Gold Coast gossip duo Regina King & Peter Flowers on Ellie Gonsalves Pink Flamingo and 2021’s hot stuff

2021 is coming to a close which means it is time for the annual Peter Flowers and Regina King Yoo Hoo awards - the hottest dress, venue, show and body paint pair.

2021 is coming to a close which means it is time for the annual Peter Flowers and Regina King Yoo Hoo awards.

Body Painting Award

Yoo Hoo Awards - Mel Lane and Marie-Claire Clegg at opening of Exhibitionist Bar at HOTA Gallery, Bundall. Picture: Regina King

A week after the opening of HOTA Gallery there was another opening with the rooftop Exhibitionist Bar getting its turn in the spotlight. Adding to the buzz was the return of that infamous ’80s trend, body painting, with Mel Lane and Marie-Claire Clegg reviving memories of the famous competitions at the much-loved Playroom.

Va Va Voom Award

Yoo Hoo Awards - Tarsha Olarte at Gold Coast Fundraising Ball at RACV Royal Pines Resort, Benowa. Picture: Regina King

It was a year when many big social events were cancelled or delayed but the upshot of that was that when folks did get to go out, they really went all out. Nothing personified that more than Tarsha Olarte at the Gold Coast Fundraising Ball at RACV Royal Pines Resort in June. If you like impact and flair in a form-fitting ball gown it was hard to go past her hotter-than-hot red number. Jessica Rabbit personified.

Kryptonite Award

9 Yoo Hoo Awards - Jason Akermanis and Jacky Archer at White Cloud Foundation charity lunch at Shuck Restaurant and Bar, Main Beach. Picture: Regina King

Jason Akermanis was a supremely talented AFL footballer – a triple premiership player and a Brownlow Medal winner are testament to his skills. He was a special guest at the White Cloud Lunch at Shuck Restaurant in June, during which he revealed to us an impending career change later in the year. Besides heading up Blue Moon Property based in the Hamilton area of Brisbane, he was joining other investors in a new Crypto currency – Zucoin. Always someone who marched to a different drum.

Fab Abs Award

Yoo Hoo Awards - Ellie Gonsalves and Sue Porrett at opening night of Ripped at Pink Flamingo, Broadbeach. Picture: Regina King

Sue Porrett and the team at Pink Flamingo were not idle during the various lock downs. They cleverly devised a range of diverse shows to suit different markets. One of those was Ripped which stars an array of chiselled blokes whose aim is to excite and titillate the women (and men) in the audience. Looking cool and unflappable before the first night were Sue and Ellie Gonsalves, who is the ambassador for the Broadbeach club.

Give It Up Award

Yoo Hoo Awards - Colin Wheeler and Karen Phillips at Vinnies CEO Sleep Out at CBUS Super Stadium, Robina. Pic for The Inside Word Peter and Regina Column GC Bulletin

In what has been a particularly tough year for many in the city, Vinnies CEO Sleep Out ambassadors Colin Wheeler and Karen Phillips were worried about fundraising in difficult times. In June they and many other gathered at Cbus Stadium, Robina to sleep rough for the cause. They needn’t have worried because as ever the Gold Coast came through with flying colours. Over $600,000 was collected, a Gold Coast record for a charity event. The money will go towards helping those who need it most. An astonishing result.

The Grande Dame Award

It is impossible to put in a few words the lasting effect Carlotta has had on this country. From her emergence in the first production of Les Girls in 1962 in Kings Cross, she has been a cultural and entertainment icon. In August this year she performed her last-ever show in Queensland at HOTA, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career. A life well-lived and, more importantly, done the way she wanted it to be.

If You’ve Got it, Flaunt It Award

13 Yoo Hoo Awards - Natasha St James at Gold Coast Music Awards, HOTA Bundall. Picture: Regina King

Very difficult to miss Natasha St James as she cruised through the crowd at the Gold Coast Music Awards at HOTA in September. Already naturally tall but when coupled with sky-high platforms she was towering and then some. To add to the dramatic effect she also seemed to have lost two panels at the back of her ensemble. Cheeky and then some.

Leading by Example Award

Natasha Buatava and Dr Dinesh Palipana at Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation cocktail party at HOTA, Bundall. Picture: Regina King

We are blessed to have two extraordinary disability advocates living here in Perry Cross and Dr Dinesh Palipana. Both are confined to wheelchairs but both have done more with their lives than most of us could dream about. Perry has been fundraising to find a cure for paralysis since he was crippled on a rugby field at the age of 19. Dinesh is one of those rare souls who shines with goodness and is also working to help find a cure. Truly remarkable humans.

Money, Money, Money Award

Matt Ward and Liz Cantor - file pic taken at Magic Millions 2019. Picture: Regina King

We have watched Matt Ward work for many years towards becoming a theatrical producer. From The Green Room Project to Rent, his journey has been a progression of bigger productions and inherently more risk. After a few false starts – Covid restrictions, not Matt – Mama Mia finally hit the stage at The Star in June. Bursting with energy and fun, this was a giant leap forward towards his eventual aim of creating shows on the Gold Coast using our amazingly talented performers and then touring the show around Australia.