Paloma Diamond is the ultimate true diva

If you’re wondering if we’ll ever see another Liz Taylor with a wink to Helen Mirren and the bold personality of Joan Crawford, Paloma Diamond might be the answer. There’s no point in Googling her: little is known, but everyone on TikTok is talking about her. Paloma doesn’t exist, or rather, she’s the character created by Julian Sewell, an actor passionate about celebrity culture who seems inspired by the self-portraits of U.S. artist Cindy Sherman. Celebrity, trendsetter, flamboyant, unsettling, proud, and irreverent: all the ingredients for bringing back a true diva are there.

Paloma Diamond is Julian Sewell

New Zealander Sewell, who loves parodying the jet set and icons of the past, has gained a following over the past few years thanks to his comedic sketches, caricatures, and a collection of about 40 wigs. He impersonates and invents various characters that have gone viral on the platform: among the best known are Lorrain, the grumpy and sharp school receptionist, and Aunty Cindy, a subversive take on New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, named for her flexible temperament and laid-back ways.

In March 2023, Sewell and his sister created a video parodying Oscar award ceremonies stereotypes, showcasing five nominees whose careers are humorously summarized before announcing the winner for Best Actress, with brief clips from each “movie.” TikTok users were captivated by the nuanced caricatures, sparking debates about a hypothetical winner. It was Paloma Diamond, with her exotic name, posh accent, and dark humor, who stole fans’ attention from the start.

The Creation of the Character and Viral Fame on TikTok

Paloma's personal life doesn’t make headlines, and she avoids scandals. Initially, fan conversations revolved around her talent, successful films, and polished manners. Ever composed, she exudes intelligence with her silver wig, red beard, and nostalgic '80s British aesthetic reminiscent of Vivienne Westwood, equal parts royal and Margaret Thatcher. A video showing young Diamond with her trademark gray bob only cemented the idea of a real-life character, someone fans could identify with: “Paloma has always been an old soul,” reads one comment.

A Reflection on Celebrity Culture

Thus emerges a critique of celebrity culture: through sharp satire, Paloma mirrors a one-sided social dynamic where there’s excessive—even obsessive—involvement from the public toward celebrities, onto whom they project desires and expectations. The media’s accessibility into others’ lives intensifies online exchanges over fleeting topics, here fueled by fantasy spun into reality, a loop that in real life often leads to a sense of personal inadequacy and dissatisfaction. Fake news stories on gossip sites like TMZ and collaborations with imaginary brands fuel the hype. Sewell dreams big for Paloma: “She’d be perfect in Oppenheimer. I can already picture her silver bob blowing in the atomic explosion.”

“I love the moment when they announce the nominees, and you see the actresses reacting on screen,” Sewell shares. “That moment is so special. I thought, ‘I’d love to recreate something like that with all the made-up faces and names I could think of.’ Fans blur the lines between fiction and reality: Paloma, despite her Hollywood-caliber talent, never quite takes home an Oscar—even if it’s only imaginary. “Paloma Diamond is a veteran actress who gets nominated every year but hasn’t won yet,” one user commented on the now-viral video, likening her to Glenn Close with her eight Oscar nominations or Meryl Streep with her three Oscars out of 21 nominations. Recently, Diamond was compared to Susan Lucci, who won her first Emmy in 1999 after 19 nominations, deepening the persona of the fictional character into a collective myth-making journey that strengthens her allure.

This year, Diamond is again up for an Oscar, and Sewell has introduced new characters like Sasha Alexander, Daphne Courtesan, and Michelle Bradley-Spencer. “If she loses, she’ll probably keep going,” Sewell tells Today.com. “I mean, that’s what her fans want, right? I don’t think she’ll ever give up. Maybe she’ll never win. But you know what? That won’t stop her from showing up at the awards.” Perhaps that’s why we root for Paloma: she embodies the essence of old Hollywood and mirrors our contemporary struggles, a symbol of perseverance, strength, and resolve. She’s the real diva we want to see at the next Academy Awards because in Paloma, we can all find a part of ourselves.