Breaking the Blue Suede Glass Ceiling: Female Elvis Impersonators Talk Shop

When Elvis Presley released his first album 55 years ago, men wanted to be like him and women wanted to be with him. But that concept has evolved. Now women want to be like Elvis, too.

In a sea of thousands of Elvis impersonators, three tribute artists stand out: Jacqueline Feilich of Australia, Laura Baxter Herbert of Massachusetts and Helen Anne Gately of Seattle.

These women -- all die-hard Elvis fans -- also moonlight as female Elvis tribute artists, or "ETAs," sporting bejeweled jumpsuits in homage to their all-time favorite singer.

Despite the male-dominated ETA industry, these lady Elvises each told AOL News that, over the years, they've learned to hold their own as female versions of the "King."

But that doesn't mean their paths haven't been challenging.

Feilich, a singer/songwriter who goes by the trademarked title "She Is The King," has been performing as a female Elvis for the past 12 years and full time as a corporate act for hire since 2006.

Even with all the experience under her bedazzled belt, she said some audiences still second-guess her abilities as an ETA when she first hits the stage simply because she's a woman.

Feilich, however, is quick to remind the crowd that she's not trying to impersonate the King, but rather honor his legacy through her own modern-day interpretations of his music.

"What I do is purely and simply a tribute to Elvis. I sing in my own voice, with custom-made costumes, using my own hair -- without sideburns. I spread the Elvis magic and keep his memory alive," she explained.

"I have naturally black hair which is a fantastic coincidence, but everything else (about my look) has just evolved over time. I never wanted to copy Elvis' hair or any other part of him. I try to do my own take on things."

Feilich said once people hear her sing -- especially her unique rendition of "Viva Las Vegas" -- they usually embrace her act. But in a genre dominated by male singers, she admits her audiences usually take a little more convincing.


Meanwhile, Herbert -- who works at a radio station by day and occasionally performs as "Lady Elvis" at parties and bars -- said the biggest drag as an amateur impersonator is squeezing into those signature jumpsuits.

Apparently, off-the-rack one-piece ensembles aren't exactly made to flatter a lady's figure.

"Unlike Elvis, I have boobs," Herbert told AOL News with a laugh. "So, yeah, it's a little difficult finding costumes that fit, but I make it work. Custom-made suits are the way to go."

Gately, 42, who goes by the stage name "Hellon Wheels," understands the jumpsuit dilemma. She told AOL News it took her several years to perfect her Elvis look because the '70s-era jumpsuits don't always fit a woman's curves in all the right places.

"Now I have my friend make all of my costumes. I have a bunch of beautiful, tight, sequined suits that fit me just right. My look has improved since I started doing this in my 20s," she added.

Gately -- who's performed for the past 14 years as a contestant at the Seattle Invitationals, an Elvis impersonator competition -- said she's never been able to win first place for her feminine portrayal of the King, but that hasn't stopped her from working the stage.

"I'm like the Susan Lucci of the Seattle Invitationals. I always compete and I never win, but I keep on coming back. Maybe I'll have my day soon. Either way, I'll keep doing this because I love it. I feel like I've broken the gender barrier in a lot of ways," Gately said.

Although the ETA world is primarily a boy's club, both Gately and Feilich insisted they're not intimidated by their male Elvis counterparts.

In fact, both women said they've built a strong camaraderie with fellow Elvis performers who are nothing but supportive of their ladylike depictions.

If anything, Gately said, guys in the ETA industry actually love a gender-bending lady in a form-fitting, sequined Elvis costume because it's nice to see a queen among so many kings.

Herbert can attest to that, since she met her boyfriend while she was dressed up in Elvis gear.

"For some reason, guys love women dressed up as guys. I always joke that it must've been my sideburns that attracted my boyfriend," she said.

Once the wardrobe of a lady Elvis is ironed out, Herbert said the next obvious obstacle is nailing the vocals.

She admitted she's had a difficult time matching her vocals to those of the King because Elvis' pipes were naturally much deeper than hers. That part of her act has taken tons of practice to learn to reach into the lower register of her vocal range.

She's found the most success vocally when crooning "Suspicious Minds" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" -- especially during the speaking bridge, when she can just talk softly to the audience.

"People sometimes start screaming like fans, but I think they're just humoring me," Herbert said. "I've been known to throw my scarf at the crowd and incorporate some other Elvis moves into my act."

One last obstacle for female ETAs is traditional Elvis hair. All three ladies said it takes some experimenting and doesn't always work out for the best.

In an effort to look like "Jailhouse Rock" Elvis, Gately once dyed her naturally red hair jet black and the rinse didn't come out for weeks.

"It was so bad that I decided never to do it again. Now I don't dye my hair anymore, I just style it in a feminine way and it works," she said.

Feilich goes the natural route as well, keeping her black locks long and straight.

As for Herbert, she's open to copying Elvis' coif -- color, sideburns and all.

She said the first time she ever dressed up as a lady Elvis was in 2002 for Halloween. Herbert went all out -- dying her short hair black and gluing some serious sideburns to her face. And, if it meant looking more like Elvis, she'd do it again.

Although being a female ETA certainly has its challenges, Feilich, Herbert and Gately aren't giving up their gigs anytime soon.

They said they'll continue performing as lady Elvises because, ultimately, they think the King would've wanted it that way.

"I really believe Elvis would've gotten a kick out of what I do. Many fans have said that he would've been proud of me," Feilich said.

"I would hope that Elvis would be flattered and find what I do to be sort of cute," Herbert added.

After all, Elvis was a ladies' man.

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