Teen began Madonna act in 1985; now holds world record 40 years on

Image: Guinness World Records In 1985, Denise Bella Vlasis was simply a high-school student who happened to be good at singing and dancing. When her mother asked her to entertain children at a holiday party, she decided to perform a few songs by Madonna, whose career was rapidly taking off at the time. What seemed like a small favour became the beginning of a remarkable professional journey. Vlasis soon found herself returning to perform for children, including youngsters in hospitals, gradually becoming known as a Madonna double. Four decades later, the teenager who once borrowed the pop star's songs for a children's party has an officially recognised world record of her own. In May 2025, Guinness World Records verified Vlasis as having the longest career as a Madonna impersonator, spanning 40 years and 119 days. Now, with a memoir and documentary telling her story, her tribute to Madonna has become a record-breaking career in its own right.A children's party unexpectedly launched a lifelong careerVlasis's journey began when her mother asked her to help entertain foster-care children at a holiday party in 1985. A talented singer and dancer who was still in high school, she chose s...