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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda come to Washington for a state dinner followed by dancing in the Main Lobby of the White House. Photo by John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum- Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Imelda Marcos

Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos is one of the most divisive female public figures of the modern era. Imelda Marcos, now 93, was the wife of late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled for two decades (1965-1986). She is respected for her glitz, but disliked for her excess. She has been compared to Marie Antoinette at times.

Here are 10 odd facts about her that you might not know.

1.”Conjugal dictatorship”

Imelda was much more than a First Lady. She built structures, served as Governor of Manila, and was actively involved in politics. As a result, her detractors dubbed the Martial Law era a “conjugal dictatorship.” When her husband became ill with lupus near the end of his reign, many considered Imelda to be the ruler in Malacaan Palace.

2.Her social circle in upper class elites

President Ronald Reagan Nancy Reagan Imelda Marcos and Ferdinand Marcos in Cross Hall During a State Dinner for President Ferdinand Marcos of The Philippines. Photo by Reagan White House Photographs- Wikimedia commons

Being in the company of the rich and famous was one of the ways Imelda solidified her impeccable reputation back then. She hung out with leading politicians and royal families and heiresses, such as tobacco heiress Doris Duke. When the Marcoses were deposed, these so-called friends disappeared completely.

3.She was a skilled gate-crasher

Imelda, armed with her strength and beauty, desired to be invited to international events. Wikileaks published a document detailing Imelda Marcos’s reputation as a gate-crasher who arrived in the United States uninvited.

She invited herself to the Nixon inaugural ceremony and even the devotion of the Sydney Opera House. It’s no surprise that the document referred to her as a “pest rather than a guest.”

4.She enchanted the world’s iron rulers

Imelda was more than a trophy wife or her husband’s arm candy during official visits because of her beauty. In fact, she made all of her own official visits (and her entourage). She met with world leaders such as , Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, and Muammar Gaddafi. She was charming and intelligent, and she was ideal for the job. The late Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, once stated that he only drove for two women: his mother and Imelda Marcos.

5.Her unreasonable requests

President Ronald Reagan Nancy Reagan Imelda Marcos and Ferdinand Marcos in Cross Hall During a State Dinner for President Ferdinand Marcos of The Philippines. Photo by Reagan White House Photographs- Wikimedia commons

Imelda did not want anything to stand in the way of her arrangements during her “reign” as a queen at the height of the Marcoses’ power. When the Philippines held the Miss Universe pageant in 1974, she wanted to ensure that the weather in Manila was perfect, so she asked her husband to direct the Philippine Air Force to seed the clouds and help stop a hurricane from forming.

She also sent a plane to collect white sand from Australia in preparation for the opening of a beach resort.

In another case, her outfits’ decorations was said to be so complicated that one of her tailors alleged that some embroiderers nearly lost their visual acuity. She also packed a large number of gowns (between 10 and 17 pieces) and chose only one.

Her staff would then obtain the appropriate accessories, bags, and other items to go with her chosen dress. It goes without saying that she moved with a large team.

6.Her ‘edifice complex’

During her husband’s presidency, Imelda authorised numerous structures. From the Philippine Heart Centre to the now-famous , there is something for everyone. Her goal was to rebuild Manila as a world-class city after it was destroyed by World War II bombing.

She desired that international events take place in the Philippines. As a result, she designed structures for particular purpose, such as the Folk Arts Theater for the 1974 Miss Universe Pageant, the Manila Film Centre for the Manila International Film Festival, and the Coconut Palace, which was intended to be Pope John Paul II’s home during his 1981 trip.

7. Blue Ladies and their Queen Bee

Madame Imelda had her Blue Ladies long before Taylor Swift had her squad. These women were the wives of wealthy businessmen (usually her husband’s cronies), ministers, and ladies from the upper echelons of Manila society. They got their name from their blue uniforms, which matched Ferdinand Marcos’ campaign colours. These ladies worked as Imelda’s inner circle, assisting her in numerous social occasions.

8.A mobile high fashion boutique

If there is one positive aspect of her lavish lifestyle, it is how she helped advance Filipino fashion. Imelda Marcos is a wonderful sight, standing at 5’7″ – much taller than the average Filipino woman – with her slender figure. Stylists continue to regard her as a trendsetter.

She attended formal occasions in a Filipiniana gown known as a “terno,” hoping to restore the trend in the Philippines and encourage it to an international audience. The terno has a distinctive butterfly sleeve, which Imelda is still known to wear, earning her the moniker “The Iron Butterfly.”

9.Her shopping trips were the most outrageous

The Special Battalion Museum at Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, contains a signed pair of shoes once owned by Imelda Marcos. Photo by David Stanley- Wikimedia commons

Lady Gaga purchased a $60,000 fish? Or how about Elton John dropping $2 million on his son’s nursery? They will not be similar to what Madame Imelda spends. She, like other wealthy customers, shut down stores for retail therapy, even spending $40,000 in Honolulu in 1974.

She once went shopping in Rome for a $3.5 million Michelangelo painting. However, of course, who can overlook her heinous Cheese Scandal? She once requested that the pilot return to Rome because she had forgotten to purchase cheese.

When her family escaped Malacaan Palace, numerous receipts were found, with one from a Bulgari shop in New York making headlines during the election season when her son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ran for vice president in 2016.

10.She was obsessed with jewellery

It’s not surprising that she had amassed quite a collection of jewellery. According to her old photos, bling and sparkle were essentials of her style. Her jewellery collection was among the illegal items seized by the Philippines.

The collection was extensive, ranging from a Cartier tiara to a rare 25-carat pink diamond. It also included a one-million-dollar Bulgari bracelet. Christie’s appraised it, and it is now being auctioned. Total cost? A staggering $21 million.