The Many Facets of Boy George
In honor of the celebrity's 62nd birthday, L'OFFICIEL is looking back at the many roles he's played in pop culture.
When looking at Boy George’s list of accomplishments, one gets the sense that he has lived several lives, all of which have been iconic. Born George Alan O'Dowd, he grew up in southeast London's Woolrich neighborhood. Throughout his early 20s, he found a community within the city's nightclub scene as a part of the growing New Romantic movement. Eventually, he caught the eye of Malcolm McLaren, ex-business partner to Vivienne Westwood and former manager of the Sex Pistols.
Over the course of the artist's decades-long career, he's made a mark on every industry he’s entered, cementing his legacy as a pop culture icon. In honor of Boy George’s 62nd birthday, L'OFFICIEL looks back on his many endeavors and personas.
Boy George broke into the music scene in the 1980s as the lead singer of the band Culture Club. The band has sold more than 50 million records and proved the singer was a star to watch. He then went on to pursue a solo career, garnering awards for his music and performing for some of the world's biggest stars.
He began his solo career as a DJ in the '90s. He mixed discs for the house promoters Fantazia which quickly went gold in the UK. As his career continued, the celebrity compiled CDs, selling thousands of copies. He has DJed in many prominent clubs and at celebrity events.
In 2005, Boy George tried his hand at fashion design with his B Rude clothing line. He presented his line at New York Fashion Week and models wore his innovative designs, channeling his signature style with bright and colorful makeup.
The artist opened his first photography exhibition at the Homotopia Festival in Liverpool in 2013. He then went on to travel the world with a solo exhibition, making a name for himself in the photography industry.
Boy George became known in the music industry for his flamboyant style and came out first as bisexual then stated that he was gay in his autobiography. His androgynous style and success opened doors for other queer icons to come.
The singer has also written several books beginning with his autobiography Take It Like a Man. The memoir gave fans insight into the celebrity's life before and after garnering fame and received many positive reviews after its release in 1995.