Drag Artist La Voix's Unexpected Connection to Britain's Notorious £40 Million Jewel Heist

Renowned for her captivating performances on "Strictly Come Dancing," drag star La Voix once found herself unwittingly tangled in what was, at the time, Britain's most significant jewel heist. In a fascinating twist of fate, La Voix's skills as a makeup artist played a crucial, albeit unintentional, role in one of the country's most audacious crimes.

In a resurfaced interview, originally recorded in 2021 on the "Little Did You Know" podcast, La Voix shared the intriguing story of how she became entangled in the 2009 heist while working as a theatrical makeup artist in the bustling district of Covent Garden. The job seemed typical at first – she was hired to give two men a makeover to appear older for what she was told was a music video.

The Unusual Makeover Request

"I was booked to do two men who wanted to be made to look older, and I was told it was for a music video," La Voix explained. The assignment involved utilizing latex makeup and other techniques to transform their appearance significantly.

During the session, which lasted four hours, La Voix worked meticulously, applying liquid latex masks, wigs, and utilizing skin-altering methods to age the two men, Aman Kassaye and Craig Calderwood. She described the duo as somewhat aloof but proceeded with her tasks as instructed.

The Heist Unfolds

After completing their transformation, the two men paid La Voix £450 and left. Little did she know, they were on their way to commit a brazen robbery at the Graff Diamonds store on London's New Bond Street. The duo brandished firearms at the store's staff and compelled them to empty cases containing a staggering £40 million worth of jewels, including numerous luxury bracelets, necklaces, and watches.

Their clever disguises, thanks to La Voix's artistry, rendered them unrecognizable, even to CCTV cameras capturing the event. The next day, La Voix was shocked to discover the true nature of her clients when she recognized their faces in a newspaper article detailing the heist.

"I thought, ‘That’s those two men that I did the make-up on yesterday!’" La Voix recalled, describing her shock upon seeing the news.

Involvement with Law Enforcement

As a witness to the events leading up to the heist, La Voix was interviewed by detectives from Scotland Yard. They collected some of her makeup tools, gowns, and other items for DNA testing to aid in their investigation.

The police eventually captured Kassaye and Calderwood after discovering a critical piece of evidence – a mobile phone left in one of their abandoned getaway vehicles. La Voix was then called upon to testify in court, a daunting experience she described as "very frightening." Her testimony contributed to the successful prosecution of the criminals involved.

La Voix on "Strictly Come Dancing"

Today, La Voix is captivating audiences on the 23rd season of "Strictly Come Dancing." Her performances have resonated with viewers, although the judges' scores have been varied. Despite this, La Voix continues to charm the audience with her vibrant persona and dance moves.

Throughout the five weeks of competition thus far, La Voix has consistently found herself in the middle of the leaderboard. However, during week four, she received a score of 14 out of 40, marking the lowest score in the history of the show's fourth week.

"Strictly Come Dancing" continues to air on Saturday evenings, with viewers eagerly anticipating La Voix's next performance amidst the dazzling spectacle of the show.

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