St Leonard's Golden Gang. Photo by Tim Nathan at media25.org

Mardi Gras Gold

Bevali Francis interviews Maika Crampton about the recent crowning of The Mardi Gras Monarch.

This year’s Mardi Gras was bigger than ever before and one of the highlights was the Mardi Gras Ball held at the stunning St Mary in the Castle. Party-goers arrived dressed in masked ball finery mostly sporting the colours Purple, Gold and Green. The event of the evening was the crowning of the Monarch of the Ball which Maika’s golden gang won.

The three contestants for the monarchy represented the three main areas of Hastings and were each championed by a local pub. The Public house for each area was then styled and decorated in the Mardi Gras colour they represented.

Linda King, artist and designer decorated The Crown in the Old town and styled the potential monarch in a sumptuous purple costume. The town centre’s chosen pub was The Brass Monkey and green was their colour. Artist Peter Quinell was the stylist and dressed his hopeful monarch in fantasy green robes resplendent with huge splaying neck details.

Maika Crampton, paper couturier and stylist, was in charge of proceedings at The St Leonards Pub representing St Leonards! Maika had gold as her colour and went to town decorating the pub with a golden shrine including the Golden Cock of St Leonards. Maika’s winning monarch (Brian McNally) was royally dressed in elaborate golden garb designed by Caragh Jane Logan.   Maika tells me that Brian was her teams’ vision of The Saint Leonard, patron saint of prisoners and the underdog. Maika launched a very successful online campaign to win the crowning glory. St Leonard and his entourage arrived at St Mary’s in style, being driven to the venue in a golden Mercedes, where they were greeted by a celestial children’s choir singing a splendid rendition of Spandau Ballet’s song Gold. All the contestants were fabulously creative but the Monarchy went to the shiniest team and long may they reign!

Maika’s golden gang created great excitement in St Leonards and are now planning an actual St Leonards day, which is on the 6 November, so creating another exciting celebration in the busy social calendar.

Also in: One Long Party