In the Eyes of Yann Martin/la Grande Dame - Couture Attitude
She was starring in Drag Race France, and RuPaul's Drag Race on the BBC from February 9th. La Grande Dame is a presence, an apparition, a 1.97 cm muse with enviable measurements: 60-90-60. Couture spirit? No doubt in her posing as much as her clothing, magnifying her attitude to perfection. “The spirit of couture is very dear to me. It's the love of art, of craftsmanship, it's pushing the concept to the limit. There are no shortcuts, everything has to be perfect in its execution, in its intention. It's the craziest thing a human being can do.” Her mother, a sommelier, and her sister founded an import-export company, “Les Grandes Dames.” Hence the birth of this stage name, enhanced by this liana-like body. “I know that I have a body that appeals to designers; it has a function, it can serve the garment, the concept. I owe this attitude to my mother, who was 1.83 cm tall, classy as hell, crazy energy, and at nineteen was travelling the world.”
Haute Couture becomes one with its character, with a sense of composition and millimetre precision that defies all norms. Whether it's Jean Paul Gaultier, the first to put her on the catwalk (for his farewell show, in January 2020 at the Châtelet), Kevin Germanier, Victor Weinsanto, Charles de Vilmorin or Alexandre Blanc, the Grande Dame remains the one who “carries off” a garment with incredible allure. A deliveryman at the door, he'll put you on mute to return a Westwood shopping trip, and then pick you up again, at the end of the line, with the same elegance. The dilemma now is whether to go out in drag or as a boy. “For the first time, I've got something else to sell.” says Yann Martin, who is releasing a debut track and then an album this spring. "I talk about very personal things. I wrote my first song after a summer love, on my way back from Greece. It's a declaration of love during a showcase.”
Six years on from his debut, Yann is slowly changing direction. "I'm an artist before I'm a drag queen, and that means drawing and fashion. It's a lot less about identity today. From an artistic point of view, this experience has enabled me to make the stage my own. Today, I have enough self-confidence to go beyond that. I'd rather it was my melodies that moved people than my long eyelashes. It's sensual candour, quite libidinous, very summery. The album is called DADA, that's my nickname, I'm going to rap where people don't expect me at all, and that means yes yes in Russian. I'm all about experimentation. Drag queen is a queer art form, and for some time now I've no longer felt like indulging in this self-indulgence. I want to put myself in danger and do things to the very end."
Shot by Kevin Germanier, the album image sets the tone. “Without Kevin, there would be no Grande Dame. For starters, he's a friend, and because my greatest moments are marked by the clothes he dresses me in.” In the alternate version, it's Louis Gabriel Nouchi who signs her wardrobe. "There's something superhuman about drag; you impress, you frighten. I feel more vulnerable as a boy. I want my words to resonate. It would be tempting to stay in character, but I want to expose myself more.”