Drag queen Miss Demeanor has revealed the initial thoughts she had when she heard she would transform into Eurovision presenter Hannah Waddingham for a special performance during the competition.
The entertainer, real name Regan Shepherd, stormed the stage in Liverpool on Thursday during the second semi-final with fellow drag acts Tomara Thomas (Tom Adams) and Mercedes Bends (Will Peaco).
While Miss Demeanor was tasked with posing as actress Hannah, 48, Mercedes and Tomara dressed up as Hannah’s fellow hosts Alesha Dixon and Julia Sanana respectively.
And Demeanor said the first thing that came to mind when preparing for the transformation was to give Hannah a striking bust.
She told MailOnline exclusively: “My first thought was, ‘I’ve got to put on some tits, because Hannah Waddingham is going to have aggressive cleavage at Eurovision!’ What a woman!
Impersonation: Drag queen Miss Demeanor was determined to give Hannah Waddingham an ‘aggressive cleavage’ as she transformed into Eurovision presenter during Thursday’s semi-final (Miss Demeanour, left, and Hannah, right, seen on stage)
Creating the look: Miss Demeanour, real name Regan Shepherd, said the first thing that came to mind when preparing for the transformation was to give Hannah a striking bust
Born to perform: The entertainer stormed the stage in Liverpool during the second semi-final with fellow drag acts Tomara Thomas (Tom Adams, center) and Mercedes Bends (Will Peaco, right)
‘Then I thought: I really have to smile. She’s so expressive with her face, so I knew I had to match that strong theatrical energy she has.
‘It’s not that far from what I do anyway. Plus, you’re their alter ego, but our choreographer told us, “We want you to be who you are at the heart of your performance. Don’t emulate, represent.”
And Miss Demeanor said she was immediately recognized when Hannah saw her, with a mischievous grin on both their faces.
She said, ‘She hadn’t seen me, we hadn’t met. I was in full costume, we stopped and stared at each other, then just started grinning at each other. I think she was a bit stunned at first, but she loved it!
“I told her, ‘Honey, I’m absolutely honored to take on this role,’ and she was so amazing, so helpful, so inspiring.
“She encouraged me to play with my performance and talk to the audience more — she was just so generous in that regard. She is a calm, loving person.
“She was amazing on stage. She wanted to credit each of us individually. She made sure to name us and make us big.
“She’s a full-fledged advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, she wanted it all for us – she’s amazing.”
Notable: Miss Demeanor told MailOnline: ‘My first thought was, ‘I’ve got to put on some tits, because Hannah Waddingham is going to have an aggressive cleavage at Eurovision!”
Making Music: The three drag queens were joined by a cast of eclectic dancers as they performed a medley of pop songs
The three drag queens were joined by a cast of eclectic dancers as they performed a medley of pop songs including Jessie Ware’s Free Yourself and En Vogue’s Free Your Mind during the second semi-final in Liverpool on Thursday.
They all wore polished versions of the outfits Hannah, Alesha and Julia wore for the event.
Ted Lasso star Hannah put on a leggy display in a busty strapless yellow mini dress that showed off her hourglass figure, while former Mis-Teeq singer Alesha looked incredible in a strapless black corset dress with sheer mesh panels and a dramatic train.
Julia, meanwhile, stood out in a blue metallic jumpsuit with puff sleeves and stitching down the legs.
Miss Demeanor said Mercedes and Tomara were given just a few weeks to prepare after being invited to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest.
She explained, “The performance came about because we were chosen by Jason Gilkison, Strictly’s choreographer.
Here come the girls: (LR) Alesha, Julia and Hannah brought the glamor to Liverpool on Thursday night for the second round of the Eurovision 2023 semi-finals
“It’s actually not that long ago at all — about five or six weeks ago, but luckily the three of us do work together in cabaret clubs and bars and stuff.
‘We rehearsed in London in Oti Mabuse’s dance studio. We had a platform to practice how to fall – that was scary. It was intense days to find out.
“We also had to go to the recording studio to pre-record it — we lip synced because we’re drag queens, baby!”
And performing at the 11,000 capacity M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool and in front of a huge television audience, Miss Demeanor added: ‘The reaction from the audience in the arena was so unbearably unbelievable. It was overwhelming. I kind of had to mentally remove myself from it because I thought, “I’m going to burst into tears.”
‘It’s every little boy’s dream to be in the Eurovision Song Contest. Not just to be there, but you are the moment. This four and a half minutes is so much bigger than what it is.
Love it: Eurovision viewers went wild for the drag act that performed during the intermission during Thursday night’s semi-final
“When we left the stage I burst into tears and I felt like we had made our point: be who you want to be. It was a huge release.
“There was pressure, but it was fun. It was scary, but a good adrenaline rush kind of scary – it was fun.
“We are so lucky that we were the three people who get to deliver this to the world. I am so grateful.’
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be broadcast on Saturday 13 May at 8 p.m. on BBC One.