From popstar to Popular Conservative: Inside Holly Valance’s bizarre right wing descent

Someone very perfectly surmised on Twitter / X yesterday that Holly Valance is Kylie Minogue’s ‘Wario’, a Super Mario Bros reference widely used as a term to describe someone as the negative, villainous polar opposite of the hero. Both are Australian women who began their careers starring on Neighbours, both had a pop music career and both got a lot of love from gay people. Except now, Kylie Minogue is a globally revered icon who just won her second Grammy and Holly Valance married a billionaire, pivoted hard to the right and is attending conventions ran by Liz Truss about ‘Popular Conservative’ values. Okay! But where did it all change? Who is Holly Valance and what the hell is going on with her move from popstar to Popular Conservatism?

she’s Kylie Minogue’s Wario.

Both Australians who got their big break on Neighbours, however Kylie is a pop genius with an enduring career and a love for her LGBT fanbase, whereas Holly Vallance is an right-wing idiot who hasn’t been relevant since 2003. https://t.co/1WjBiWtUU2

— C. (@cstsher) February 6, 2024

Kiss Kiss

Holly Valance was in Neighbours, and then got a number one hit in the UK with her single Kiss Kiss – an English language cover of Turkish hit Şımarık which you will absolutely have heard blasted in every bar of every holiday you’ve ever been on. To describe Holly Valance’s pop career would be “very Mighty Hoopla” – in the sense that she had about three singles and if she followed a less right wing path she could see herself having a lovely 30 minute slot in Brockwell Park every June and get some enthusiastic gays bopping along. Alas, this did not happen.

Whatever happened to giving it another go at Mighty Hoopla https://t.co/s2fYbA7GfD

— Sean (@seanbeegee) February 7, 2024

She also then had acting roles in Prison Break and the much maligned film adaptation of the Dead Or Alive fighting game series.

Marriage to Nick Candy

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In 2010, Holly Valance became Holly Candy as she married billionaire Nick Candy, with whom she has two daughters. Nick Candy made his fortune with his brother in luxury property development. Nick Candy was photographed in 2021 breaching Coronavirus lockdowns with Conservative Shaun Bailey, who was running for Mayor of London. He also was the leader of fundraising for Bailey’s campaign. In 2020, it was reported that Nick Candy donated £100,000 to the Conservative Party.

Holly Valance pictured with Nigel Farage and Donald Trump

Great dinner at Mar-a-Lago! pic.twitter.com/Qq58xMd1IG

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) April 8, 2022

In 2022, the tides had officially turned: Holly Valance was clearly not the semi LoveOfHuns few hit wonder popstar of yore, but full on right winger. Nigel Farage tweeted out a picture of Nick Candy, Holly Valance and himself at dinner at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Much booing from former fans ensued.

Holly Valance speaks out at Liz Truss’ launch for PopCon – Popular Conservative

'Everyone starts as a leftie and then wakes up and realises all the ideas are crap'

Australian model and actress, Holly Valance, was at the launch of Liz Truss' new conservative movement 'PopCon'.@ChristopherHope pic.twitter.com/jWU4PpvXpq

— GB News (@GBNEWS) February 6, 2024

Now, Holly Valance has gone viral after she got interviewed in a few clips for GB News at Liz Truss’ new branch of Conservatism – Popular Conservative – PopCon launch. Holly said when asked if she’s always been right wing “I would say everyone starts off as a Leftie and then wakes up at some point after you start either making money, working, trying to run a business, trying to buy a home and realise what crap ideas they all are. And then you move to the right.”

Holly then says Liz Truss was “amazing to listen to” and backs Jacob Rees-Mogg for prime minister. It’s going to be a long slog this life for me.

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