To many people Massimo Malluzzo is the owner of one of Enfield's most popular coffee shops.
But to others the Italian - who lives in Waltham Cross - has a very different life full of dazzle and glamour.
During the day Massimo can be found working hard at the popular Zippola coffee shop but by night he transforms into one of Hertfordshire's best known drag queen acts - Sissy Lea.
While the act is just over a year old, Sissy Lea has already won several competitions and has quickly gained a huge following of fans.
But that whirlwind double life still has it's challenges - whether it's nerves, exhaustion or worrying how people would take to the act in the first place.
Coffee by day, dazzling hundreds by night
Massimo's love and passion for drag stems from an innocent date night with his husband Noel in Spain.
The restaurant that night was hosting a drag show, which he hadn’t seen before and he was astounded by the spectacle.
“I loved it, absolutely loved it, and I knew at that minute that I wanted to become a drag queen,” he explained.
“I have only been in drag for just over a year now and I am so proud of how far I have come,”
Shortly after his holiday with his husband, Massimo - who is from Sicily, Italy - started watching YouTube make-up tutorials for make up and also watched TV shows all about drag queens.
With hours and hours of practising, the persona of Sissy Lea was soon created but the double life can be a draining one.
“I love the life I live - Massimo the coffee shop owner by day and Sissy Lea by night," he said.
“I am passionate about my life and also about Sissy Lea and love everything I do, but it can be challenging.
“Me and my husband have travelled back from shows in Liverpool and have got in at around 4am.
"All we have time to do is jump in the shower, get dressed and open up the shop.
“But I honestly wouldn’t change it for the world.”
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"It is all very emotional"
Being from Italy, and one of the only drag queens in the area, Massimo was initially hesitant at how people would take to the act.
Before stepping on stage, he would suffer from severe nerves and always wondered whether coming out from behind the curtain was the right thing to do.
Even though the nerves have stuck with him, once he steps on the stage and transforms into Sissy Lea, it all goes away.
“Every time I was on stage, all my nerves and worries disappeared," he said.
“I am just quite surprised and grateful about it all still to this day. I am not English, I don’t have many friends that follow me where I go.
“I have local friends but all the competitions are far away, so it’s just been me and Noel, but the support from the public has taken me back.
“It spurs me on and it is all very emotional to be honest.
“My first ever show, I never went there to win, I just went to have fun because I love it, but to have the success I’ve had is the cherry on top of the cake.”
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“I am living my dream"
Within a year, Massimo has travelled up and down the country for competitions and has been blown away by the success that has followed.
He has featured in sold out shows at The Dugdale Centre in Enfield and has also been lucky to perform in front of thousands at Liverpool Pride.
Sissy Lea has also won heats in Sicily and London for Euro Drag 2020 - one of the most prestigious competitions in the drag circuit.
Due to coronavirus, the European final which Sissy Lea was a favourite for, was postponed along with a number of other amazing opportunities for the act.
He explained: “I have been invited to perform over Europe and have competed and performed in Benidorm, Copenhagen and more.
“I am living my dream.
“I also accepted a contract to become a resident for one of the shows in Benidorm but all of the gigs have been cancelled because of coronavrius.
“But health is way more important, so I can’t wait to pick up where I left off once this is all over.”
“I don’t leave my house if I don’t feel perfect”
The effort that goes into outfits and makeup for Sissy Lea really shows how passionate Massimo is about the act.
Whilst juggling the coffee shop, the act has had endless amounts of success and people seem to love Sissy Lea wherever she performs.
Her classy act and the way she connects with the crowd is what puts her above the rest, says Massimo.
“It is all about performing with the crowd not to the crowd," he added.
“It starts from the minute I introduce myself. I say ‘Hi everyone, I am Sissy Lea and I am from’ and everyone shouts out Sicily.
“And the more I get into the performance, the more everyone enjoys it and so do I.
“Sissy Lea is the crowd pleaser, the classy drag queen and I don’t leave my house if I don’t feel perfect.”
“It is all about passion and having the love for what you do"
The preparation that goes into the act is endless and is tough to say the least.
From travelling to shows across the country, to getting ready, to the money which is spent on outfits, there is endless preparation and it can take hours to get ready.
It also costs hundreds of pounds for outfits which have to fit Sissy Lea’s high standard.
Massimo has now got around 10 gowns, a wedding dress, 40 pairs of shoes and even started to make his own dresses.
He said: “It is all about passion and having the love for what you do.
“Noel bought me a sewing machine to keep me occupied over lockdown and so far I’ve made four dresses.”
Sissy Lea’s following on social media is in the thousands and if she continues to dominate across Europe and the UK, who knows where the act can go.
To follow Sissy Lea’s journey, you can find her Facebook and Instagram page at sissylea.queen.
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The dazzling double life of this Hertfordshire coffee shop owner - Hertfordshire Mercury
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