RTÉ 2FM DJ Cormac Battle underwent a drag transformation live on air for Pride at the behest of Jennifer Zamparelli.
Cormac is no stranger to Jennifer’s show, having stepped in to host it for her earlier this month when she took a couple of days off.
Outside of covering for the popular star, he presents The Cormac Battle Show from midnight to 2am on Fridays and is also known as the singer with rock bands Kerbdog and Wilt.
His usual attire is more jeans and t-shirt than sequins and stilettos.
However, he agreed to allow top Irish Drag Queen Pixie Woo transform him for Pride and after 90 minutes he emerged as his alter ego Ivana Battle.
In a video posted on the RTÉ 2FM socials, Pixie begins by applying a smoky blue eye and deep pink lips to the presenter as he asks her: “Is the idea of drag…to walk into another life?”
Pixie responds: “Completely, it’s complete escapism.”
She explains further: “I think that’s how most people get into it is the need to escape from themselves.”
After adding a bright yellow dress with a sequin embellishment, silver peep toe stilettos and a fluffy blonde wig Pixie reveals Cormac’s new look to him and after an initial look of astonishment he laughingly announces: “Oh my God. Wow. I am pretty!”
Clearly loving his new look he posed for the cameras before returning to the studio to chat to Jennifer. After informing her that his drag name was Ivana Battle she told him, “You look really hot.”
He revealed to listeners: “I genuinely feel it. This has been a transformative experience for me. I am really pretty.”
He clearly liked the look as he hung around the corridors of 2FM in it, where his colleague Rick O’Shea was delighted to see him tweeting a picture and saying: “I get a wave from a gorgeous drag queen outside the studio. I can, without hesitation, say that @cormacbattle has *never* looked better. 90 mins in makeup for an item on @RTE2fm”
His new look also won praise from Panti who retweeted the 2FM video and said: “Nice job Pixie Woo.”
Over on Instagram Niamh Duffy agreed asking: “Is pixie available for makeovers?”
Meanwhile other users were quick to comment that they thought it was brilliant.
However the look was a one off and Cormac is now back in is usual day to day attire.
