Latest news with #Lips
News18
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sophie Choudry Is ‘Ready To Slay' As She Explores Thailand
Last Updated: Sophie Choudry was seen wearing a yellow bikini top and layered it with a blue shirt as she spent time at the beach. Sophie Choudry was seen enjoying the scenic beauty of Phuket, Thailand, as she went to the tropical heaven to attend an event. The singer took to social media to share glimpses from her work trip. Sophie was seen taking time out from her busy schedule and exploring the city as well as spending time at the beach. Sophie Choudry Explores Phuket Sophie took to Instagram to share a thread of pictures, giving fans a sneak peek of her Thailand trip. The first photo in the thread showed a selfie of the singer relaxing at the beach. Sophie was seen wearing a yellow bikini top and layered it with a blue shirt. For the bottom, she opted for a pair of denim shorts, keeping her overall look casual yet stylish. Sophie kept her makeup minimal and added a pair of brown sunglasses and went for statement gold earrings as she enjoyed the sun on her skin. The 12-picture thread further highlighted Sophie's day in Phuket and showcased all the activities she had done. From shopping to enjoying the famous Torry's ice cream—the thread covered it all. She also posted a video of herself tasting the delicious ice cream. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SOPHIE (@sophiechoudry) Sophie Choudry Dazzles In High-Slit Gown The thread ended with a few snaps of her posing at the Radio City Business Titans 2025 Chapter 4 award ceremony. The singer turned heads in a gorgeous ensemble. For the event, Sophie was seen donning a mousse-coloured high-slit sequin gown, adorned with embellishments all over it. The ensemble, featuring an off-shoulder sweetheart neckline, elevated her entire look, making it more glamorous. Sharing the pictures, Sophie wrote, 'A little work, a little play… and ready to slay," followed by a fire heart emoji. 'Also loved exploring old town Phuket!! So gorgeous," she added. Sophie Choudry's Work Front Sophie Choudry was last seen in Dibakar Banerjee's Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2. In the film, she made a cameo appearance as a reality show judge. Alongside Sophie, the film featured Paritosh Tiwari, Abhinav Singh, Bonita Rajpurohit and Swaroopa Ghosh, among others. Sophie Choudry's most recently released song, Lips, won the hearts of her fans. Composed by Raahi, the song included a recreation of the iconic melody Hothon Pe Aisi Baat, originally composed by SD Burman. The energetic music video featured Sophie Chaudry and Freddy Daruwala and surpassed 50 lakh views on YouTube. First Published: July 29, 2025, 17:06 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Meet the tap dancing queen from Fort Lauderdale who made a splash on ‘Drag Race'
Before she was lip syncing for $50,000 on national television, Suzie Toot was an up-and-coming drag queen in Fort Lauderdale performing for free. She'd show up to open stages at bars that don't exist anymore and leave smelling like cigarettes. She worked hard as a cast member at Lips, the iconic Fort Lauderdale drag venue now rebranded as Aquaplex. And she'd perform her favorite number, a Liza Minnelli-inspired lip sync, sometimes for crowds of just 10 people. But things have changed for Toot, the drag persona of 25-year-old Ben Shaevitz. After a memorable appearance this year on season 17 of MTV's 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' Toot performed the same Liza number in front of an audience of 2,000 in London. Toot is not known for the flips, dips and splits that South Florida's drag scene specializes in. She prefers 1920s flapper dresses and tap dance shoes over glamorous evening gowns and towering heels. She's more likely to perform to Lady Gaga's niche jazz records than her pop hits. Her drag style stuck out in South Florida and on 'Drag Race,' where her fellow contestants weren't sold on her aesthetic — that is, until she outlasted most of them in the competition. 'I love being talked about, whether it's positive or negative,' Shaevitz told the Miami Herald, laughing. 'It's funny how my 'Drag Race' experience, in a lot of ways, reflected my experience coming up in the drag scene in Fort Lauderdale because I was so different and I looked so crazy. I'm a polarizing figure, but I love it.' Shaevitz's Toot went from underdog to semi-finalist, nearly making it to the end to snatch the $200,000 grand prize. Though she didn't win the crown, the drag artist still feels like a winner. And she loves the attention, even when she's the butt of the joke. She won $50,000 during the show's 'Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown.' She endeared fans with her comedy, like tap dancing the Gettysburg Address in Morse code. She's touring the country with her cabaret-style act. And her feature film debut, a camp horror flick filmed in Fort Lauderdale, is now streaming on Hulu in time for Pride Month. Toot, alongside season 17 co-star Lucky Starzzz, is among a growing crop of South Florida drag queens who have been elevating the local drag scene to international acclaim, like fellow 'Drag Race' alumni Morphine Love Dion, Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Malaysia Babydoll Foxx. In the pantheon of South Florida drag legends, Toot emerged as an unlikely reality TV star, a fan favorite and an internet meme. But for her friends back home, the Suzie Toot success story is no surprise. From theater kid to tap dancing drag queen Born in New York and raised in Wellington in Palm Beach, Suzie Toot's creator, Shaevitz attended Lynn University in Boca Raton for its 'tiny but mighty' musical theater program. He'd often joke with friends about what they would be like as drag queens, and during the pandemic, 'we had all the time in the world.' That's when Suzie Toot — with her Betty Boop-esque makeup, curly red hair and niche musical theater antics — came to be. 'Weird stuff, the old classics. This big melting pot of my loves and my interest became the Suzie character,' Shaevitz said. After dropping out of college, Shaevitz moved to Fort Lauderdale to pursue a career in regional theater and, eventually, drag full time. 'This is where everything is. There's theater. There's drag. It just pulled me over,' Shaevitz said. 'And it's my favorite place in Florida. I'll say it. Sorry, Miami. Sorry, Orlando. Fort Lauderdale is where to f------ be.' Shaevitz worked tirelessly developing a tap-dancing, live-singing cabaret act. He found friendship — and his first drag gig — with fellow Fort Lauderdale cabaret drag artist Eric Swanson, who performs as Miss Bouvèé. It all started with a message from Shaevitz on Instagram asking for a guest spot at a show, Swanson said. '[Toot] was brand new on the scene then, and I was giving love to anybody who wanted to sing and come share the stage,' Swanson said. 'And she was exactly as she is now. She has not changed. She is an old soul in a little, young person's body.' Swanson and Shaevitz applied their musical talents as the stars of 'Big Easy Queens,' a campy, raunchy, bloody horror movie musical set in New Orleans and filmed in South Florida. The independent film premiered in Fort Lauderdale in 2023 during Popcorn Frights, South Florida's largest genre film festival, and is now available to stream on Hulu as of Saturday. Swanson, 42, recalled a conversation he had with Shaevitz in their dressing room about where his career may go. 'I said, 'This is good. You're going to get calls from people,'' Swanson said. Soon after, Shaevitz got the call from 'Drag Race.' 'And the rest is history,' said Swanson. 'A win for the weirdos' When Kai Gomez met Shaevitz at a drag competition in Wilton Manors, he had a feeling he couldn't shake. 'Before the competition started, I was like, 'OK, you and me are going to the end,'' said Gomez, who performs in drag as King Vyper. Sure enough, they both landed in the top four, and the hosts were about to announce the top two finalists. King Vyper was called. Suzie Toot was called. 'And they tell us both that we didn't make the top two,' Gomez said. They've been friends ever since, supporting each others' careers and performing together. One of Gomez's favorite moments with Shaevitz was their 'Cuban Pete' number for a Halloween show. He dressed as Jim Carrey's 'The Mask' and Shaevitz was dressed as Lucille Ball. While Shaevitz and Gomez's alternative styles of drag are unique in South Florida, Gomez said it's validating to see how well Toot has done on and off 'Drag Race.' 'It makes me so proud. It's a win for the weirdos,' Gomez said. '[Toot] wasn't very favored because she was the artsy fartsy girly. She was the theater girly. But as soon as she started getting to those challenges, she was knocking them out the park.' And it's a win for South Florida's drag scene as a whole, Gomez said. Toot's success underscores drag's continued popularity in South Florida, despite the state government's anti-drag policies and rhetoric of the last few years. 'We really do have heavy hitter performers here,' Gomez said. In April, drag fans packed R House, a popular Wynwood restaurant, to watch Toot on 'Drag Race.' Though she was eliminated that episode, the mood was celebratory. At midnight that night, it was Shaevitz's 25th birthday. 'Once again, I love attention,' Shaevitz said. 'So hey, people are saying 'so sorry.' They're still talking to me.'
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mighty: A Small Venue With A Big Voice Lands In Te Komititanga
In celebration of NZ Music Month, a new musical experience is coming to the heart of the city, and it's not what you'd expect. From Tuesday 26 May to Sunday 1 June, a custom-built mini theatre called Mighty will pop up in Te Komititanga, offering the most intimate live gigs you'll find anywhere in Aotearoa. Completely free. Built around a 10-foot shipping container and clad to look like an old-fashioned theatre - complete with red velvet curtains, a rug and a standing lamp - Mighty offers front-row seats to unforgettable performances from some of our most talented songwriters. Each show invites just 4–6 people at a time into the cosy interior, where they'll hear one song, performed totally live and completely acoustic. No mics. No tech tricks. Just voice and guitar or keys. With 20 performances over the week and a line-up of exceptional local talent, there's a twist: while all performers will be announced in advance, their set times will stay secret. It's songwriter roulette, designed to surprise and delight. Some of our brightest lights and rising stars will be performing, including Tiny Ruins, Anna Coddington, Julia Deans, Lips, Romi Wrights, Phoebe Rings, Jazmine Mary, HINA, PARK RD, Rewind Fields, Jol Mulholland + more. Mighty celebrates the power of a single song, shared in person. Live. Acoustic. Solo. Mighty is a love letter to live music, reminding us that sometimes the smallest stages create the biggest moments.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
The Flaming Lips review: Wayne Coyne and co hit the heights for brilliant gig at Olympia, Dublin
The Flaming Lips, Olympia, Dublin, ★★★★★ Before they even start, Flaming Lips' sharp-suited front man Wayne Coyne bounds from the wings of the Olympia stage to halt the PA playing Thin Lizzy so he can tell a story. He and his siblings used to sing 'The Coynes are back in town' during the 1970s, and could we try that tonight? The song rewinds, the crowd roar his family's name, and Coyne is already claiming this as 'one of the greatest gigs we're ever gonna play'. The Lips – five of them including Mr Wayne – open with Flight Test from 2002's swirling pop masterwork Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, played in its entirety for this first set. It's hardly begun before the Olympia is a blizzard of monster-shaped confetti, the hypnotic digital backdrop is in full effect (pleasingly, a stagehand has to tap it the odd time to banish gremlins), and two giant pink robots from the album cover are inflated. Coyne's prediction has already proven prescient. He's delighted to be here and why wouldn't he with a band as remarkable as this? They finesse sounds out of keyboards and guitars – and gorgeous pedal steel - that seem drawn from another realm but are anchored to this one by Tommy McKenzie's rubbery bass and the double bass drum heft of Matt Duckworth Kirksey, who looks like John Bonham in a pink wig at a kid's party. Flaming Lips at the Olympia. Massive confetti-filled balloons float over the congregation, adding to the pandemonium when they burst, and the lighting rigs either side of Coyne employ lasers that wouldn't have shamed The Who in their pomp. 'Audiences often sound like drunk uncles but you guys can sing,' Wayne marvels after his vocals are eclipsed by the ecstatic throng's commandeering of Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell. An enormous, light-refracting mirrorball is wheeled on only to be replaced by a floppy rainbow arch for a deeply moving Do You Realize?? Either there was something in the tea that nice man in the wizard outfit gave me or this really is one of the greatest gigs ever. The second half is a best of The Lips celebration including cuts from 1999's spectacular symphonic skyscraper The Soft Bulletin. More balloons fly through She Don't Use Jelly, Coyne dons Peter Gabriel's old flower-head rigout for Flowers Of Neptune 6 and then sports a Wonder Woman muumuu (really) during a superb Waiting For Superman. There are roadies dressed as the sun, as aliens covered in tinsel, then as two oversized dancing eyeballs. The Lips finish with a Race For The Prize which reminds at least one tired hack why he fell so hard for this rock'n'roll stuff in the first place. A joyous, life-affirming, euphoric, and truly psychedelic experience.
The Guardian
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Flaming Lips review – stops and starts make this too much of a good thing
'You could have had a wee and got back,' the chap behind me says to his partner as Wayne Coyne comes to the close of another rambling between-song anecdote in an oddly frustrating, stop-start evening: over the course of two-and-three-quarter hours, there's an awful lot of time when nothing is happening – the gap between She Don't Use Jelly and Flowers of Neptune 6 stretches to seven minutes, what with watching balloons, and Coyne's anecdote about Kacey Musgraves dropping acid. The frustrations start before the band take to the stage. Plainly it is better that Brixton Academy is safe for visitors now, but there must surely be a middle ground where those arriving half an hour before show time don't have to queue for 50 minutes to enter. When the Flaming Lips take to the stage, 15 minutes late, there are still many hundreds outside, and big gaps in the crowd. That's a shame, given that they miss a good chunk of the main purpose of the evening: a complete rendition of the 2002 album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. That, too, keeps losing momentum, as assorted stage effects are brought on and off between songs (over the course of the evening we get confetti cannon, streamer guns, mirror balls, video screens, giant balloons, costume changes, giant inflatable pink robots, lasers, inflatable rainbows, swinging lamps and more), and the music pauses for minutes at a time. It being Brixton, the sound is boomy and muddy at first. It settles down – but for 20 minutes there's almost no middle. Sign up to Sleeve Notes Get music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras. Every genre, every era, every week after newsletter promotion After an hour, the band leave the stage for a longish interval before a second set, less gauzy and electronically shaped than the Yoshimi material, but just as suffused with the Lips's peculiar ecstasy: Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung may be the only psych-rock song to ponder the upsides of petrification. But the evening is too much of a good thing, especially when 45 minutes could be shed without even losing a song. By the time a glorious Race for the Prize closes the show, the gaps are back in the crowd, last trains calling time long before the band.
