La talented drag performer known as La Voix is not only skilled in comedy, singing, and dancing but also inadvertently played a part in a major jewelry heist in the UK. La Voix, the alter ego of Chris Dennis, a 45-year-old Englishman, gained popularity on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and is currently captivating audiences on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Before his television stardom, Dennis worked as a makeup artist in London. In 2009, he unknowingly provided makeup services to two individuals involved in one of the largest jewelry robberies in British history. The robbery, which took place at Graff Diamonds’ flagship store in London’s West End on August 6, 2009, resulted in the theft of approximately £40 million ($73 million at the time) worth of jewelry items.
At the time of the incident, Dennis, then 29, was freelancing as a makeup artist at the Charles Fox of Covent Garden makeup studio. He was hired to apply aging makeup to the two men, who claimed it was for a music video. Although the clients appeared somewhat standoffish and rude, Dennis completed the job as usual. After the application of prosthetics and makeup, the men paid in cash and left in a taxi.
The next morning, Dennis was shocked to see a CCTV image of the same men on the front page of a newspaper, linking them to the jewelry heist. He promptly reported the incident to the authorities, providing evidence for the investigation. The men were eventually apprehended and convicted in 2010, with Dennis testifying in the case.
Despite the frightening experience, Dennis humorously recounted a police officer’s comment about the suspects’ lack of intelligence, indicating that they were easily tracked down. The stolen jewelry’s fate remains unclear, as reports suggest the items may have been dismantled and sold in other markets.
This incident involving Dennis is not the first time a makeup artist from the Charles Fox studio has been associated with a high-profile robbery. In a separate case in 2006, armed thieves involved in a cash heist hired a makeup artist from the same studio.
Although Dennis has not publicly commented on his connection to the Graff Diamonds robbery, he continues to enjoy the spotlight on Strictly Come Dancing, as evidenced by his recent Instagram post expressing his joy on the show.