Céline DION
The red carpet for the Grevin team in Las Vegas who are about to see one of their most cherished dreams finally come true: Céline Dion, the most famous international singer is now part of the Grévin, for ever!
This is indeed a premiere: two separate figures were made simultaneously, one for the Grévin in Paris and the other for Las Vegas where Céline’s figure will preside in the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace, the 4000 seat theatre constructed specially for her where she has been performing — to a full house — for March 2003 and up to end 2007.
The figure has just left by air for Las Vegas, where it was inaugurated in the star’s presence on the occasion of the 500th performance of her show “A New Day”, on May 7th 2006.
After a warm welcome in May 2005 from Céline Dion and René Angélil in Las Vegas to take measurements, photos and videos, the sculptor Claus Velte and the Grevin’s workshops took eight months to complete the two figures.
When she came to Paris last October, Céline took time off from her busy schedule to go to the Boulevard Montmartre workshops and pose next to the clay sculpture. She was amazed by the uncanny resemblance and praised the sculptor and aides profusely.
Thibault Vabre, the stars’ makeup artist and a friend of Céline’s, then personally supervised the meticulous colouring of the oil paint makeup applied by Grévin’s artists. Photos were sent to Céline and René for final approval.
To clothe her Paris waxwork figure, Céline donated to the Grévin the sumptuous white trouser suit, lavishly embroidered with gemstones and pearls, which she wore at her concerts at the Stade de France in 1999. She has a shoulder-length hairstyle.
The Las Vegas figure, coiffed with a chignon, is wearing the gorgeous navy blue sheath dress designed by Michael KORS in 1998 for the Oscars Academy Awards Ceremony in Hollywood. Céline sang “My Heart Will Go On”, the winning theme song of the film “Titanic”. She is also wearing a replica of the famous “Heart of the Ocean” necklace, specially created by ASPREY for the film, which Céline wore for the Oscars awards.
It should be noted that in Las Vegas, profits generated by the sale of photographs taken next to the figure was entirely donated to the Céline Dion Foundation whose primary mission is to help sick and needy children, together with their families.