Being described as a diva started out as being the ultimate accolade, the word coming from “divine”. At a certain point, it became a negative, used to describe famous women who were deemed demanding and melodramatic.

Now, its meaning has come full circle, an idea explored in a show coming to the Australian Museum of Performing Arts later this year – together with an array of stunning costumes worn by divas over the years, from Marilyn Monroe to Rihanna.

The show features more than 250 objects, including 60 spectacular costumes plus jewellery, photography, art and music drawn from London’s V&A museum, Arts Centre Melbourne’s Australian Performing Arts Collection and loaned items from around the world.

“Divas throughout history are a creation and a fantasy, by turns intriguing, complex, e

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