However, Divine's cult legacy regardless of filthy it was still lives on. Three weeks after the widespread success of Divine and Waters as a result of Hairspray, Divine passed away in his sleep, aged 42. The first Waters film that was commercially successful, brought Divine's show stealing performance into the mainstream limelight. Divine, in drag, plays Tracy's mother Edna Turnblad, a motif referenced by a male actor playing the female role in future adaptations. The original story (although darker than its 2007 successor) focuses on Tracy Turnblad and her pursuit towards stardom and protest against racial segregation in 1960s Baltimore. Without this scene, Divine would not have become such an iconic cult star.Ī much less filthy film, Hairspray (1988) signifies Divine's breakthrough into the mainstream media. But hey, it was a publicity stunt, and it worked. I don’t want to spoil just how filthy it gets (that’s for you to find out), but here’s just a little taste the ending scene shows Babs/Divine scooping up fresh dog faeces and eating it. When challenged by two rivals, Babs engages in multiple disgusting situations in order to keep her title. Pink Flamingos (1972) focuses on Babs Johnson (played by Divine), a woman awarded with the title 'the filthiest person alive'. John Waters is known for his dark comedy and shock value, after all.
I will admit, some of his film's aren't for the faint of heart. If you're a lover of cult films, you need to add John Waters to your list. Over the next 20 years, Divine appeared in many of Waters’ experimental films, the most notable being Hairspray (1988) and Pink Flamingos (1972). His immersion in Baltimore's counterculture and his befriending of John Waters resulted in the creation of the excessive and confident drag queen Divine.
Working as a hairdresser in his youth, Milstead developed an interest in drag through his throwing of lavish parties, in which he would dress up as his favourite actress Elizabeth Taylor. His name was John Waters, the now iconic cult filmmaker (and self-proclaimed 'Pope of Trash'). At 16, Milstead met another boy who would change the direction of his life forever. Growing up queer and overweight in 1950s Baltimore, Milstead was frequently and intensely bullied in high school. Becoming a cult LGBT+ icon in the past 20 years, Divine and her roles in iconic John Waters films has become widely renowned for his gorgeously grotesque, over-the-top and rule-breaking performances. Harris Glenn Milstead perhaps better known by his drag/stage name Divine, was an American drag queen, singer and actor.
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