Go-go girl transforms her boogie shoes at Hard Rock Biloxi

BILOXI -- She strutted to the stage in white, vintage Yves St. Laurent stilettos she found at a thrift store for $3.

Her belt buckle spelled out "BOY TOY" as she spun around, twirling her sheer white hoop shirt.

And the guys -- and girls -- went wild, especially when "Like A Virgin" began to play over the speakers at Boogie Nights on Oct. 16.

With the right clothes, a throwback hairstyle and contoured makeup, Angel Le Bon brought Madonna to life in Biloxi.

Le Bon, 37, has worked as a go-go dancer at Hard Rock Casino Hotel Biloxi for one year, and she's taken the 70s and 80s dance club by storm. Her success at the club has gotten her two promotions. She sometimes works as an impersonator and sometimes plays Lady Boogie, the master of ceremonies.

Soon after began dancing at the club, the owner of Boogie Nights thought she would make a good Madonna.

"I grew up in that era, so I know that stuff," Le Bon said. "I jumped on the opportunity and kind of winged it."

After her first performance, entertainment director Robyn Smith said it was such a success, she asked Angie if she would consider doing it again in the future.

"I guess I'm kind of the in-house impersonator," Le Bon said

If she's not dancing on stage, she's lip-synching as a pop idol of the past, such as Madonna or Cyndi Lauper. On Halloween, she worked as Marilyn Manson's runner all day then vamped up her Elvira outfit.

Another new gig

When LeBon is scheduled to be Lady Boogie, she's the only woman in Boogie Nights locations across the country to hold the position.

As the emcee, Le Bon said her job is to "basically keep the energy going in the club."

Whether it's starting a love train, doing the YMCA, taking selfies with bachelorette parties, or announcing a dance contest, Le Bon works her way through the crowd in platform boots, encouraging guests to get up, dance and meet someone new.

"I think that's why I love that job so much -- it's the energy and fun that's in that building -- not to say that I couldn't use a Red Bull here and there," she said.

Working (more than) 9 to 5

On top of wearing three hats and several custom-made wigs to Boogie Nights on the weekends, Le Bon also has two other jobs.

Two days a week, she sells makeup at the Bobbi Brown counter in Edgewater Mall. Three nights a week, she works as a bartender at Bacchus in Biloxi.

"Boogie Nights is kind of a love child of those things," Le Bon said. "Being a manager of a cosmetic line, you have to be stylish, and you have to be professional and be creative and be able to sell things -- to get people to spend money.

"When you're a bartender, you're getting people to feel comfortable to have a good time You're the entertainment behind the bar. You're the thing they're focused on besides their Jack (Daniels) and Coke."

Boogie Nights, she said, is "a combination of the two things I've done my entire life in an explosion of rainbow and lamé."

'Disco Elvira'

As a child of the 1980s, Le Bon said she loves putting outfits together for work on Friday and Saturday nights.

She pairs clothes she already has with new thrift store finds and borrowed finds from local fashionistas to assemble her wardrobe.

Christine Mezo, formerly of Mezos's Juke Joint, and Prima Donna have donated wigs, costume jewelry and wardrobe to Le Bon.

FiFi Mahoney's in New Orleans has made custom wigs for Lady Boogie as well.

On Halloween, Le Bon's boyfriend referred to her as "Disco Elvira," which was exactly the look she was going for.

From head to toe, Le Bon dresses like she walked out of a 1970s discotheque -- platform shoes included.

"As uncomfortable as they may be, I feel good in it. Sequin platforms can be hard on the feet, but they're fun, so you live through the blisters."

A fun experience

Sometimes, Le Bon works 16-hour days, and she admits she needs an energy drink every now and then.

But she said the work is worth the reward.

"I do love it. I think that's what keeps me going and energetic at 1:30 in the morning when I'm exhausted and I'm drained and I'm tired and I'm hungry But then a song comes on, and a 77-year-old lady named Louise who tells me she just had a double hip replacement but she loved that song, had to get up and dance; it's inspiring," she said.

"I'm not tired in that three minutes, in that moment when Louise is sharing life with me."

Smith, entertainment director at Hard Rock Biloxi, said Le Bon is nothing short of amazing.

"She's so multi-talented, and she doesn't do anything halfway," she said. "You can tell from the moment she walks in that heart and soul goes into everything that she does."

Smith said Le Bon's role at Boogie Nights is one of an entertainer and a teacher, for she often helps the younger girls with wardrobe and dancing.

"Your job here is like being on stage -- you need to stand out, apart from the other guests in the room. You have to have your face on," Smith said. "You have to be this character from the moment you get into Boogie Nights until the door shuts, and Angie has been that."

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Go-go girl transforms her boogie shoes at Hard Rock Biloxi ."