Mayor’s royal makeover raises the bar for festival
Wellington’s mayor is walking the talk leading into the Cuba Dupa festival, showing what he expects for the festival’s costume competition.
Justin Lester spent 1.5 hours in a makeup artist’s chair yesterday to be transformed into the Rococo style of Louis XIV, King of France.
Lester said he expected a similar effort this weekend at the festival’s costume competition, where he will be one of the judges.
“New Orleans has Mardi Gras, Wellington has Cuba Dupa, so we want to make sure the city’s all dressed up,” he said.
“Growing up as a kid, I remember the Falco song, and thought, ‘oh that’d be a bit of fun, I can completely transform’.
“Everyone needs to express themselves, show their culture and creative side, alter egos, or something weird and wacky.”
Cuba Dupa will take over Wellington’s iconic Cuba St with more than 250 performances, as well as food stalls and competitions.
Four prizes are up for grabs in the costume competition, including $1500 for the supreme winner.
There’s also $1000 for the best group, $500 for the best kid’s costume, and a three-month supply of coffee and coffee training at Havana Coffee Works.
Contestants are warned their efforts will be judged on creativity, quality, effort, and uniqueness.
Lester’s makeup was done by Daniela Pike of Te Auaha Institute of Creative Arts.