheap) bronzer from Superdrug on my face.

And then... I photoshopped the images to death! Haha!

There's barely a cm2 of skin in these images that hasn't been shopped, and that is what I wanted! This series is really less about the make up and more about the imagery! So please do not ask me how I got my skin to look like that! LOL!

Oh, and I am wearing the same wig as I did for my Tribal video, and a home made head dress in the style quite often pictured on King Tut!

See, I think it's quite likely that Tut had a beard at some point in his short life, and his sarcophagus shows him wearing some kind of beard wrap... so not so unlikely, this one! Just wait till the next one, much more unlikely!

Thanks for taking time to read, if you wanna see the video, it is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIQeFp7pcpw

Untill next time, beijinhos lovelies!

New video: contest entry for MakeupByGloria: Tribal!

2010-05-31T13:52:00.000+01:00

Wow, it had actually been about 6 months since I last posted a video on YouTube, and it was about time I did a new one! Actually, I have made a few attempts in the last months, but Windows Movie Maker and FlashPlayer together decided it wasn't going to happen! But when I saw MakeupByGloria's contest, I knew I had to enter!

So, I sat down one evening after having gathered all my inspiration, did a look which didn't quite turn out as I had hoped.. so I altered it slightly... and ended up looking like a tropical bird! Haha!

So, the pictures stayed on the cutting room floor, as I started a second look!

I kept it very simple, almost too simple and slightly amateur-ish, and even though I am not impressed with the end result, I decided to post it anyway! Seeing as it had been ages since I posted anything, I just wanted to get back into it all again!

Well, so what did I do, you ask? Here it is!

I painted my forehead and eyelids red with 2 shades from my new 88 pallet as I didn't have any red grease paint, and the rest of my face with Screenface panstick in Almond and set it with a dark shimmery bronzer. I then applies a thick line of clown white from Ben Nye along the edge of the red and under my eyes, and some dots on my forehead and along the eyes. Finishing off with a line down the centre of my bottom lip.

Very simple!
I then donned a long brown wig, braided into two sections with two little braids at the side, and some choice accessories, and voila! Diamond has become a red indian clan chief!

I am under no illusion that I will win, but wow did it feel great to finally post another video on YouTube! Also, this seems to have dis-lodged whatever it was that was stopping me, as I have since then completed 2 more videos and am working on 3 more! Haha!

So I hope you enjoy my return to YouTube, please tell all your friends! ;)

The video for the contest can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oregi3tAHE0

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more from me in the future!

Kisses! Diamond xxx

Nude? Please get dressed, it's apparently racist!

2010-05-23T17:15:00.000+01:00

I'd like to start off by saying that I started writing this blog post absolutely aaages ago, I think it was in May 2010, at the time there were comments in the media about Michelle Obama wearing a "nude" Naeem Khan dress. My post was going to be about the controversy surrounding the issue of "nude" being a racist colour description, as clearly the dress was not Mrs President's skin colour... but then I never finished or published it. Now, I have dug it out again as I feel I want to share it anyway!

Underneath is (a somewhat edited version of) what I wrote:

Some of you might know that I work in fashion/textiles, and ever day is a mass of brides to be, aspiring fashion students and wannabe designers, in addition to a great number of well known high street and exclusive designers.

It has been a complete nightmare to see how well this 'nude' trend has caught on this season, we have not been able to keep enough stock of anything flesh, nude, peach, oyster, mink or blush, as well as anything silver or pale grey. And don't even get me started on silk jersey!

As a matter of fact, for the last few months I have been ready to clobber anyone who asks for nude fabrics of any sort! Judging by the fact that 98.9% of all UK based fashion students* are solely using nude and silver for their current design projects and collections, we will be flooded by these garments by spring/summer 2011... a whole year after this trend was in fact a trend!

(* this percentage is purely my estimate from watching students at work!)

But enough about me and my work life (for now anyway)! I wanted to talk about the actual trend of nude colours in fashion. Firstly I would like to say that, being a trendsetter as I am, I pioneered the nude look on New Years Eve 2009-10 with a multi layered nude tulle frock, all hand beaded with crystals, that would have left you gasping for air... had it been any other colour but nude!

This gets us to my issue with the nude trend.. nobody but nobody looks good in a nude outfit. It is just not a very becoming colour, on anyone. Ok ok, I hear you, it looks great on the catwalk, and yes that is the only place it does. But so do a lot of garments and concepts you see on a runway that you would never in a million years wear in public.

Just recently, Michelle Obama stepped out in a hand beaded 'champagne' coloured gown by designer Naeem Khan. This somehow sparked a weird media discussion on racism. The designer, Naeem Khan explained that it was a 'sterling-silver sequin, abstract floral, nude strapless gown'.

However, when the Associated Press news agency, reporting on the event, referred to the colour as 'flesh', they were lambasted by one editor, who asked 'Whose flesh? Not Michelle Obama's'

In my opinion, Michelle Obama looked stunning in that dress, mainly because it wasn't the same colour as her skin. Had it been.. let's face it, a brown dress, it wouldn't have caused a racial stir, but it would have looked awful. She would have looked like she had been rolled in glue and tin foil! Not a great look!

2011 afterthought: This was as far as I got with it, so I'd like to add the following at this point.

I'm not going to comment on the racial issues as I don't see the point. It's about fashion, not politics.

To me, the pasty anemic 'nude trend' has lived its life, overstayed its welcome. Get rid!

Surely it is time for colour blocking now?

Fashion: Dear Miuccia Prada...

2010-04-29T18:47:00.000+01:00

This picture was in last weeks Gracia, showing a jacket and shorts from Prada...

If you parden the pun, the outfit (minus the blouse) comes to you at a "snip" under £1300. Yes ladies and... well ladies, for a mere £1300 you too can be the owner of this stunning ensemble!

But wait, I hear you say, what is wrong with that? Well, plenty actually!

As a seamstress and "designer" (oh how I hate using that terminology) I would like to mention the missing waistband on the shorts, or maybe there is a waistband and it has been tucked in for this shoot? The way the shorts 'bulge' at the top of the fly front kind of disturb me, and gives an indication that they might be folded in ...

But the horridness doesn't stop there, oh no!
Styling wise I guess it's misfortunate that the ensemble has been paired with a white blouse. Is that the shirt flakes sticking out from under the shorts or is that the pocket lining??
The fact that the hems haven't been finished off, but rather left "raw" doesn't help, but rather strengthens the look of 'long trousers cut into shorts'.

Dear Miuccia Prada.
For £1300, could you not at least have gotten a poor fashion intern to hem/overlock/FINISH the garments? Deconstruction is so Ann Demeulemeester ca late 80's!
Thank you!

Sex with the ex... ?

2010-04-18T14:40:00.000+01:00

Now that I've got your attention... ;)

I wasn't really going to talk about sex with the ex, but having a relationship with your ex, as this is a subject that has come up a lot lately in my life. So, I wanted to share my views and get yours!

A little over 2 years ago, my boyfriend of 5 years and I broke up, and it turned my world around. We had shared everything for half a decade, good and bad times. Mainly good times. So for a few months we didn't really get on that well, sure, we'd still communicate, but on a practical level, arranging cat sitters and returning property etc.

Then, in the summer, I was around his house to collect something, and we had a little chat about how things were going, and he confided in me saying he had made a mess with someone he was seeing. So, good natured as I like to think I am, I talked him through it and gave him some advice. That was the point where we decided that even though we were no longer together, we could still be friends, and since then we have!

To make this even more complicated, throughout our relationship he was also great friends with his ex before me, who in turn is friends with his ex! Together, the four of us would go out for meals and drinks, or on holidays and weekend trips. The Ex-Men I used to call us, and still do!

Sure, there'd be arguments now and again, as there always will be with a group of opinionated people. But they were usually silly little things we'd get over in no time. Nothing really serious. My ex can be stubborn to a fault, and so can his ex.

But then, there was the fifth part of this story, my ex's current boyfriend. He was never too keen on the idea of doing things with us, and it has emerged that he didn't like that my ex was friends with his ex-es. This (among other issues) caused the end of their relationship (the one I gave advice on and helped work in the early days)...

Now I am seeing someone, who also has a great relationship with his ex. They exchange calls and texts, not on a daily basis but still, and his friends find it weird that he is in contact with his ex.

So I wanted to ask you guys, how do you feel about having a relationship with your ex?
If you are friends with your ex, are you comfortable with them, and even their new partners?
How do you feel about your current partner and their ex(s)?
Would you ditch your friendship with your ex if your partner asked you to?

PS. I understand that most people don't have the same relationship with all their ex-es...

A funny conversation and an interesting question...

2009-11-10T14:04:00.000+00:00

I was chatting to a friend on MSN the other day, about all sorts of stuff, and the subject came to job hunting. You know when you are filling in an application form, or even fine tuning your CV for a specific job, what should you really be writing? The truth? Or a modified version of the truth?

Here's an excerpt from our conversation, initially I thought it was just funny, but then it made me think:

Nic says:
-ohh I applied for a job yesterday

Diamond says:
-cool, what

Nic says:
-livbrarian.. hahahaha!
-can't even spell it!!

Diamond says:
-lol

Nic says:
-rofl
-my application was quite funny.

Diamond says:
-I imagine it was

Nic says:
-so they'll either look at it and think what a nob.. or think she sounds interesting in the part where
you are meant to say why the job would be suited for you, I rambled on about horse riding
-lmao

Diamond says:
-hahaha, you are funny

Nic says:
-well what else was I supposed to say? I like books?

Diamond says:
-well, yes

Nic says:
-ohh

Diamond says:
-that is exactly it

Nic says:
-I didn't say that

Diamond says:
-hahaha

Nic says:
-I didn't even write the word 'book'...

Yes, it was funny at the time, and knowing my friend it was hilarious, but it made me think.. Do we try to hard when applying for jobs? Do we over garnish our CV's and application forms with stuff to make us appear more attractive to the possible employer? And should we be doing this, or is it better to let the 'real' you come through?

What are your thoughts on this?

Two Queens, a biker jacket and a pair of peep toe stilettoes.

2009-11-08T14:13:00.000+00:00

This is a true story, whether or not you choose to believe it, however, I am not saying that this is the actual reason for the outcome described at the end... (No peeping! Sorry, bad joke!)

Some time late last summer, or was it fall, I went out with some friends on a friday evening to go to a club we all like to hang out at, for no other reason than it being local to all of us. It was a slightly nippy evening, and I had decided to wear my vintage black biker leather jacket, you know, the type James Dean was often pictured in, with red satin lining and silver metal zips on every pocket and down the front.

The zip pull had long broken off, and I had replaced it with a charm from a broken necklace, a small skull charm, fitting the Biker Rock Chic look. Anyway, as you can imagine, the temperature is slightly different in a busy-ish club, and I soon got too hot to wear my jacket. And so it was that I took it off and here is where the story starts.

There was a small seating area next to where we were standing so I left my jacket there, thinking it would be safe as there were only us and another group of people standing here. We were chatting and having a few drinks, dancing on the spot and generally having a good time, when my friend says:

"Isn't that guy wearing your jacket?"

I looked behind me, and lo and behold, one of the guys from the group next to us is most certainly wearing my Biker Rock Chic pride, all while doing a camp little shimmy! I stared in disbelief, and I guess it was noticeable as one of his friends pointed at me as if to say "You've been busted!"

The guy turns around, looks at me and says, stupidly:

"Oh, is this your biker jacket? Hmm... not very trendy is it?"

I stared incredulously and replied:

"Indeed it is mine, and I suggest you wear it no more!"

To which he replies, by means of turning to his friend:

"It isn't trendy though, but maybe you could make it trendy! How about sending THIS down the runway next season? Hahaha!"

That's when I realised that one of his friends was Alexander McQueen... Now, I have seen him around in London before, but he's not really that noticeable and I don't mean that nastily, he just isn't.. so I hadn't noticed! Well, needless to say I got my James Dean garment back and refrained from further comments and unnecessary bitchiness and left them to drunkenly design the next McQueen collection based on borrowed items from nightclub punters..

Fastforward to last week, my friend Louise had bought her weekly Grazia and we were looking through it to see what celeb has done what to whom, when I came over this picture:

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Skull zip front ankle boots £595.

All I can say is I am now waiting for the Forgotten Umbrella dress in the spring/summer 2010 collection, as I can't find my umbrella...

Kissing frogs.

2009-10-07T18:11:00.001+01:00

"Suffer For Love" by Mutya Buena

Has love lost its meaning?
Am I destined not to feel it?
Baby, I have
And I just don't know it when I'm in it

Is it me to blame
I really need to change
This pattern I'm seeing
I don't wanna be in

Why I gotta mess it up
And get it wrong
Like some kind of curse

Why do I have to suffer for love
Suffer for love
I've given it everything
Still it ain't happening
I'm sick of it all
What does it want
It's asking too much
I'm a sucker for a suffer for love

I keep on trying but I don't know how it works
There's no instruction so I keep on getting hurt
Over again, over again, over and over and over again

Some time towards the end of April this year, I met a man. We had seen each other before, and even shared a stolen smile at some point before we actually got talking.
He was tall, dark and handsome, with a beard, and with green eyes that seemed to sparkle. Though not my typical choice of man, we hit it off really well and were seeing more and more of each other.

So, because of what I do, when I meet someone new I always have to consider the best way of telling them that I do drag. When I am not in drag, I am very much a man, as I have said before. I always grow my beard in between, and I dress in jeans, boots and a biker jacket. As it happens, I like to draw a line between reality and illusion.

After a week had passed and we had met up almost every day, I decided that the time was right, and so I 'dropped the bomb'.. not realising it was going to be a bomb!
He was very shocked, and somewhat unsure whether to believe me or not, but eventually said that he thought it wouldn't be a problem. Seeing as it's something I only do now and again, and it isn't a sexual thing for me, he thought he'd be fine. He even started to come with me to other peoples shows, friends of mine, and he was really enjoying himself.
At one point we went on holiday to Spain, and he took me to see the largest drag show in the area, and translated all the jokes! I was thinking this would work out really well...

Until suddenly I get a phone call from him, and he sounds a little vague, so I ask him if everything is ok, and assure him he can tell me anything. It turns out that he is not comfortable with the drag thing and doesn't want to see me anymore.
Now, I'm not stupid, and I personally think this is rather shallow, but it is his decision and I'm not going to try to make him change his mind, so I tell him there is nothing more to be said, and wish him a happy life... We have not spoken since, but we see each other out and about still.

A few months later, I'm out with some good friends, and I get chatting to this very interesting looking guy, slightly alternative, and very handsome. Those of you who know me will know who/what I mean but I'm not going to divulge any more info.
This time I don't even have time to think about telling him anything, as one of my 'good' friends blurts out: "He's a drag queen!"
To which he replies: "Fabulous!"
I'm thinking: "We're on to a winner!"

History has a tendency of repeating itself, and we hit it off like a house on fire, and see as much of each other as time will allow us in the next weeks. He tells me he used to go out partying in heels and dresses, and still does now and again, for the fun of it, but not in a 'drag queen' manner. In fact, I got to experience it one night and he looked brilliant!

When you meet someone new and you start dating, it is sometimes quite difficult to gage the right time to discuss your relationship, where you stand with each other. So, you leave it for a bit, hoping the other person will take the initiative.
We never got to that conversation, and one evening we went out, he decides to invite two other guys back with us, and clearly not for a crochet lesson...

Now, it has to be said that I am far from a prude, and I have done a lot of things in my life that could probably shock the unshockable, and under normal circumstances I would have had no problem with this situation. But, as we hadn't had this conversation and we didn't know where we stood, I suddenly felt really uncomfortable with it all, and yeah, probably a little jealous as well. Not wanting to share him with anyone.
So, I left ten minutes after arriving at his house.

The next day he texts me to say: "Hope you got home safely!" Clearly he didn't see or understand how this had affected me, so that evening I told him. To make a long story short, that's when I decided to phase him out of my life. I stopped texting him, calling him, and we had been sending 15-20 texts every day since we met.

Eventually he texts me to invite me to his flatmates birthday party, and so I decided to give him one more chance and turn up. We had a fantastic time, and I left his house Friday morning... and then nothing. Four days pass before he surfaces, telling me some nonsense story about not having been able to contact me. My good friends had seen him out all weekend.

I'm now thinking I'm better off alone, and it leaves me thinking I don't want to look for anyone, but I know deep in my heart I want to find that someone special, the one who thinks the world of me and wants to be with me. The one who actually thinks the sun shines out of my ass, as my friend put it!

But seriously, how many frogs does one need to kiss?

Footnote: I would like to clarify that the time line of certain events has been altered for ease and flow of the post.

Faceless on Facebook?

2009-07-28T14:35:00.000+01:00

Yes, of course I am on Facebook! (link to the right)

And yes, of course I am there for the attention, aren't we all?
But I have one or two small problems with FB, and that is the sheer amount of faceless nameless people (men) who think that just because they like my picture, I should add them as a friend!
Masses of requests flood my inbox every week, from anonymous guys with mainly drags and transsexuals/transvestites as "friends", often their profiles will have a picture of a car or a cartoon where their mugshot should be. Most of them are "straight" and "looking for women", yet 94% of their friend list is made up of drags and trannies...

It's not that I don't understand the attention and appreciate the awkward "compliments", don't get me wrong..
But, while I have taken the time and effort to upload several albums with pics of myself on my FACEbook profile, including a profile picture (without a doubt this is what attracted them in the first place?) these guys seem to think that just because they like my pics, I should be "hot for them"? I should appreciate their anonymity?

It's surprising how many faceless, anonymous, brainless "gods gifts to women" there are on Facebook, and most of them clearly can't read.. I don't just automatically accept friendship requests from every Tom, Dick and Harry who contact me. As a matter of fact I now have to keep the FB chat function permanently offline to avoid all the questions about when and where we can meet and how good I am at oral!

Here's what I've started replying to "certain" Facebookers who want to add me as their "friend":

Dear "Nameless"
Thanks for your friend request.
I get tonnes of similar requests every week, from faceless profiles of boys/men with mainly drags and ts/tv's as "friends", and I have decided that I will not accept these requests until there is an actual picture on their profile, preferably several of the same face.

I have taken the time and effort to upload many of pics of myself on my FACEbook profile, including a profile picture, and without a doubt this is the main reason you contacted me in the first place?

So I urge you to grow a pair of balls ;) and place your mugshot on your profile! Otherwise I will not add you, and I will recommend that my friends remove you from their lists too!

Kind regards Diamond x

So, you can say that I get what I deserve, I have put myself out there in public view and should be happy about the attention? Well, unlike many other people on FB, I am not semi-naked in my pics, they don't suggest I am looking for sex (at least I hope they don't!)
My question is, just because I am a man in a wig and dress, should I expect anything less than you or anyone else? Would you be happy to log on to FB and have 4 guys open chat windows asking if you take it up the ***? No, I didn't think so!

Well, then why should I?

Peace & Love, Diamond xxx

Twitter Topic: #subsunday!

2009-07-19T13:34:00.000+01:00

Hey kids!

If you follow me on Twitter, you might have noticed that I launched a Trending Topic idea today: Subscribe Sunday or #subsunday.

Here's the idea:

Many of my fellow Twitter-bits are also keen YouTube users, and I came up with the idea that every Sunday we could post links to YouTube channels we like, preferably ones who are lesser known, with few subscribers. So, if there are people on YouTube you feel are worth following, or should have more subscribers, you can post a link to their channel on Sundays!

There are a few rules:

* start your tweet with #subsunday

* the YT user(s) should deserve your Tweet, but you don't have to explain it in your Tweet

* the YT user(s) should have few subscribers (how many is not set in stone, use your judgement)

* please try to keep it to max 3 users per Sunday, not to spam Twitter

(this also helps make it fit into ONE Tweet, if you use url shorteners!)

* please do not Tweet 'flaming' or derogatory channels!

* please do NOT Tweet your own channel (that's just not fair!)

These are preliminary rules only, as it progresses I might see the need to change or add to them!

This could be a great way of finding new, interesting YT users and channels!

The topics of their channel can be anything you like, I know a lot of my followers are make-up related YT users, but that doesn't limit this Trending Topic!

Ok, let's get this up and running, and feel free to spread the word about #subsunday!

Love and peace, Miss Diamond Pearl!