Not Fashionable To Love Me

THE MYSTERY OF JULIE MASKING

You never know where the internet might take you - unless of course you use correct search terms and have your favourite sites saved, but anyway - I first discovered Julie in a series of very short video clips, most lasting under 30 seconds, which she uploaded to youtube in 2007. Instantly, I was fascinated by the visual feast that was presented. WHAT was this beautiful creature purring laconically through the screen at me and WHERE did she come from? Close to a decade later and I'm still not entirely certain.

Julie captivated me with her stunning facial features; an out of this world combination of Amanda Lepore and Jocelyn Wildenstein - her incredible ability to smoke cigarettes on camera coming a close second - but, it couldn't really be a mask, could it? At the time I'd never heard of 'masking', which is "a form of cross-dressing in which men wear wigs, masks and silicone body suits to mimic the appearance of dolls", although there's been quite a few television programmes about it since. Channel 4 covered the topic in a documentary 'Secrets of the Living Dolls' in early 2014, but the participants were more like THAT scene from Silence Of The Lambs instead of resembling the beautiful Julie.

(Julie in mask and body suit)

Julie describing how her masks are created: "my masks are composites of pieces, cast from mold parts I have made or collected that are specific to my face. Once molded, the composite pieces are trimmed and fitted carefully on my face before being welded together into the two large mask elements (top and bottom) and having finishing touches applied to mask seams" adding that she also uses "stage makeup, which smears, wears off, and must be redone constantly as well as after washing the two parts. The masks are high-maintenance items."

There appears to be very little about Julie on the internet - but it's possible I just don't know the correct search terms, however her youtube videos are still available (and need far more thumbs up please viewers!) but from what I understand Julie is from New York, and performs cabaret in and out of her masks. She does not sell masks but still modifies and creates her own. Her styles now range from the original video vixen look to something I would describe as First Lady Realness. She is described as: "a master of art and artifice, and regards masking as a new and intriguing facet of that art."

The below are picture's of Julie - UNMASKED!