“The Club Kids are coming… slowly infiltrating our club scene,” enthuses Miss Candy Phloss. With their fluffy fluorescent wigs and wondrous costumes, the lively 22-year-old Aucklander and her friends are a fabulous and extensively photographed addition to the Queen City's nightlife. If you haven't seen them, you're not at the funkiest parties! The 'Club Kids' concept began in the late 1980's, with young New Yorkers Michael Alig and James St. James propelling themselves to fame with outrageous costumes and wild behaviour. Their pursuit of excitement, notoriety and glamour above all else made them fascinating Manhattan mainstays – for a while they were on the payroll of several nightclubs for just turning up in their larger-then-life ‘anything goes' outfits. "I'm promoting the colour and exuberance of the Club Kids to bring them into clubs today as an extra dimension to events,” Miss Phloss asserts. "Exactly the thing that draws people into a scene or event and creates that amazing WOW factor!" 'DEFIANT' BISEXUALITY Miss Phloss says she's had “internal quandaries” many times as to whether she was straight or lesbian, but now describes herself as ‘defiantly bisexual', as “I've gotten more confident in who I am and my loves and priorities in life.” She says she's open with her sexuality, and doesn't get treated badly for it in general. Many people she meets are fascinated to talk with her about it… but every so often she finds this gets a little too much for her. “It really irks me when my sexuality is treated as a turn-on for people just wanting a wank-fest. Porn today portrays an ideal woman as hooking up with other females – for the pleasure of those watching. “My bisexuality is just the way I am and I don't do it to get anyone else off!” She also feels that gay and lesbian people are often the first to make assumptions about her lifestyle, labelling her as someone who ‘hasn't got the balls to admit they're gay' or ‘just doing it for the attention'. “Unfortunately these assumptions are largely based on truth for a few who make it harder for those of us who truly identify with bisexuality. “I think there's a difference in interaction between homosexuals and bisexuals. Bisexuals by generalisation are not there for a relationship with a three-dimensional aspect. I've had gay girls interested in me, only to turn off when they hear I'm bisexual, not gay. I think in general it is the extra complication and sharing that doesn't agree. Bisexuals have a history of sharing partners and gay couples tend to be more protective and jealous as are straight couples. It's a weird in-between. But in saying that – it's still a generalisation. “There are some people out there who are confused and unhappy because they can't work themselves out. Imagine being in a gay or straight relationship and constantly feeling guilty for also having feeling for the opposite sex.” Phloss tells us she was once in a relationship with a bisexual woman. “Not a pleasant experience – she turned straight! “I am wary of those who proclaim to be bisexual but aren't. Burnt once, forever wary. But with love, one always has to take chances. Unfortunately the attention-seeking kind tend to make those who truly identify with bisexuality more secretive and private.” Does she believe there's a sexuality continuum on which everyone falls? “In reality, I've thought a few times that people were overtly polysexual and an orientation was just a personal choice,” she replies. “But lately I've thought that it's more likely a chemical makeup of the brain. Even as a young girl I was more attracted to females than males – but not in an exclusive way.” A CONTINUING MISSION… Phloss says awareness and tolerance of homosexuality in New Zealand is growing and getting better, but still sometimes sees homophobia on her nights out. “I think gays and lesbians have it harder than bisexuals. The abuse same-sex couples get is horrible and the more inebriated people are the worse it gets.” Bisexuality is overshadowed with stereotypes at the moment, but “as women and men become more confident, open minded and liberal I think that it could be something of the future,” the nightlife girl says confidently. Whether it be event-themed, colour co-ordinated, cyber, fetish, rainbow, gay, straight, commercial, rock and roll, or anything else you could possibly invent... Miss Candy Phloss says her kiwi Club Kids will continue connecting our country with the best in clubbing culture of the rest of the world. "Each party I go to is different; each has its own atmosphere. It's like an adventure to see how many different atmospheres I can immerse myself in." You can contact Miss Candy Phloss via her MySpace page: www.myspace.com/phloss GayNZ.com - 14th June 2007