Many thanks to Kym Taborn for the following transcript

Copyright 1998 The Christchurch Press Company Limited   
The Press (Christchurch)
March 27, 1998

 Pg. 34
171 words  

Hearts fall to Xena  


   Lucy Lawless has become a lesbian icon, according to a British lesbian
lifestyle magazine.  

   The April edition of Diva says Lawless's Xena screen character had
captivated lesbians.  

     ''How does a 30-year-old woman, crowned Mrs New Zealand 1989, become a
lesbian icon? Could the answer be as simple as this: by standing 5ft 11in
in her thigh-high boots, having been poured into a tooled leather bustier,
and smashing seven kinds of crap out of grubby bearded men?'' it said.  

   Diva said Xena also presented a positive role model to young women and
girls. ''It could be the feminist ideology smattered throughout the show
that is popular, but it's probably those light blue eyes, that wicked
smile, and that sublime bustline.''  

   Xena figured in more than 1000 Internet websites, had many fan clubs,
and merchandising depicted the Kiwi star.  

   ''Xena has amply filled the C-cup of honour, virtue, and rectitude. And
luckily for those drooling lesbian viewers, that C-cup just spills over,''
the magazine said. --NZPA