Parade puts Pride into Ponsonby

Suzanne Paul and Miss Ribena are thrilled to be hosting the Pride Parade. Photo / Doug Sherring

One is the country's best known drag queen. The other, the queen of the infomercial.

Together they call themselves the "Dynamic Duo".

The outrageous Miss Ribena and Suzanne Paul have teamed up to MC the 400-seat Glam Stand during next month's Pride Parade. The 63 gods and monsters-themed floats will parade along Ponsonby Rd from 7.30pm on February 21.

Miss Ribena, aka Kevin Dunseath, who is resident drag queen at the Family and Caluzzi bars on Karangahape Rd, said the act would be "witty, camp, cheeky and risque".

"But not too risque, darling," she promised those with children.

Miss Ribena has been involved in Pride, and its predecessor the Hero Parade, for years. It's not Paul's first time either.

The British-born TV personality, who won fame as an infomercial presenter after moving to New Zealand in 1991, has MC'd and even led the parade before.

"I was waving and throwing luminous spheres everywhere."

The catchphrase "thousands of luminous spheres" was part of Paul's pitch when she was the frontwoman for Natural Glow cosmetic bronzer.

The line, and others connected with Paul's early New Zealand career, were crowd favourites and could expect to be heard in her distinctive accent during the parade, she said.

"If I say 'But wait, there's more', they go off. If I say 'Natural Glow', they go off."

Miss Ribena predicted a crowd of 200,000.

"It's colourful, it's amazing and it makes people laugh. I love seeing Auckland, seeing New Zealand, coming alive. Everyone will be smiling."