Where high fashion meets high camp you’ll find a striking figure called Amanda Lepore, the club hostess and go-go dancer turned singer from New York who’s devoted her whole life to pursuing the image of an 1950s hourglass beauty.

Check out our Amanda Lepore snapshot gallery here.

Amanda grew up watching 1950s movies starring Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth and Jane Mansfield – all women whose wide hips and busts contrast starkly with their narrow waists, creating the famed hourglass silhouette which is often considered the epitome of female beauty.

But of course she was a boy back then called Armand and he longed to be a buxom beauty like those ladies he saw on screen. Armand briefly wore female attire to school, started dating an older surgeon, received a free sex change operation at just 15, and as Amanda Lepore has gone on to become one of the most recognisable transsexuals in the world.

“When I first had my sex change I didn’t have breast implants or anything, it was just important for me to be a girl,” says Amanda, now 42. “Then I would go to the doctor and I was medically maintained on hormones and I was fascinated that you could change your body. I always loved watching old movies and I loved Marilyn Monroe and all those blondes and that hyper feminine 1950s glamour and the exaggeration of it. Then (cartoon character) Jessica Rabbit came along and it was an exaggeration of that look, and I wanted to be even more exaggerated than that,” says Amanda.

“I didn’t want to be a Marilyn impersonator. I wanted to be new and exciting, like those actresses were back then. I tried to do that kind of styling – updated of course – but I think if I did really modern stuff like Lady Gaga or something futuristic, it would take away from the way I did my face and body. I really like old school stuff, and I think that I achieved that!”

The ensuing surgery is the stuff of legend – Amanda has had numerous procedures and even had her ribs broken so that she could achieve the famous hourglass look. “I had the bottom rib broken and pushed in, and it took like an inch or two off,” she says. “But I wasn’t planning on getting it; I heard about it, then wanted to get it. I remember walking around the parking lot that night when I was in a cast, and it really hurt when you laid down, but if you were standing up or sitting it was OK. It was painful, but it wasn’t horrifying.

“What girl doesn’t want a littler waist?” she laughs. “I really love it, I enjoy it. I don’t like pain – but I like results.”

So is there a limit to what she would do to achieve a look?

“Apparently no,” she laughs some more. “I mean I’ve gone to great lengths [to achieve this look] and was really focused on doing it. And I think I did it the right way – I did it slowly, not too fast, I put a lot of thought in it – and I’m really happy with everything.” And does she plans to go further still? “Basically the cake is baked and there’s nothing more you can do. Like if you make an art sculpture, if you go too far and keep on doing things to it you’re going to mess things up. I’m very focused on what I wanted. It’s really in one direction… it’s one thing, one idea. I just do botox and filler when I need it.”

Amanda first stepped out onto the New York club scene in the late ‘80s when Michael Alig’s Disco 2000 was attracting the city’s interesting night creatures to the Limelight in New York’s Chelsea neighbourhood, an area once dubbed the ‘Ladies Mile’. She is often linked to that Michael Alig club kid scene, but like many, including Michael Alig’s then-boyfriend Superstar DJ Keoki, she has since sought to distance herself from the gruesome disco-drama that unfolded.

“I was mainly hired as a go-go dancer and I was really shy at that time and didn’t really talk to anyone, but I had a really strong look and it was a lot of fun,” she says. “They were really wild parties and it was a really good time in New York. There was a time when underage kids could get in, now you have to be 21. Sometimes I’ll go away and I can’t believe it when you go to other cities where it’s crazy just like it was years ago in New York. It’s kinda sad that there’s just so many restrictions here now. People really watch you, it’s strange.”

Does she stay in contact with Michael Alig? “I don’t,” she says, pausing. “I mean, it’s really difficult – y’know – I didn’t get involved in – y’know – that. I’ve seen some things happen with drug circles and stuff and I never really got involved in that thing, I was always getting ready – that was more my thing. I couldn’t afford to be walking around in 5” heels and be messed up!” she laughs. “So I wasn’t really part of that. When I first worked for him he didn’t do drugs at all, I think he faked being drunk lots of the time. He was a really good business person and really good at organising parties. It went more out of control later on, like slowly. Like in the beginning he was very together.”

Does she long for that time when New York – like Sydney – had a nightlife that was more interesting than the present days? “Well people always say that things before Disco 2000 were exciting. Back then people would say that Studio 54 and other things were more fabulous, and now they think that Disco 2000 was more fabulous; it’s all like ‘the good old days’ I guess. People are sentimental – so when you grow up the nightlife and music and fashion and all those things from that particular time will really make an impression, like when you came out, you’ll be fond of that period. So I think that you just have to make it what it is – the past is the past and you have to move on and keep on having fun. I still try to have as much fun as I can now wherever I am, I’ll have really exciting times when I’m away touring. But I’m not around (New York) partying as much as I used to be.”

Appropriately, Amanda is making her maiden trip to Australia in a few weeks to help re-launch the Oxford St, Sydney nightclub Nevermind, as a new 100% gay nightclub – a move that might just help save the once golden mile from its current disappointing decline. Amanda will be launching the new gay night ‘Saturday Fucking Nights’ on November 7 with a 5-track set that will include her older tracks including Champagne and her new single Cotton Candy from the forthcoming second album, due out early in the new year and mainly produced by Cazwell.

“I’m so excited, I’ve never been there,” she says. “I’ve been booked for events before and they wouldn’t happen because the flights are so expensive. I hear Sydney’s really beautiful and the men are really hot! I hope I can stay there longer than the three days so I can go shopping for lingerie and see the city, but I will be back in February for more shows. I’ve heard it’s absolutely gorgeous there… I love warm weather.”

So will Ms Amanda Lepore be going to the beach? Settle in for the day on a patch of North Bondi (No-Bo), perhaps?

“I might,” she hints. “I’ve been really into being pale lately, but never say never. There’s always sunblock and big lashes and big hats! I’ll bring my string bikinis!”

You’ve been given notice, boys. Now, make the lady feel welcome.

Amanda Lepore launches Saturday Fucking Nights at Nevermind on Saturday November 7. Tickets are $15 and only available on the door, so first in best dressed!