Michelle Visage opens up about her 'fiery' partnership with Giovanni Pernice as she calls on Strictly bosses to sign them both up for All Stars

Michelle Visage has defended Giovanni Pernice, saying their 'fiery' partnership on Strictly gave them an edge in the competition. The pair competed in 2019, making it to Blackpool Week, with Michelle revealing they have remained friends. This month Giovanni released a new book about his experience on the show following a bitter fallout with celebrity partner Amanda Abbington in 2023, where she accused him of 'vile abuse', prompting an enquiry from the BBC.Following an investigation by the BBC, Giovanni was cleared of the most serious accusations made against him and the BBC issued a formal apology to Amanda.The report found that some of the language used by Giovanni towards Amanda could be 'belittling' and agreed with the actress that his feedback was, at times, 'overly negative' and that he had used profanity during rehearsals.Yet Michelle's experience with Giovanni was positive, with the Drag Race star insisting that they were 'equals' and that she sees him 'like a little brother'. Michelle told the Daily Mail: 'I know how to handle him. He knows how to handle me. We had a fiery relationship and I loved it.' Michelle Visage opened up about her 'fiery' partnership with Giovanni Pernice as she called on Strictly bosses to sign them both up for an All Stars version (pictured on the show in 2019) Michelle is also the host of a new fashion YouTube series, Make It Iconic, in partnership with TK Maxx and spoke to the Daily Mail about her illustrous career and Strictly stint Begging producers to create an All Stars series of Strictly with past contestants, Michelle continued: 'I beg all the commissioners. I'm like, "listen, guys, it's time to do it."'If I did it again, he can't be my partner [because he left the show], but I would love it. I would dance with him again in a heartbeat.' Michelle added: 'I talk to him quite a bit. He lives in Rome and he's super happywith his partner [Bianca Guaccero]. 'He's still doing the Italian version of Strictly [Ballando con le Stelle] which is 20 times harder, believe it or not. It's really, really difficult and strenuous.' As for the British Strictly revamp, that has seen Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman replaced by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, she said: 'I think they're all great people individually. And I think together they're going to make a great trio.'It's going to be fun. It's going to be different, and people have to get over that it is going to be different, and it'll all fall in line. 'It's like any other show, any radio show, any other show that changed its hosts.'New Jersey native Michelle, who became known in the UK for serving as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, also gathered a British fanbase when she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015. This month Giovanni released a new book about his experience on the show following a bitter fallout with celebrity partner Amanda Abbington in 2023 Michelle can currently be seen on BBC Three's RuPaul's Drag Race UK, which had just been dropped by the BBC (pictured with Graham Norton, Elizabeth Hurley and RuPaul on the show) Michelle's year was particularly explosive, with the likes of Katie Price, Katie Hopkins and Perez Hilton all involved in fiery clashes. Yet she insisted she still had a 'lovely experience', noting, 'the most important thing for people going in is to be themselves.'I still talk to people here and there. Cami-Li lives by me so we talk quite a bit, but I still talk to Patsy Kensit. I still talk to Chloe Goodman. I still talk to people.'Michelle can currently be seen on BBC Three's RuPaul's Drag Race UK. The hit show first premiered on the channel in 2019 as it showcased British drag stars and the LGBTQ+ culture like never before.However after 'significant financial pressures' on the channel, the Beeb have been forced to cut the popular show from its schedule.The cuts come at a time when drag queens have reported a rise in criticism and abuse. Discussing the current climate for drag, Michelle shared: 'The job of an ally is to keep fighting and keep pushing forward as our brothers and sisters did before us. 'Queer rights and LGBTQIA plus rights don't stop when regimes come in or people try to take it away or when it's good and the temperature is okay politically. 'The fight continues until all rights are equal. The fact that they're still not equal is insanity. We're all human and one race.' Michelle's new YouTube series Make It Iconic sees four stylists race through TK Maxx to create head-to-toe looks with just 30 minutes and a £200 budgetMichelle is also the host of a new fashion YouTube series in partnership with TK Maxx.The Make It Iconic series sees four European stylists go head-to-head to dress creators Dagi Bee, Nella Rose, Terrie McEvoy, Marysia Jeleniewska and Jordan Banjo, with one stylist crowned the most iconic.With just 30 minutes and a £200 budget, stylists race through TK Maxx to create head-to-toe looks, with added reward for the best can’t-miss deals. Discussing her new show, Michelle laughed: 'I don't necessarily consider myself iconic, but I am allowed to be in an iconic world with iconic people.'And for me, Make It Iconic is a show that's the perfect mix of big personalities, big style, and a bit of competition. I mean, what is not to love about it? It's a fun, high-energy show that celebrates people who express themselves through epic fashion. And what's better than getting incredible fashion at incredible prices? 'It's so much fun and it's bringing joy and happiness, but also it gives people styling tips and tricks and people can learn something from it besides being entertained.'Full episodes stream on the brand’s YouTube, with more behind-the-scenes scoop and style secrets landing across Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.Make It Iconic launches on September 25, with the episodes available on YouTube.