Olympic diving champion Tom Daley has surprised fans after unveiling a dramatic drag queen transformation on social media.
Th gold medallist shared photos of his makeover on Instagram, revealing what he described as a journey from “diver to diva”. The 32-year-old worked with drag artist and make-up specialist Plastique Beauty to create the striking new look, which left many followers struggling to recognise him.
In the images, Daley sports a full face of make-up, including foundation, blusher and lipstick, alongside an ash-blonde wig styled in long plaits. He captioned the post: “I can’t believe this is me.”
Plastique Beauty, which collaborated on the makeover, shared the images alongside the message: “From Diver to Diva. Tom Daley in a custom look + Alba from the Phantasy collection.”
The photos show Daley posing with drag performer Tiara before taking a full-length mirror selfie showcasing the completed transformation.
Fans quickly flooded the comments with praise, with many admitting they initially failed to recognise the former diver. One follower wrote: “I saw the Tom Daley tag and was wondering where he was.” Another added: “I had to triple check the user name!” A third commented: “Goodness gracious... had you not mentioned it is impossible to recognise you. You look gorgeous anyway, any day, in any look.”
While some were surprised by the makeover, Daley’s enthusiasm for drag is well documented. The retired Olympian is a long-time fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race and appeared as a guest judge on the second series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World in 2024, describing the opportunity as a “long time coming”.
Since stepping back from competitive diving, Daley has increasingly embraced new creative projects and public appearances, while continuing to be a prominent LGBTQ+ figure.
Away from the spotlight, he lives with his husband, Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, and their two children. The couple married in 2017 and welcomed their first child the following year.
Speaking previously about life after elite sport, Daley said becoming a father changed his outlook. “I used to define myself by diving,” he said. “If I dived well it reflected on me as a person. Now I’m first and foremost a father and husband.”
Scene was founded in Brighton in 1993, at a time when news stories about Pride protests were considered radical.
Since then, Scene has remained proudly independent, building a platform for queer voices. Every subscription helps us to report on the stories that matter to LGBTQ+ people across the UK and beyond.
Your support funds our journalists and contributes to Pride Community Foundation’s grant-making and policy work.
Member discussion