Woman Reinstated in Magic Circle After 30 Years for Disguising as Male

After being excluded from the Magic Circle many years ago for disguising herself as a man, Sophie Lloyd's long wait has come to an end as she is now permitted to rejoin the esteemed society. In 1991, Lloyd adopted a male persona to gain entry, just as the Magic Circle's men-only membership rule was coming to an end. She expressed her joy at being back, stating she was "beyond thrilled" about her reinstatement, which will be celebrated at a ceremony hosted by the society.

During her initial attempt to join, Lloyd was encouraged by magician Jenny Winstanley to dress as a man, adopting the name Raymond Lloyd. To convincingly portray a male identity, she wore men's attire, used gloves to hide her female hands, donned a bodysuit, and faked a voice issue to avoid raising suspicion. After becoming a member for approximately six months, her true identity was revealed by Winstanley just before the organization opened its doors to female magicians, leading to a negative backlash from some of the male members.

Lloyd continued her career in magic, presenting an anti-bullying touring show with impressive illusions for the following decade. At the upcoming event, she will receive her membership certificate from the society’s president, Marvin Berglas. Magic Circle chairwoman Laura London commented on the importance of recognizing Lloyd as a role model for women in magic and highlighted the transformation of the organization into a more inclusive space. Since its inception in 1905, the Magic Circle has a rich history and now boasts over 1,700 members, reflecting its evolution in membership policies.