RIP, Octavia St. Laurent
Another icon has been dimmed. Octavia St. Laurent, who was one of the stars of Jennie Livingston's seminal 1990 voguing documentary Paris Is Burning and who more recently graced Wolfgang Busch's update film How Do I Look, passed away on the 17th. I'm waiting on details, but in the meantime let me tell you that Octavia radiated sheer sweetness as she pursued modeling, singing, and activism, all with the glow of a goddess.
Wolfgang Busch just sent me his sentiments on this loss, and I want you to read them while striking a pose of real sadness:
- "GOODBYE TO MY LIL JEFFREY, A.K.A 'OCTAVIA ST. LAURENT BLAHNIK'. I FIRST LAID EYES ON OCTAVIA AS OCTAVIA IN 1982. SHE WALKED AGAINST THE ICONS, MARGO PRINCESS, DORAY PRINCESS, AND SHE BATTLED THE LIKES OF ICON TENNEILLE REID DUPREE, PAMELA CARTIER, ETC. OCTAVIA WAS A WINNER. SHE NEVER GAVE UP. SHE IS NOW WITH HER DAD AND HE LOVED HER SO VERY MUCH. MY CONDOLENCES TO HER MOMS. FROM PARIS IS BURNING TO THE MAURY POVICH SHOW AND TO HOW DO I LOOK, WE WILL ALWAYS TREASURE AND REMEMBER THE LIFETIME ACHIEVER/ ICON OCTAVIA.............
WALKING FACE IN HEAVEN WITH THE ANGELS."
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She's the one licking the sequined nipple? She WAS a goddess!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 9:48AMDom DeLuise and now this! It's a bad month for us.
Octavia was the sweetest one in Paris is Burning (which I've seen 80 times). The others were screeching "You're nothing but an overgrown orangutan," but Octavia was just going about her glamour business with a smile.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 9:50AMOnly 2 of the 8 Paris is Burning stars are still alive. Sad!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 10:30AMim gonna live forever
baby remember my name
octavia! legendary icon! diva!
tens acrosssssssss the board!!!!!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 11:12AMI remember Octavia for her sassy yet classy style. She epitomized realness in both her attitude and presence. She and all the cast members of PIB will forever live in my heart.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 12:04PMOh that's so sad. She just glowed in "Paris is Burning." She really looked like she was going to make it. And to a large extent she did.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 5:52PMMY SWEET SWEET ANGEL.....MAY YOU FINALLY FLY FREE YOUR BEAUTY WAS TIMELESS AND I WILL NEVER FORGET U...
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 6:44PMGive Mother Willi Ninja and Sin a Christopher Street "eeeeeeeeeeeeeowwwwwwwwwwwww" for me Octavia.
Sometimes, as I watch the kids of my youth pass before my eyes and before their time, it really does feel like I'm a stranger living in a strange land. This is an entire generation cut down before their prime.
And we had an administration in the White House that denied condoms to teenagers for 8 years.
That's what I call terrorism!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 7:16PMGive Mother Willi Ninja and Sin a Christopher Street "eeeeeeeeeeeeeowwwwwwwwwwwww" for me Octavia.
Sometimes, as I watch the kids of my youth pass before my eyes and before their time, it really does feel like I'm a stranger living in a strange land. This is an entire generation cut down before their prime.
And we had an administration in the White House that denied condoms to teenagers for 8 years.
That's what I call terrorism!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 19 2009 @ 7:17PMI REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME OUT AND SAW HER IN THE VILLAGE..I WAS IN LOVE...I 'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE YEARS HELPING THE KIDS....AND TURNING THE BALLROOM SCENE.. 10 ACROSS THE BOARD....
Posted On: Wednesday, May. 20 2009 @ 11:15PMOCATAVIA REST IN PEACE BABIE GIRL YOUR ONE OF THE BEST AND WILL NEVER EVER BE FORGOTTEN HOLD IT DOWN UP THERE AND MOST OF ALL GOD BLESS. MY BLESSINGS GO OUT TO. THE ENTIRE FAMILY ONE LOVE OC SPANKY
Posted On: Thursday, May. 21 2009 @ 7:27PMR.I.P Octavia, I first met Octavia in Junior High School,I remember how they would have to restrain the female students every time she would sing for a show or assembly, I knew then she was destined for greatness. Im deeply saddened by her passing. To correct reports, there are more than two survivors of "Paris Is Burning",though no speaking parts their appearance undeniably legendary. Octavia serve them well girl...you always did look good in all white. God bless category closed
Posted On: Thursday, May. 21 2009 @ 8:42PMThe viewing is 11 AM on Monday May 25 at Stutzman funeral home at 224-39 Jamaica Avenue in Queens Village. The burial is Tuesday.
Posted On: Friday, May. 22 2009 @ 12:27AMViewing for Octavia will be at 11 am
Monday May 25
Burial tuesday may 26
Stutzman Funeral Home
224-39 Jamaica Ave
Queens Village NY
718-465-3210
Please Call for times just in case
Linda 718-347-7740
Jonathan 347-548-5964
Octavia St. Laurent is also featured in the humanitarian award winning documentary "How Do I Look", Oci's quote: "How Do I Look is too real for the general public".
How Do I Look trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E-AhouEL_s&feature=channel_page
She was one of my role models when I began my own transition, and one of my goals was to one day meet her.
A transperson's family expands, not contracts after transition, and we are saddened that we've lost another iconic angel.
God bless your family and all who had the pleasure of calling you a friend at this sorrowful time.
The viewing has now been changed to Tuesday May 26 starting at 9 am!!!
Posted On: Friday, May. 22 2009 @ 6:03PMWolfgang, thank you for posting the information about Octavia services. However, there is one correction: The viewing and the service will be held the same day Tuesday May 26, 2009. The viewing will be from 9 to 11am and the service will begin at 11am to 1pm then the burial will follow.
Stutzman Funeral Home
224-39 Jamaica Ave
Queens Village NY
718-465-3210
Please Call for times just in case
Linda 718-347-7740
Jonathan 347-548-5964
Joye 315-439-0054
I think I speak for my entire family....thank you all for loving Octavia!
Donations will be kindly accepted and greatly appreciated.
Knowing you and working with you has changed my life. You have made me stronger by inspiring me to be who I am. I will miss your laughter. You will always be my " Queen of the Underground".
Posted On: Saturday, May. 23 2009 @ 10:38AMI FIRST MET OCTAVIA THROUGH MY BEST FRIEND DOUGLAS SAYS / FASHION DESIGNER, N SHE GREETED ME WITH A SMILE N THAT WILL B THE LASTING MEMORY THAT WILL STAY BRUNT IN MY HEART REST IN PEACE U BEAUTY OF THE GODS N LET YOUR SPIRIT REIGN OVER ALL THAT LOVED YOU
Posted On: Saturday, May. 23 2009 @ 1:00PMI remember getting into a lot of fights because Octavia when we were young but I never cared about what people would say. It takes a very brave person to Wake up, Live their dreams and never let anyone hold her down. Not many people can push forward with so many obstacles in front of you. I love you and miss you and I will never forget you!!!
Your Brother
Jonathan .
I am a member of the last class of the Old School, so I was blessed to see Octavia and many other legends, like Angie X, do what they did in real time. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to see, and live, the unbelievable, the incredible, the inimitable, the absolutely fabulous world that we had then, that is the foundation of our world now. We are, because Octavia dared to be. We live, because she and others refused to NOT live, out loud and beautiful and DEFIANTLY GRACEFUL. I hope to pass on those visions, those memories, and that fabulousness, such that the Children always know whence we come, and to what we aspire. Thank you, Octavia. May Ochun bathe you in heavenly honey as She did in earthly grace, and may your Light always find each of us to illuminate the path that you forged for us all.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 26 2009 @ 12:30PMOctavia, my sister here on earth; tell all our other sisters up above I said, "hi". We come from a genration that was cut down too soon. Our destiny's will meet again at the Elk's Lodge in the sky and we will "bring it" like the old day's and laugh, laugh, laugh the night away. There wil be no more despair up there and our lights will shine forever. Fly free my sister. You have just entered the Kingdom of the grandeset house of them all.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 26 2009 @ 1:19PM
