Michael Jackson Impersonators

Dev Gregory remained in the background of the entertainment world as a dancer in a female impersonator review for the latter half of the 90s. But at the turn of the century, she transitioned from the sidelines to the spotlight as Michael Jackson impersonator herself. After watching videos both in real-time and slow motion and spending hours in front of the mirror honing both her moves and her make-up, the trained ballerina was able move toward the forefront. Gregory has graced stages from California to India in the past 10 years, but has seen ups and downs—citing Jackson’s legal drama as a low and his passing as a high. “I attended Michael’s arraignment and all the fans were invited to Neverland [Ranch],” she says of a career highlight. Though Gregory says Jackson’s mother Katherine stopped her limo to do a double take, his animals weren’t fooled. “When I went to visit his giraffe, he ran towards me. When I was discovered as an impostor he threw his head back and turned away,” Gregory says. But others aren’t turning away from Gregory, whose rates range from $400 to $3,000—she says the amount of work has increased substantially. The surge, she says, is bittersweet for the impersonator who dropped to the floor and sobbed for hours when she found out the man she’s studied for a decade passed away. “I want to honor him by paying tribute, but feel so sad that he is no longer with us,” Gregory says.