Fridae

When I was but a precocious little boy, I was prone to giddy spells - all thanks to my addiction to the TV show starring the iconic Lynda Carter (see pic above) and my attempts to imitate her penchant for twirling round and round as she transforms from Diana Prince into Wonder Woman.

Since then, I have blossomed into a voluptuous vixen but every now and then I will still slip into my home-made star-spangled panties and snap on my bracelets during Halloween. Thus be-costumed, I always managed to elicit jaw-dropping reactions whenever I appear - no doubt due to the fact that I make a visually striking Wonder Woman.

(Editor's note: If by visually striking, Alvin Tan is referring to the fact that looking at him in his Wonder Woman costume is akin to getting smacked in the face, then yes, we agree that he is indeed visually striking.)

Like myself, many gay men adore the original Wonder Woman TV series for its high camp value and its leading lady Lynda Carter who has since become quite the gay icon. In fact, Wonder Woman was nominated as the media mascot of France's first gay TV station when it launched Pink TV in 2004.

On a superficial level, us gay men love Lynda Carter's fabulous fashion statements - after all, she was the only super-heroine back then who wears a tiara (how lovely is that!) and has a different wardrobe for different occasions - remember her equestrian attire, diving gear, motor-cross outfit and that sheer Paradise Island white toga dress?

And of course, it doesn't hurt that the former Miss World looks simply divine running around in nothing more than a glorified bikini deflecting bullets and rounding up villains with her golden lasso.

On a subconscious level, gay men often identify with strong female characters who are sexually objectified and desired by men because we crave to become such objects of desire ourselves. Because she is impossibly beautiful, remarkably strong and universally desired, Wonder Woman thus became the super-heroine we all secretly wanted to be.

For our Sapphic Sisters, Wonder Woman has been heralded as something of a feminist pioneer, a super-heroine who will always triumph over the obstacles she encounters in man's world, and her TV series has been credited for blazing a television trail for more women-with-balls TV shows such as Xena: Warrior Princess starring the uber-butch Lucy Lawless.

Over at DC Comics, the portrayal of the Amazons as a society of women living in peaceful co-existence on a remote Paradise Island and the none-too-subtle depiction of lesbian relationships amongst the warrior women have also fueled much discussions on online forums and led many a lesbian to pick up and start reading the comic.

More importantly, both gays and lesbians are able to identify with Wonder Woman and her message of tolerance and peaceful coexistence because as a community, we just want to go about our lives without being confronted with bigotry and homophobia on a regular basis.

With the re-launch of the new Wonder Woman comic scheduled for 7 June 2006 and the buzz surrounding Joss Whedon's (Serenity, Buffy, Astonishing X-Men, etc.) Wonder Woman movie, fanboy interest in the Amazonian Princess is now at an all time high.

Actresses who have indicated their interest in playing the Princess of Themyscira include Charisma Carpenter (perhaps too old at 36), Morena Baccarin (not a marquee name), Mischa Barton (looks as if she could barely lift Diana's lasso), Lucy Lawless (note: it's Wonder Woman not Wonder Man), Evangeline Lilly (too busy with Lost), Sarah Michelle Gellar (more Wonder Girl than Wonder Woman) and most recently, Lindsay Lohan (start eating again and maybe we'll see).

Fortunately for me, Joss Whedon has made it know that he wanted an unknown to play Wonder Woman. Since I'm absolutely unknown to anyone in Hollywood or outside fridae.com for that matter, I believe that I, Alvin Tan, stand the best chance of filling Lynda Carter's red go-go boots and taking the Invisible Plane out for a spin!

Notwithstanding the glaringly obvious fact that I'm physically perfect for the role with my raven hair, heaving bosom (wipe that drool off your chin) and ability to throw a lasso like a pro in the bedroom, I will make a wonderful Wonder Woman because:
(a) I was born to wear a tiara;
(b) I am no stranger to unforgiving outfits (have you seen my club-wear?); and
(c) I have already earned a reputation for being a Princess.

So Hollywood here I come!