With widespread dissatisfaction with the UK's presence in the European Union in the wake of the Eurozone crisis, last week's election for the European Parliament was always going to be a contentious one. The answer for many has come in the shape of UKIP, a party whose meteoric rise in the last six months has been due in part to the emergence of Nigel Farage as a key player in British politics, but also through capitalising on widespread dissatisfaction with the coalition, Cameron, Clegg and Britain's mere presence in the EU. For many, UKIP's single-minded patriotism is what is needed to contend with namby-pamby and bland politicians, who have seemed to pussy-foot around financial recovery. And UKIP, despite beinga party whose focus on withdrawing from Europe is xenophobic and bigoted at times, have found a simple scapegoat for a very complicated problem; immigration. While we pride ourselves with living in what is now a very liberal country, 27% of voters looked past what many see as blatant racism and voted them to victory, marking the first time that neither the Labour or Conservative Parties have won a nationwide election in Britain over the last 100 years. 

While the results of the European elections often do not transfer to the General Elections, there will clearly be a knock-on effect of some kind. Whether that means the election of the first UKIP MP to Westminster, or the party becoming a serious player in Westminster too, remains to be seen, but what is certain is that any further rise of this extreme-right wing party will lead to a regression in what has until now been a very progressive United Kingdom. Many people are scared of what would happen here if their influence were to expand, but while the focus has been on racial minorities, what exactly would happen to the LGBT community? Because while immigrants have borne the brunt of UKIP's accusations, there is certainly an underlying tremor of homophobia rumbling amongst them too.

In the last year, UKIP has tightened its ranks and become an organisation with a more palatable front. While the BNP wears its heart on its sleeve, UKIP's prejudices lie behind a facade of respectability, masquerading as concern for the country's wellbeing. While its members and representatives are not the most politically correct of figures, more extreme policies and ideals are being glossed over to make themselves more appealing. But as yet, the whitewash is not yet complete. Visit the Welsh UKIP website and it still says there that UKIP  publicly opposes equal marriage, citing the definition that marriage is a union between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation. The official line now from the party is that UKIP opposed equal marriage because they believed it wasn't a priority issue for the government at the time, but obviously this pleasantry invented for pacifying sceptics hasn't quite yet filtered down to areas further afield from the spin-doctors of Westminster.

Opposition to Gay Rights does not stop there however. Winston McKenzie, the UKIP candidate for a recent by-election in Croydon North, made headlines after claiming that gay adoption equates to child abuse. Though his sentiments were not echoed by his party, these views exhibit what is clearly an underlying bedrock of homophobia that anchors UKIP not just to conservatism, but to fascist extremism too. And take the now infamous claims from UKIP councillor David Silvester that the legalisation of gay marriage was responsible for the bad weather last winter. While Silvester was suspended by the party for his comments, they still supported his right to free speech in his open letters to the prime minister, saying  "He is more than entitled to express independent thought whether or not other people may deem it standard or correct." Any other party would have done all they could to distance themselves from such bigotry.

What's most alarming, more than the existence of these underlying attitudes within UKIP, is that clearly there is a large portion of the electorate who either support these sentiments or are able to look past them. I don't believe we live in a homophobic country anymore - in fact on the recent European International Lesbian and Gay Association Europe (ILGA-Europe) index, the UK appeared at the top, as the best place to live as a gay person in the whole of Europe. But even if UKIP voters aren't homophobic or harbouring any kind of dislike for gay people, they are more than happy to overlook an aspect of this extremist party for the sake of what they deem a worthier cause. While gay people have been fighting for the their inalienable right for equality, UKIP say officially that this is not a priority and unofficially that it's not even tickling the edges of their agenda. Are UKIP, as a party, a homophobic entity? Probably not, but surely it's troubling that a party is becoming a major political player whose culture allows such attitudes not only to exist, but to thrive? Many people say that they don't understand how it's possible for a gay person to vote Conservative, but are there any gay people out there who could even entertain voting for UKIP? I certainly hope not.

Whether or not the UK should be a part of the EU, or whether or not immigration is a drain on this country's resources, the answer cannot be the alienation of the minorities who have spent the last 100 years fighting for equality. The UK is better than bigotry; it's better than intolerance. Britain has historically remained doggedly immune to political extremism, to fascism, communism and religious fundamentalism, but that doesn't mean that radical politics could never take control here. And while many people see UKIP as smoke and mirrors, single-minded on a single issue and innocuous in the bigger picture, the possibility of what could result from UKIP is bleak to say the very least. 

Saturday sees Michelle Visage, long-term judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, radio host and extraordinary diva, come to Manchester to officiate Pop Curious?'s drag extravaganza The Hunty Games. Haus of Phag caught up with Michelle as she was travelling across the dessert, before the airing of season six's finale, to talk drag, the show's contestants and what the hell happened to Merle?

Haus:     Hello, this is Ben Turner from Haus of Phag.

Visage: Hello! This is Michelle Visage from Haus of Visage! I can't wait to come to Manchester to meet you guys. I'll be coming in a day early to go to Affleck's Palace.

Haus:     Have you been to Manchester before?

Visage: Many moons ago in another lifetime. But I can't wait to go back.

Haus:     So do you know very much about the drag scene in Manchester and the UK as a whole?

Visage: I know a little bit. Because of my obsession with British culture I know dribs and drabs about the drag culture there. And over the last two years I've learnt from a lot from my Twitter followers about Manchester and the gay scene there.

Haus:     The gay scene in Manchester is very big but the drag scene has been taking off considerably here in the last few years. There's been a bit of a 'drag explosion' and it's definitely no exaggeration to say that RuPaul's Drag Race has been a direct influence in that.

Visage: That makes me so happy!

Haus:     Have you been aware of the impact it's been having over here?

Visage: Only through Twitter really, as I'm very hands-on with my Twitter account. My followers know how much of an Anglophile I am and over the last few years it's been becoming all the more obvious how loving and embracing people are there. I've been saying to Ru recently that we need to try and get back on the air in the UK, but he says "It's not our fault! We've been trying." I just hope this situation with Jonathan Ross works out.

Haus:     It became available on Netflix here about a year ago, which completely explains the surge popularity of it since. I watched the show when the first two seasons were aired on E4, but only since it's become available again have people suddenly started to watch it. I've been watching it back again recently actually and I've been wanting to know for ages; considering your prior history with Ru, why weren't you a judge in the first two seasons?

Visage: I'm the breadwinner for my family - my husband's a stay-at-home dad and a writer. I've been a morning radio host for the past seventeen years and when you sign on for it, you don't get vacation for more than a week. Initially, they shot season one really quickly - in about three weeks - and I asked for three weeks' vacation and the boss said "no". I didn't find out why until I had to turn down the offer. They called me first and said the job was mine, that they wanted me to be sitting next to Ru, but I had to turn them down. So I went back to my boss and asked him why I wasn't allowed to do it, even though I'd offered to wake up at midnight and record my radio show with my partner at midnight in order to do it. He said it was to do with the "image" of the show and suddenly I thought "Oh my God! You're a homophobe! That's what this is about." So I looked at him and said "I don't have to talk about it on the air" - I just wanted the time to be able to do this, because this was about Greatness and opening each other's minds and furthering equality, but he just didn't want to hear. So when season three eventually came around, they offered it to me again, which was really lucky because obviously they'd had to give that place away before. So this time I went to the president and owner of the company and said "This is what I want to do. I need five weeks off and you don't need to pay me. I'll try and record my show if you want me to..." and he just said "I have absolutely no problem with you doing it." And then the guy who'd said no before ended up getting fired not so long after that... It was nothing to do with what he'd said to me, but I'd like to think the universe paid me back.

Haus:     So what exactly happened to Merle Ginsburg after season two?

Visage: She's buried somewhere in the desert with just her head sticking out of the sand. But really, I don't know... I've actually never met Merle, but she seems lovely. I have no idea what she's up to nowadays though,

Haus:     OK. In relation to Drag Race then, and I know this could be a bit of a contentious question, but do you have a favourite contestant from all six seasons?

Visage: I don't just have one... I don't know how any fan of drag could look at all the amazing drag queens and pick just one. Could you do it?

Haus:     Probably not. There would be several contenders, but I don't think I could choose just one.

Visage: There are so many who are equally amazing but in different respects. I couldn't just pick one.

Haus:     Well on the flip-side, has there ever been a contestant that you've absolutely hated?

Visage: I've never hated any of them. There have been a lot of people who have challenged me and didn't want to see the light that I saw in them and were refusing to see it. Like Alex Matteo is the perfect example. I didn't not like her - I love her in fact - but she didn't want to hear what I was trying to say. We have a great relationship when I see her now and we laugh about it all, but at the time she was really resistant to what I had to say. But a good example on the other side is Jinxx Monsoon, who at the time would let what I said roll off her, but really listened to what I had to say and each time she better and stronger. You can either try and see what happens or you can ignore me, which is futile because I always win.

Haus:     And when Jinxx actually did listen to you feedback, she went on to win it.

Visage: Didn't she just?!

Haus:     So in relation to winners; are there any of the winners of previous seasons that you didn't agree with?

Visage: Yes. It was season two for me, when I wasn't a judge. I think Raven should have won that season. That's my opinion and I would have voiced it if I'd been a judge back then, but in that season it was consistently all about Raven. But with every other season I think he's been spot on with the winners. Rajah - definitely, Sharon - definitely, Jinxx - definitely... though you won't believe me when I say I'm yet to find out who is going to win this season. I'll find out when everyone else does. The Final airs on Monday night and this week's is a clip show. Sharon Needles is playing me and it should be very funny.

Haus:     Do you think that there are any real benefits in winning the show, aside from the cash prize, over just appearing in the show, standing out and becoming as big a star as a result?

Visage: Obviously the prize money, the cosmetics and the other perks here and there, but the real benefit is the fee they can get for their bookings for the next year. It goes up substantially; these kids are used to making $150 a night in their local bar and then they could get thousands and thousands for just one appearance now. They get a lot of money from selling the merchandise and the booking fee is dramatically bigger - five, six, seven times what it was before and deservedly so! People want to come and see them, the clubs get packed, the events sell a lot of tickets and everybody's happy. It's what they do with it that lays out the future for them.

Haus:     Some Drag Race's most famous alumni weren't actually winners, whereas some of its winner have now faded away a little bit. At least we certainly don't hear that much about them anymore on this side of the Atlantic. Do you think that some of them just overdo it a little and fizzle out, as opposed to others who play the long-game more?

Visage: Well that's not just winners. A lot of these kids came from nothing - and not "nothing" meaning that they were poor, just that beforehand they were just their local drag star in their small towns - but then they get on TV and people all over the world, not just in the US, know who they are. They start to believe the hype and when they believe the hype, that's when it gets dangerous. They start treating people like shit; they start treating bar owners like they're nothing; they get a little too drunk and a little too high and these people who've come to see them look at them, respect them and then see them acting like a crazy person and think "Oh, no..." It's very few and far between of course, but it happens across a lot of celebrities that come from reality TV. They're not stars, they've never been stars and they don't really have that much talent to speak of, but because they're the crazy people on TV they become what is the new definition of "celebrity". They can't handle the fame, it goes to their heads and they can't handle it. It's like lottery winners - that's what happens to them as well. But you're right; it's not just the winners who are the stars. You don't have to be the winner to make a lot of money off the back of the show. People like Pandora Boxx and Manila Luzon are still out there making loads of money and doing great because people still love them. They work hard!

Haus:     I must ask you now about the hot topic that's going around in the UK, and Europe as a whole, at the moment. How do you feel about drag queen who wears facial hair?

Visage: Thank you Conchita Wurst!

Haus:     We adore Conchita here.

Visage: I am a huge fan of bearded queen drag. I love it and I'm so excited that she won. I've not been able to properly watch it yet though, unfortunately. Last year I was all over Eurovision, but this year I couldn't because we were travelling with the Battle Of The Seasons Tour. Of course I caught the video of her as soon as it came online, but I just love how the world got to see her talent. What a great voice she has! And she's so gorgeous, with or without that beard. It's harder for children to understand though - like my children said "She's so pretty; why did she wear that beard?" Bearded queens is a harder concept to understand because it's putting reality into mocking reality. Drag mocks reality and is a big "F you" to society, and then you put a beard in on top of it and it's like "Oh! There is a person behind this." It's a grounding moment inside the more realistic arena of drag. I'm a big fan of it!

Haus:     Now when you come to Manchester, you're going to be meeting a few of these, but do you think that girls can be drag queens too?

Visage: Well look at me!

Haus:     Would you regard yourself as a drag queen?

Visage: Well yeah! Don't you?

Haus:     It depends what you mean is the definition of "drag".

Visage: It's like Ru says: "You're born naked and the rest is drag." When a doctor puts his scrubs on and goes to work, he's dressing up in drag; when a barista outs on her green apron to go and work in Starbucks, she's dressing up in drag; everything's drag, costumes are drag, clothes are drag. There's high and low drag. However, I don't like the whole sect of girls who call themselves 'faux queens' - I don't like that. It takes me as long to get ready as it does for RuPaul, so what differentiates? Absolutely I'm a drag queen. And proudly so.

Haus:     I'm glad to hear you say that because in Manchester we have a lot of female performers who participate as much as their male counterparts. I believe you might be meeting a few of them on the night that you're here.

Visage: I'm looking forward to it! The only qualm that I have with faux/female drag queens is that they do such high drag that they almost try to look manly or not feminine. There is nothing wrong with high drag, or gorgeous, femme drag. You don't have to look crazy to be a drag queen. Layer that powder on, piles on the lashes and the lipgloss, push up those boobs, but it doesn't have to be crazy-looking. Drag can just be heightened glamour also. I can't wait to meet some female drag queens when I'm in Manchester.

Haus:     Well you'll be meeting some of Manchester's biggest names in drag on the night and Pop Curious? will be putting on quite the show. They're very excited about meeting you and performing for you too.

Visage: I really can't wait. I'm so excited! If I can help in any way or give any kind of critique, I am there!

Last week, movie star James Franco delighted many of his fans by posting a selfie of himself on Instagram, posing almost naked with his hand in his boxers. But while many people rejoiced in his playfully tongue-in-cheek attitude toward baring flesh for the gratification of his fans, others have claimed that the image is provocative and obscene. Since, Franco has appeared on US chat show Letterman, where he was asked about the shot. He responded with typical Franco-esque nonchalance, saying "It's what the people want!" and that if people didn't want to see photos like that, "Don't follow me on Instagram!" . But should Franco, or anyone else for that matter, have to apologise for wanting to share photographs of themselves, regardless of what levels of undress they're in? Does an enforced censorship of the human body on social networking sites mean that, inherently, we're saying we're ashamed of our bodies?

There are so many articles, blogs and websites devoted to the ideal of women in the media "maintaining their self respect" and keeping themselves conservatively covered up. People often toss around the declaration that if people publicly expose flesh, they have no self-respect. At the same time, however, these same people trumpet the idea that we should feel proud of our own bodies and feel confident in our own skin... So why should we cover up what we're supposed to be proud of? I'm proud that I have a degree, but should I be hiding it and only sharing it with my nearest and dearest? They are right on the latter aspect; the human body IS something to be proud of, so if you're comfortable in your own skin and want to share that with the world, then why the hell not broadcast what you're proud of? That doesn't show a lack of self-respect, surely it's more of a flagrant exhibition of your own self worth?

Gay men are guiltier than most of airing themselves to the world, warts or pecs and all. Log onto the majority of gays' Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and there will be at least one carefully chosen and perfectly lit photo, selfie or otherwise, of them topless/in trunks/in their underwear. Saying that, log onto the same profiles of their straight counterparts, who go to the gym, eat well and look after themselves and you will still see something similar. Because people who pour a lot of effort into the way they look feel proud of what they've achieved. Some people are proud of their hobbies and plaster pictures of their endeavours  online, others are proud of their children and swamp their Facebook with the progress of said kids, while others take pride that they live well, eat well and work damned hard at the gym. So why is there an inherent compunction from everyone to judge anyone who posts such photos?

It would be easy to argue that the foundation lies in jealousy, but I don't think this is necessarily the case (though obviously in some cases, it is). On the one hand, there are those people who post topless selfies, "gym progress" shots and poolside pictures more often than they post anything else. Like anything else, if they saturate their social media presence with the same thing over and over again, the majority of people who follow them are going to get bored. If you post a photo of your car over and over again, you'll get a name for yourself as the person who loves their car WAY too much. Similarly, if you post a photo of your chest over and over again (I'm sure it looks thoroughly different each time you post it, in all those different lightings, locales and mirrors), people are probably just going to think "Well, HE loves himself, doesn't he?" It goes beyond self-confidence and just ends up stinking of narcissism. 

The human body is nothing to be ashamed of, but people would have us believe that by exposing the bodies of the people who do work hard on their fitness and who do eat and exercise well, it somehow negatively affects the body confidence and self image of others. But would you say to people who earn higher end wages that they shouldn’t flaunt their cash by publicly spending it on material goods? Well that would be ludicrous, wouldn’t it? It seems that the world wants to prevent envy from occurring by removing things to be envious of, rather than letting the envious individual deal with it by themselves. Suddenly, being envious of a body-type has become a social problem, not an individual’s self-confidence issue. Whoever you are, there will always be ways that you would like to look better; things you want to improve; body parts you wish you could change – anyone’s personal issues shouldn’t become problems projected onto someone else, blaming their possession of the thing you want for your lack of it. The internet may have made images and incarnations of these aspirational figures more accessible, but this doesn’t mean there’s any more of them than there has ever been before. People have always been envious of each other’s looks, it’s just that now people are envious on a mass scale. 

Of course sometimes the reason for all these selfies floating around is simply a need for validation. With every ‘like’ that’s added to a photo, the more the subject knows that someone has added their approval. Unless a photo is funny, or contains more than one person, any ‘like’ on a photo is usually an admission of “You look hot and I fancy you.” Everyone likes to be fancied, everyone likes to feel attractive and hastagged photos on Instagram allows people constant access to feel-good instant validation 24/7. It’s definitely addictive and it definitely effects your ego, but if it helps your self confidence and boosts your self esteem, what could possibly be wrong with it?

I don't know who the people are that follow selfie-addicts on Instagram, but there's only so many times I really want to see any of my friends topless, regardless of what they actually look like. What people seem to forget is that while a good portion of the people following them are nameless faceless skin-demanding strangers, the rest are people you know from all parts of your life. Social media takes all your friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances and everything you post can be seen by all of them. While there is nothing wrong with your body appearing online, especially if you're proud of it, surely you realise that the more skin we see, the more we're just going to think you're a) a slut or b) an exhibitionist. And while both may be true in equal measure, do you really want everyone you know and have ever met to think that too? Holiday photos will feature some skin, if you've made a radical transformation in the gym, show us! But otherwise, you look the same every time you do it. I'm sure even the people who search #instagay #instalove #instamuscle get a bit tired of those same old faces too.

On Saturday night, the gayest of competitions concluded with the triumph of the gayest of contestants. Conchita Wurst, the Austrian bearded drag queen, ran away with the lead and became the first drag performer to win the Eurovision Song Contest. Though her win is being hailed as a milestone for the contest, with the Gay Bloc Vote trouncing the usual Eastern Bloc landslide, particularly at a time when Gay Rights are a hugely disputed topic in many of the countries voting, there are those dismissing her win as being solely down to her gimmick, that people the continent over were voting out of curiosity toward a freak-show than either as an indication of her talent or their support toward the trans community. 

People have been asking why, if she wanted to dress as a woman, she would have a beard as well. There's no doubt that Conchita is a beautiful woman, but with the addition of a full face of hair she can never be seen as someone fully feminine, at least not in the traditional sense. In a society so keen to put a label on people and file them neatly into boxes, Conchita is a direct challenge; she's not a man, she's not a woman, or rather she's not what society defines to be a "man" or a "woman". Her gender-bending isn't something that sits comfortably with conservative values, which require people to be easily identifiable, blue or pink, masculine or feminine. The grey area in between makes a lot of people uncomfortable, and not just straight people; some of the gay community struggle with the blurring of gender too. 

When Dana International won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 for Israel with her disco-stormer Diva, it was unmistakeably a massive step toward trans-acceptance and their visibility in the media across the whole continent. That she was openly transsexual, competed and won not only showed acceptance and support of the trans community, but also educated people in both the East and West about trans people when their presence on mainstream media was still minimal and understanding of trans issues was low. Now, sixteen years later, the West is a much different place. Though not yet a fully assimilated utopia, society has changed its opinions and shifted toward acceptance and education, with people from across the whole range of the trans spectrum represented and depicted in the mainstream media, bringing visibility, understanding and challenging the conservatism of the past

Matters are somewhat different in the East, however. When Conchita’s participation in the contest was revealed, countries from the Eastern Bloc threatened to boycott or at least edit out her performance. The mere idea of an instantly recognisable trans person being depicted on their media was threatening, because there is no way of avoiding that Conchita is a drag queen. There’s no dressing up that she is fully female, or pretending that she’s just a “bearded lady” a la circus freak curiosity. The whole point of a bearded drag queen is a challenge toward the social constructs of gender; something less enlightened societies are not comfortable with being challenged. Conservative societies and conservative people at the very least can’t understand why someone would dress as a woman but still have a beard. Unlike Dana International, Conchita cannot be dressed up as something easily pigeonholed and labelled as something at least resembling normality. Conchita represents difference, diversity and liberalism and it is people’s reaction to her that is showing just how far their communities have come in LGBT acceptance, even despite their governments having us believe that they think otherwise. Even Russia, where we hear every day of both it's government and its people's institutionalised homophobia, gave Conchita points.

Unlike Dana who was born male before transitioning to become female, Conchita is a constructed persona. The man behind the beard, Thomas Neuwirth, is not a secret. He created Conchita, inhabits her and performs her and, while the world now knows Conchita more than they know Thomas, it is the latter who is actually the reality. Conchita is an illusion, but unlike many drag queens, her illusion is deliberately attempting to undermine a gender distinction instead of trying to copy it. Hers is a list of things she is, not a list of things she’s not; male and female, trans, gay, straight, masculine, feminine, the entire spectrum of human sexuality and appearance. Essentially, Conchita is so broad and covers so many bases that her diversity boils down to a single essential common denominator for everyone; she is human, in all its guises and all its forms. As she collected her prize at the end of the ceremony, she said to the elated crowd “This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. You know who you are. We are unity. And we are unstoppable.” She represents so much more than just a novelty act, of a man with a beard in a dress. Conchita is a symbol for tolerance and acceptance at a time when symbols as visible as her are needed all across Europe and the rest of the world.

Maybe Conchita did win because of who she is over what she sang, but that’s not to denigrate her talent as a singer and performer. Her song Rise Like A Phoenix would give any official Bond song a run for its money and its drama and passion made for a beautiful performance on Saturday night. Plus I’ve been singing it ever since, so it’s certainly catchy. While many in the UK will dismiss Conchita's victory as the gays voting for the gayest winner ever on the gayest show on TV, the contest’s high-campery isn’t automatically associated with the LGBT community the whole continent over. In the East, Eurovision is taken a lot more seriously as an opportunity to showcase their talents and their countries to a world who may not otherwise know they exist. And in the countries where prejudice, homophobia and transphobia is rampant and rife, the Europe-wide embracing of a gander-bent bearded drag queen is exactly the kind of message more liberal countries should be sending them: everyone is equal, everyone should be accepted and difference should always be celebrated. Vive la Conchita!

Haus:     You're coming to perform at Pop Curious? for its Eurovision party on Saturday. Have you heard the UK's entry for this year?

Sonia:    Molly Smitten-Downes? I have. The first time I heard it I really liked it, especially the chorus; I think it's got a brilliant hook. For Eurovision you have to go with your gut reaction after the first time of hearing it, because that's what everyone else will be doing all over Europe. They'll only hear it the once. But I think this song has a really good chance.

Haus:     I think it's our best chance in years. Now, you famously came second during the 'Run of the Irish'. Was that the year it was at the farm?

Sonia:    It was at Millstreet in County Cork.

Haus:     What do you remember most from performing that year? Niamh Kavanagh won, but you were robbed.

Sonia:    I have very fond memories of it. We went to Ireland about ten days beforehand for  rehearsals and camera runs. Of course I was on the record label with Simon Cowell at the time and he came across for a few days. I had a great time and it was so frustrating to come as close as I did! I was really disappointed, but it was fantastic experience. 

Haus:     Was the Simon Cowell that you knew then the same as the Simon Cowell we see now?

Sonia:    He was exactly the same. He was a really fair guy, really funny; what you see is what you get and the man you see on the telly is definitely him.

Haus:     You still perform a lot and you're probably best known for your bouncy and upbeat pop music, but your voice is actually very soulful and almost quite old fashioned - in a good way. But what sort of music do you enjoy performing the most?

Sonia:    I love all sorts of music. I also love country & western, in particular Shania Twain songs and I have quite a similar voice to her. I can change my voice for the genre though: pop, rock, soul, musicals - I love all variations of it really. I'd love to do the musical Blood Brothers as well because I have the range of Mrs Johnson.

Haus:     How have you never done Blood Brothers? You have musical pedigree and you'd go down a storm, especially in your home city.

Sonia:    Well I'm the right age now. Bill Kenwright (the producer) always used to say to me "Oh you look far too young to play Mrs Johnson," but I think I'm about the right age now, so watch this space!

Haus:     Well I hope you do manage to do it. The part has done wonders for other people, especially Mel C recently. Did you see her?

Sonia:    I didn't, no.

Haus:     She was great in the part and really powerful, but she was far too young. So what are you doing at the moment? I saw you at Manchester Pride two years ago, but apart from events like that, where do you perform?

Sonia:    I do all types of events. I do a lot of corporate events and I'm also doing the Let's Rock The Moor; the outdoor festival with Rick Astley, Level 42, Holly Johnson, Belinda Carlisle and we've got a brilliant lineup. And I do all the Rewinds as well. I'm just constantly gigging all of the time. And I'm also doing a really exciting event too - I'm not sure if you've heard of it? It's called Eurovision Westend?

Haus:     It's the night when cast members from various Westend musicals perform past Eurovision hits, isn't it?

Sonia:    Exactly. It's going to be at the Dominion Theatre in London on the 22nd and I'm so looking forward to performing at that. 

Haus:     Are you going to be doing Better The Devil You Know?

Sonia:    That and You'll Never Stop Me Loving You. It's going to be a great night, especially because Graham Norton and Rylan are on the panel. I don't know if I'm supposed to tell you though... I'm not sure if I'm a surprise or not!

Haus:     Well maybe that's a Haus of Phag exclusive! Now, you have a very loyal gay fanbase. Has it always been like that?

Sonia:    It has been right since the first big single. They've taken me into their hearts! They're lovely and loyal fans.

Haus:     Do you find a difference when you're performing to a gay crowd?

Sonia:    Gay crowds just want to have a good time and dance and feel the music and see the people that they recognise. They're always completely up for it, even when we do the Rock The Moors and Rewinds you've got the people there who remember the 80s and relive every word from every song. I can never believe that they sing the songs back to me word for word and it's just amazing!

Haus:     You and I share a Birthday, but I'm 33 and I remember having your first single on vinyl and the album afterwards. Now, I've had a look back on various articles from over the years and nobody has a bad word to say about you. We think that you might be the nicest person in pop. Even when French & Saunders did that impression of you, you came across as really lovely and giggly. Do you have a surprise mean and nasty streak though? Or are you genuinely always really sunny and upbeat?

Sonia:    You're only here once, so you should always try and just enjoy yourself and be happy. I've got a little girl now and she's three and a half and is the absolute light of my life. I've got nothing at all to be sad about; there a lot of people in this world who are a million times less fortunate than me, so you've got to count your blessings for everything you've got. There's no point in being down or miserable or narky; I just don't see the point in it.

Haus:     I completely agree. And we can't wait to have you with us here on Eurovision night. It's like having the actual Father Christmas of Christmas Eve! We've got a real Eurovision star from the glory days, when coming second was amazing and we just couldn't beat the Irish. These days we really struggle at Eurovision.

Sonia:    I know! I thought Blue were really good and in with a chance of winning it!

Haus:     Every year I think we're in with a good chance. Maybe not Engelbert Humperdinck, but with Bonnie Tyler I thought "Ooh, that's a good song!" I don't know what we can do to be in with a chance of winning it... You should go back and do it again!

Sonia:    Oh I don't know about that!