Inside Vienna’s Life Ball with Naomi Campbell, Amanda Lepore, and the World’s Most Outrageous Supermodels and Drag Queens
Every year, dozens of supermodels and drag queens, European celebrities and designers, and socialites of every stripe, head to Austria for the Life Ball, the most decadent and outrageous HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the world, held annually at Vienna’s City Hall. This year 24th edition was no exception, with Naomi Campbell, Amanda Lepore, Eurovision performers and a murderer’s row of RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants all sashaying down the world’s most outrageous red carpet. Guests arrive in costumes inspired by the year’s theme (this year it was the 1920s and 30s), and then dance the sun awake in 18 different City Hall rooms, with guest performers and nearly 40 DJs from all over the world. Dionne Warwick also performed a fitting song “What the World Needs Now,” which seemed to suggest that a party overflowing with fabulous drag queens may just go a long way towards solving a lot of problems.
Naomi Campbell during the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Amanda Lepore during the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Conchita Wurst performs on stage during the Life Ball 2017 show at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Life Ball 2017/Getty Images)
Dan Caten, Dean Caten and Miss Fame attend the Life Ball 2017 Gala Dinner at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Florian Wieser/Life Ball 2017/Getty Images)
Model Anastassija Makarenko, girlfriend of Mickey Rourke, during the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Mari Malek arrives for the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Parcipants arrive during the opening of the 24th Lifeball in front of City Hall in Vienna, Austria, on June 10, 2017. The Life Ball is the largest European charity event in favor of HIV and AIDS infected.
Naomi Campbell during the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images)
Amanda Lepore during the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images)
Performers dance during the 24th Lifeball in front of City Hall in Vienna, Austria, on June 10, 2017. The Life Ball is the largest European charity event in support of HIV and AIDS infected.
Ute Lemper performs during the Life Ball 2017 show at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Conchita Wurst performs on stage during the Life Ball 2017 show at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Life Ball 2017/Getty Images)
Performers dance during the 24th Lifeball in front of City Hall in Vienna, Austria, on June 10, 2017. The Life Ball is the largest European charity event in support of HIV and AIDS infected.
Guests arrive on the Red carpet during the opening of the 24th Lifeball in front of City Hall in Vienna, Austria, on June 10, 2017. RThe Life Ball is the largest European charity event in support of HIV and AIDS infected.
Conchita Wurst during the Life Ball 2017 show at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Guests arrive on the Red carpet during the opening of the 24th Lifeball in front of City Hall in Vienna, Austria, on June 10, 2017. The Life Ball is the largest European charity event in support of HIV and AIDS infected.
Guests arrive on the Red carpet during the opening of the 24th Lifeball in front of City Hall in Vienna, Austria, on June 10, 2017. The Life Ball is the largest European charity event in support of HIV and AIDS infected.
A general view during the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Ute Lemper and guests during the Life Ball 2017 at City Hall on June 10, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
