La Voix, the drag persona of Chris Dennis, a 45-year-old Englishman, is a versatile performer known for comedy, singing, and dancing. La Voix gained fame as a runner-up on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race U.K. and is currently captivating audiences on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. However, before his television success, Dennis worked as a makeup artist in London and unwittingly became involved in a major jewelry heist in 2009.
The incident, which resurfaced recently, involved two armed men who robbed Graff Diamonds’ flagship store in London’s West End, making off with approximately £40 million worth of jewelry. The thieves had used prosthetics and makeup to conceal their identities, a process in which Dennis unknowingly participated. At the time, Dennis, then 29, was working as a freelance makeup artist at a renowned makeup studio in Covent Garden.
Dennis recalled being hired to apply aging makeup on two men who claimed it was for a music video. Despite finding the clients slightly standoffish and rude, he proceeded with the job as usual. Little did he know that the men he had worked on were the same individuals involved in the heist. After seeing their images in a newspaper the next day, Dennis immediately contacted the authorities and cooperated in the investigation.
The thieves were eventually apprehended, thanks in part to a series of missteps they made during their escape, including leaving behind incriminating evidence in their getaway vehicle. The fate of the stolen jewels remains unclear, with reports suggesting they may have been dismantled and sold in different markets.
Dennis, who found the experience frightening but also somewhat amusing in hindsight, later testified against the culprits, who were convicted along with their accomplices. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Dennis has not publicly addressed his role in the heist, choosing instead to focus on his current success on Strictly Come Dancing, where he is thoroughly enjoying his time in the spotlight.