“This magazine is filled with success stories. It’s about people like you and me who’ve done it and are proud of it.” So begins the premiere editorial of Les Girls, written by founder, performer, and editor M.B. West. Launched in New York by Jennifer Jordan Associates at the turn of the decade, this debut issue was designed to dismantle "society's inhibiting taboos" by offering a community-focused, empowering space for cross-dressers, trans performers, and female impersonators.
Far from sensationalist, M.B. West created Les Girls as a lifeline for isolated readers carrying shame or guilt, balancing glamour with real-world visibility. This premiere issue offers a rich snapshot of late-70s nightlife and performance culture, featuring profiles on Genie Dee (performing alongside Cher in Las Vegas), Andrea Nicole (Miss Gay California in Beverly Hills), and coverage of The Closet Ball, an event dedicated to newcomers stepping into public performance for the very first time.
With its candid commentary, striking studio portraits, and celebratory tone, Les Girls stands as an essential document of queer print history at the dawn of the 1980s.
Country: United States
Year: 1979
Publisher: Jennifer Jordan Associates
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 1, Winter 1979-80
Size: 280mm x 215mm
Print: Offset
Text: English
Condition: Very good
“This magazine is filled with success stories. It’s about people like you and me who’ve done it and are proud of it.” So begins the premiere editorial of Les Girls, written by founder, performer, and editor M.B. West. Launched in New York by Jennifer Jordan Associates at the turn of the decade, this debut issue was designed to dismantle "society's inhibiting taboos" by offering a community-focused, empowering space for cross-dressers, trans performers, and female impersonators.
Far from sensationalist, M.B. West created Les Girls as a lifeline for isolated readers carrying shame or guilt, balancing glamour with real-world visibility. This premiere issue offers a rich snapshot of late-70s nightlife and performance culture, featuring profiles on Genie Dee (performing alongside Cher in Las Vegas), Andrea Nicole (Miss Gay California in Beverly Hills), and coverage of The Closet Ball, an event dedicated to newcomers stepping into public performance for the very first time.
With its candid commentary, striking studio portraits, and celebratory tone, Les Girls stands as an essential document of queer print history at the dawn of the 1980s.
Country: United States
Year: 1979
Publisher: Jennifer Jordan Associates
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 1, Winter 1979-80
Size: 280mm x 215mm
Print: Offset
Text: English
Condition: Very good
