Diva means goddess in Italian, a word that began to be used in the 16th century to name those female artists who stood out in a world of men for having such a prodigious talent that it made them seem from another world. Being a diva is associated with strength, magnetism and fascination, it is a way to stand out in a superlative way, especially in the world of entertainment.
Singers such as Jenny Lind (1820-87), also known as the Swedish Nightingale, or Adelina Patti (1843-1919), the first performer to be described as a diva, who was revered throughout Europe as a goddess, gained independence, status and freedom, something almost impossible for the women of s épcoa. An adjective that would later be passed on to the silent film stars of the 1920s, and then to those of talkies, and so on to this day. Although at first it was a term of pride, at some point it was associated with certain pejorative connotations due to the eccentric behavior of some women.
From last June until April 7, 2024, The Victoria and Albert Museum, National Museum of Art and Design (V
An exhibition that deals with the artists who have fought to achieve success by paving the way for equality. An exhibition that aims to recover the true identity of the diva, which is that of feminism, activism, and revolution, that of the fight for freedom and denunciation of social injustices.
Divided into three acts spread over two floors, the exhibition displays up to 250 objects from all over the world of some of the best-known divas: photographs, posters, magazines, film fragments or video clips, although fashion is the fundamental theme of the exhibition with 60 suits that belonged to great celebrities, and not only women, but also iconic personalities like Elton John or Prince who achieved this title.
Among the models on display are a red Dior dress for Vivien Leigh that she wore in the play Duel of Angels in 1958, one Marilyn Monroe wore in Upskirt in 1959, and Elizabeth Taylor's in Cleopatra in 1963.
The Flame dress that Bob Mackie made for Tina Turner in 1977 and another for Cher at the Rock Music Awards in 1975. The dress that Whitney Houston wore at the 1994 Grammys when receiving the award for The Bodyguard, and a fun Louis XVI type dress for Elton John's 50th anniversary (1997), with a huge wig, feathers and a 4.5 meter train.
But there are also more current ones, an Amy Winehouse outfit for the 2007 Brit Awards, Janelle Monaé's famous vulva pants that she wore for Pynk's music video in 2018, a Björk suit made by Valentino Haute in 2021, a yellow dress designed by Vivienne Westwood for Adele that was immortalized on a Vogue cover.
Also a black dress-coat from Rihanna's Met Gala 2021, designed by Demna for Balenciaga. As this singer said: ”Women want freedom. They want to empower themselves. They want hope,” and clothing is a form of empowerment.
