Mar 7, 2008

Internet celeb plans to 'shock and tease'

By Bernadette Harris / Daily News Staff Writer

Some undeniably attractive people have come out of Iowa. For instance, in the Ames High School class of 2000, one alum was the most dramatic model of the first season of "Project Runway," while another was named one of Cosmo's "most eligible studs."

But maybe their most visible classmate has made a name for herself by dressing her plus-sized self in clingy gold spandex and collecting sweaters that are usually associated with cat ladies and first-grade teachers: Leslie Hall is the "Keeper of the Gems" - the gem sweaters, that is.

"I've got 410 to 425," said Hall, as she was traveling to a tour stop in Denton, Texas - "population crazy people."

Hall is also the frontwoman of the comedic hip-hop group Leslie and the Ly's, which will be stopping in San Francisco tomorrow. The gig at Rickshaw Stop, a second annual gay dance party, will mark Hall's second Bay Area performance.

Rocking her drag queen makeup and Ziggy Stardust-esque costumes, Hall has acquired a large gay following: "The gay boys just can't get enough (of me), ... they want to chain me and put me in their garden."

Hall is currently touring her third album, "CeWEBrity," which dropped in early February. This album has changed things for Hall, as she is finding more fans on each stop of the tour.

"More people know more words," said Hall. "It's creepy how much fun this is. I want to be their leader of fun."

"CeWEBrity" also features a guest celebrity on the song "Zombie Killer." When Hall mentioned to a friend that it was her dream to work with Elvira, her friend helped her get in touch - through managers and agents - with the Mistress of the Dark.

Hall said she was glad her friend did the footwork and not her. "If I had written her a letter, it would have gone: 'Dear Elvira, I love you. Can you please send me an autographed picture? I love your movies. Love, Leslie.'"

Hall describes the song as an "educational piece for America about salvation," a concept that Elvira believed in.

Hall owes a large part of the newfound interest in her work and hot dance moves to YouTube, which featured the video "How We Go Out (Version 2)" on its Web site in November. The video features Hall dancing in different locales in Ames, Iowa, singing lyrics like "Now my master plan is to shock then tease / Break every heart then bust my knees / Proven and groovin' my brand new dance / Might just be the greatest in the lands."

The video has received more than 1.4 million plays. A testament that people can't seem to get enough of the gold jumpsuit and blonde hair piled nearly half a foot high.

Hall denies that the first version of her video was too scandalous for the YouTube crowd. "The first version was more of just me dancing," said Hall. "I didn't take my blouse off or toss around my 'pillows.'"

For the San Francisco show, fans can expect new outfits - her mother makes all of her costumes - and a firsthand demonstration of "scissor kicks" and "lady flips."

E-mail Bernadette Harris at bharris@dailynewsgroup.com.