HELLO again, my name is Dillon Pillay, and I am the journalist for the Southlands Sun. Welcome to the Monday Miles, our weekly travel series where we explore the world’s most iconic destinations, wonder by wonder. This week, we’re swapping football pitches for something a little shinier, or should I say, a lot waxier. We are heading to Madame Tussauds London, the world-famous attraction where Hollywood royalty, world leaders, sports stars and even superheroes share the same stage.

Also read:  Monday Miles: A day at the theatre of dreams – Old Trafford [Video]

It’s one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, where you can grab a selfie with Taylor Swift, hail a cab ride with the Royal Family, and sit with some of your favourite fictional characters without leaving Baker Street. But the history behind Madame Tussauds is not the typical story you would think it to be.

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Have you ever wanted to meet Samuel L. Jackson or enjoy a cup of tea with Queen Elizabeth or maybe strike a pose with your favourite superhero, well in this week’s edition of the Monday Miles it is possible. Join Southlands Sun journalist, Dillon Pillay as he returns to the hustle and bustle of London and explores one of the world’s most famous wax museums Madame Tussauds. Join Southlands Sun journalist, Dillon Pillay as he shows off the best of the best that Madame Tussauds has to offer. #MondayMiles #travel #london #madametussaudslondon

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Beginning in Strasbourg:

• Long before Madame Tussauds was the all-things-famous-and-selfie destination, it was started in 1761 in Strasbourg, France, by a young Marie Grosholtz.
• After her father’s death while battling the Seven Years’ War, Marie’s mother worked for Dr Philippe Curtius, a Swiss physician and skilful wax modeller.
• Under Curtius’s mentorship, Marie learnt to sculpt human likenesses from wax, a rare and odd craft.
• By the age of 17, she’d created her first full wax figure — of philosopher Voltaire.
• She later became a tutor to the royal family at Versailles, teaching King Louis XVI’s sister before the French Revolution turned her world upside down.
• Marie was forced to make death masks of nobles who were guillotined during the Revolution, including Marie Antoinette and Robespierre.
• She herself only narrowly escaped the guillotine — her head was even shaved beforehand.
• When she inherited Curtius’s collection, she moved to England in 1802, taking her waxworks on a touring exhibition around the country for over 30 years.
• Finally, in 1835, she opened her first permanent museum on London’s Baker Street with her now-infamous Chamber of Horrors.

Madame Tussauds London today:

Since 1835 to the present, Madame Tussauds London has been the abode of wax, captivating millions through its skill and creativity. Today, it’s a fusion of old-world craftsmanship and new-world marvel. You may be wondering about the process of making these figures. It takes a team around six months to make each figure as each hair follicle (which is real human hair), each freckle and each iris is hand-painted. Each figure costs around £250 000 to complete which is equates R5.7m.

The Chamber of Horrors returns:

We couldn’t resist a glimpse inside the serial killers and gangsters exhibit during our visit, a modern reimagining of Madame Tussaud’s notorious Chamber of Horrors.

For me, a true-crime documentary buff, it was compelling and unnerving. From gritty re-creations of past offenders to heart-thumping sound effects echoing down gloomy corridors, it was quite the experience.

The legacy lives on:

• Madame Tussaud died in 1850, but her name and her dream live on.
• What began as a roll call of revolutionaries is now an international celebration of fame, talent and humanity’s fixation.

Whether you’re posing with Beyoncé, shaking hands with Barack Obama or running from King Kong, Madame Tussauds London is where fantasy meets history, and where fame is frozen in time.

In next week’s edition of the Monday Miles we will wrap up our adventures in London with a final video before we jet off to a new exciting destination.

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