female impersonator
Man playing woman
A female impersonator is a man who performs as a woman, typically as entertainment, adopting feminine clothing, mannerisms, and often exaggerated makeup.
The term has been used since the vaudeville era and encompasses drag queens, though female impersonator often suggests a more polished theatrical tradition of mimicking specific famous women.
The female impersonator's Cher routine brought down the house.
The term is somewhat dated; drag performer or drag artist is now more common.
Wearing another gender's clothing
- lip-syncingMatching mouth to audio
- queenMost powerful chess piece
- wigArtificial head covering
- makeupProducts for beautifying faces
pageantry · transformation · stilettos · showgirl · padding · tucking · contouring · lashes
Identity-concealing alteration
- transformationThorough change in form
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
semblance · passing · convincing · believable · masquerade · charade · imitation · guise
Clothing for portrayal
- stageRaised performance platform
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
- makeupProducts for beautifying faces
- transformationThorough change in form
performance · audience · spotlight · monologue · curtain call · rehearsal · showmanship · spectacle
Satirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- mimicryAdaptive resemblance to another
spoof · shtick · camp · send-up · farce · sketch · wit · lampooning
Sentimental song of longing
- chanteuseFemale nightclub singer
- nightclubEvening entertainment venue
- sequinsSmall reflective fabric ornaments
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
spotlight · lounge · piano bar · jazz · burlesque · vaudeville · crooner · ballad
Widely recognized public figure
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- divaCelebrated female vocalist
- MadonnaChrist's mother, or pop icon
- Diana RossMotown diva, solo legend
Cher · Marilyn Monroe · Judy Garland · Dolly Parton · Barbra Streisand · Liza Minnelli · Tina Turner · Whitney Houston
cross-dressing
Wearing another gender's clothing
- lip-syncingMatching mouth to audio
- queenMost powerful chess piece
- wigArtificial head covering
makeup · pageantry · transformation · stilettos · showgirl · padding · tucking · contouring · lashes · corset
disguise
Identity-concealing alteration
- transformationThorough change in form
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
facade · semblance · passing · convincing · believable · masquerade · charade · imitation · guise · pretense
costume
Clothing for portrayal
- stageRaised performance platform
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
- makeupProducts for beautifying faces
transformation · performance · audience · spotlight · monologue · curtain call · rehearsal · showmanship · spectacle · troupe
parody
Satirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
mimicry · spoof · shtick · camp · send-up · farce · sketch · wit · lampooning · buffoonery
torch song
Sentimental song of longing
- chanteuseFemale nightclub singer
- nightclubEvening entertainment venue
- sequinsSmall reflective fabric ornaments
feathers · spotlight · lounge · piano bar · jazz · burlesque · vaudeville · crooner · ballad · sultry
celebrity
Widely recognized public figure
Cher · Marilyn Monroe · Judy Garland · Dolly Parton · Barbra Streisand · Diana Ross · Liza Minnelli · Tina Turner · Whitney Houston · homage
- nightclub performersDJ, dancer, singer, go-go dancer, club DJ
- dragdrag, drag queen, drag queens, drag king, drag kings
female, females, femaleness, impersonate, impersonates, impersonated, impersonating, impersonation, impersonations