Wellington is a town that attracts the brightest and best. And few are as bright and fabulous as the original Diva, Jaye Glam Morgan. This city-wide icon has been in Wellington for at least twenty years, although when pressed specifics get murky.
On a late Summer eve, we sit down finally to chat - and I find that Jaye, while open and heartfelt in every way, cannot be pinned down when it comes to specific dates. But never mind - a dame needs to keep a few secrets, right? “Life is awesome in Wellington. I don’t get garbage from people, the way you might in some other cities” Jaye explains. “My hair and makeup say it all - you’ll know I am powerful, confident and glamorous from my clothes - my head screwed on. I tell a story through my clothes, and I collect them."
"My hair and makeup say it all - you’ll know I am powerful, confident and glamorous from my clothes - my head screwed on. I tell a story through my clothes, and I collect them"
Jaye has a powerful philosophy on appearance that speaks to her well-turned-out look and history: "Good garments last forever, and I don’t follow trends" she explains. "My grandfather showed me the art of dressing - he used to wear Armani suits and was, in fact, Maori royalty. He was was a founder for Kohanga Reo and a spokesperson for the Maori Queen.”
In a nutshell...
Jaye Glam Morgan is your new Wellington Fashion icon (if she wasn't already!)
WHO IS JAYE GLAM MORGAN?
Jaye Glam Morgan is a Wellingtonian, fashionista and ‘Aunty’ to all she takes under her wing throughout the city. She is a wife to Jono, her partner of over twenty years and mother to two small, mostly well-behaved Chihuahuas.
"I really like Hunters & Collectors and Ziggurat but also love to shop at other boutiques such as WORLD, Zambesi, ENA and Karen Walker. I guess that makes me something of a Fashionista" Jaye explains'
You’ll find Jaye almost on the daily at Boutique Goodness where Jaye helps the women of Wellington find their inner goddess, dressing them and accessorising for any occasion. Out of work, Jaye’s become a regular fixture throughout Wellington, at the cafes of Cuba Street and shops. "I really like Hunters & Collectors and Ziggurat but also love to shop at other boutiques such as WORLD, Zambesi, ENA and Karen Walker. I guess that makes me something of a Fashionista" Jaye explains. Jaye loves people and personality - and is frequently the life of party - from ball committees at school to partying at the Matterhorn.
IS JAYE FAMOUS?
Of course! Jaye is outwardly gregarious, full of glitter and joy, both which Jaye spreads generously. You simply CAN’T miss her if you are anyone in Wellington. You may know her from her Instagram account @jayeglammorgan, her semi-regular Facebook Live’s moments around Wellington or catching a beautiful over-sized straw hat out of the corner of your eye at Scopa.
HOW DID JAYE GET HERE?
Growing up, Jaye - who is from a ‘really big’ family, Jaye had many people surrounding her. “I often lie when people ask me where I am from and say I’m from Wellington” laughs Jaye when I ask where the story begins. “But I’m from Central Hawkes Bay, Waipukuarau.I went right through school. I excelled at sports - individual sports, not team sports - and performed competitively in gymnastics, swimming and trampolining. I was into things where I could actually hold the cup myself. I was super selfish” Jaye giggles, reminiscing.
"The school even let me use the girl's toilets in the end and wear female bathers. I mean, this is a long time ago!? Late 1980’s!”
Jaye had a feisty personality from a young age. “I was told later than when I was super young - like five - I would hide in the changing room because the teachers wanted me to go topless. I didn’t want to - because I was born a male - so I’d pull my togs up to make it a tube. I’d refuse to pull them down. The school even let me use the girl's toilets in the end and wear female bathers. I mean, this is a long time ago!? Late 1980’s!”
Because the town had known Jaye as a youngster, no one batted an eyelid about Jaye’s sexuality. “My friends always had always been really supportive. Everyone encouraged it.” Jaye is a born hustler and would throw parties in Waipukuarau, where she would clip the ticket and use the money to buy clothes at Ricochet, back in the day.
At 17, Jaye moved to Wellington to work as a hairdresser but quickly found out that the cutters life was not for her after having found a boil on a client’s head. Not long after that, Jaye took up work at a silver-service restaurant, Brasserie Flip where she lied to get the job (the owner found out, but loved it so much she hired Jaye anyway). From there, Jaye was in demand to work at a range of different places around the city.
"I've become nicer"
Apart from the initial trials around work, Jaye took to Wellington life like a duck to water, and quickly gained a fierce reputation. She didn't always play nice. "In the past, I could be stand-offish to people, because I needed to take control of a situation. It was my way of protecting myself. I've changed over the years and I've become a nicer. I've opened up. Today, if I see a girl and she's wearing a dress I like I will stop in the street and tell her."
"I told him I was going to a party - which was actually a lie. I invited him along and had to go to a pay phone to tell my friends to pretend to have a party. I told them I’d give them $30 to go and get some cask wine
One day in Cuba Street Jaye saw a cute guy standing near the Swan Lane car park. “I told him he was cute and walked on - he turned around and asked me what I was up to. I told him I was going to a party - which was actually a lie. I invited him along and had to go to a pay phone to tell my friends to pretend to have a party. I told them I’d give them $30 to go and get some cask wine. When we arrived, a party was raging. He was like “Cool party”. For 8 months, we simply were friends and he courted me. We’ve been together ever since.” Jaye and Jono have been together now for twenty years.
Watch my shoot with Jaye
“Put some blusher on and polish your face - because people will be looking at it all day.”
STYLE TIPS?
- Always clean shoes “If you don’t have clean shoes, fuck knows what your undies will look like.”
- Always look polished - “Put some blusher on and polish your face - because people will be looking at it all day.”
- Don’t be cheap when it comes to clothes - “People can tell.”
- Shop for your body - “Don’t shop because is it on trend - some girls don’t suit boyfriend jeans.”
- Wear things that will make you feel happy - “It’s important to feel like you want to go into work and be amazing. If you have that moment with a piece of clothing, where it just feels amazing, just put it on layby.”
WHAT WOULD I KNOW HER OUTSIDE OF THE FABULOUS LIFE?
Jaye rocks at styling, modelling and makeup. Jaye also made a name for herself working at M.A.C.some years ago and at Park Road Post Productions. “People still know me as ‘The M.A.C Girl - I have to tell people that I actually haven’t worked at M.A.C. for 15 years!” Jaye says.
"At 13, I told my friend Jess I’d move to Cuba Street. The dream came true and at 17 I got a room at Cuba Street. I called Jess and told her I’d got the room. She moved down and we lived the dream together. I’m so happy to be a Wellingtonian. I love it!”
WHY WELLINGTON?
“As a child, I travelled and didn’t like much of New Zealand." Jaye explains. "But coming to Wellington, it felt like this was it. At 13, I told my friend Jess I’d move to Cuba Street. The dream came true and at 17 I got a room at Cuba Street. I called Jess and told her I’d got the room. She moved down and we lived the dream together. I’m so happy to be a Wellingtonian. I love it!” And we love Jaye!
Surrealism at Te Papa is where it’s at this winter with these wonderful events…!