Melbourne woman Katie Tangey had acted as bridesmaid at her brother’s wedding just weeks before she was burned alive in a shocking arson attack.
Posing alongside her brother and his new wife, Ms Tangey could not have known the horrors that awaited her.
On Thursday, Ms Tangey, otherwise known by her stage name Vivien May-Royale, perished in a fire while house sitting her brother’s home in Truganina, in Melbourne’s west.
Police believe she was killed by arsonists who attacked the wrong target.
Ms Tangey had made a desperate triple-0 call shortly after 2am, telling the operator she was trapped in the burning house in Dover Street and could not escape.
The 27-year old had been a talented burlesque performer, photographer and make-up artist.
In an interview she conducted in 2023, Ms Tangey spoke of her childhood passion for make-up, which carried on for the remainder of her life.
‘It was just something I wanted to keep learning about and get more experience and everything like that. Make-up really was my drive for a lot of the stuff that I do now,’ she said.
Katie Tangey (far right) had acted as bridesmaid at her brother’s wedding
Ms Tangey is believed to have died inside the house alongside the family dog.
Such was the intensity of the blaze that crews were unable to quell the flames until two hours later when a search of the property was made, and her body was found.
A GoFundMe to support Ms Tangey’s family has already raised more than $5000 of a $8000 target.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray from Arson and Explosives Squad told reporters on Thursday Ms Tangey had been looking after the house for her brother, who was on his honeymoon.
‘What I can say is this: this individual is completely innocent and should not have died,’ Det Insp Murray told reporters.
Ms Tangey had got into performing at age 18 when she threw herself into pin-up pageants – a vintage-style event where contestants showcase their love of fashion, hair, and makeup from the past.
‘Vintage hair and make-up was something that I absolutely loved. Trying different make-up, different hair and everything like that,’ she said.
Ms Tangey said she soon became addicted to the stage and spent the remainder of her short life performing.
‘It’s just a way of presenting my art to someone to whoever wants to watch,’ she said.

Katie Tangey died in a targeted attack in what is believed to have been a case of mistaken identity
Ms Tangey had participated in more pageants than she could remember and had amassed a loyal fan base by the time of her tragic death.
One Melbourne artist went so far as to make an animation of the beloved performer in a video he posted to YouTube.
Ms Tangey was also known to be a talented artist in her own right, once performing speed painting during a Melbourne tattoo exhibition.
‘I did a portrait of Marilyn Monroe,’ she revealed.
‘I saw someone do it on some foreign talent show and went “that doesn’t look that hard and then I gave it a go.’
Ms Tangey said the transition from pin-up to burlesque was a natural progression.
After taking some classes with a close friend, Ms Tangey was hooked.
She made her debut on stage in May 2022 before taking the country by storm.
3 Fates Media, an independent media company specialising in burlesque photography, paid tribute to Ms Tangey.
‘A beautiful woman has left this earthly plane far too soon,’ it stated online.
‘Her passing is incomprehensible.
‘The grief we all feel for our sister Katie … and her loving family rests heavy on all our hearts but we remember her now and always as a bright, shining star.’

Ms Tangey had no way of escaping the inferno

The Dover Street property was destroyed in a mindless arson attack

All that remained of the Dover Street property
Ms Tangey said her own struggles with anxiety had helped her become a better performer.
One of her standout performances was titled ‘Ugly’.
‘I actually cried when I did my debut because it was just so much like a release,’ she said.
Ms Tangey said she had hoped to be an inspiration for plus-sized women to have confidence in themselves.
‘As soon as I turned 18 that’s when I decided like I’m not going to hate my body anymore. I’m going to just do whatever I want,’ she said.
‘So I started just doing my own photo shoots. That’s how I started sort of loving and appreciating the way I look.’
Ms Tangey revealed she loved nothing more than dressing up in the evening and doing a photoshoot.
‘On a random day I’ll just be sitting there, it will be like 9pm at night, I’ll be like I’m going to take some photos,’ she said.
‘That process is just so enjoyable for me that I want to do it for other people as well.’

Katie Tangey, otherwise known as Vivien May-Royale, was killed in a targeted attack
On Friday, Ms Tangey’s mum Tracey told friends she was a broken woman.
‘It’s with a heavy heart I let you all know my beautiful baby girl passed away in a targeted house fire yesterday morning at 2am,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘I am completely broken and don’t know how we are going to heal from this devastating news. If you could all remember our beautiful soul in your own way.’
Addressing media on Thursday, Det Insp Murray said police did not believe the attack was linked to the ongoing tobacco wars, which have seen more than 100 arson incidents across Victoria.
However, the random nature of the attack led police to believe it might have been a mistake.
‘We’re stuck. The premises and the family and the individual lead us nowhere. Therefore, the only logical conclusion I can draw is they’ve got the wrong premises,’ Det Insp Murray said.

Mathew Zammit and Katie Tangey

Katie Tangey, otherwise known as Vivien May-Royale, was allegedly murdered in a case of mistaken identity
‘There seems to be a fascination with the use of fire to solve crime, solve beef, solve acts of revenge. These are the consequences we’re seeing, and they’re serious consequences. This girl did not deserve to lose her life.’
CCTV footage from a nearby property showed two alleged offenders parking a small dark colour SUV or hatchback outside the home at around 2.03am before they jumped the fence.
The pair were seen getting back into the car and speeding away at around 2.10am as flames erupted from the home.
‘We know two occupants got out of that vehicle. Some accelerant was poured inside the house and subsequently has engulfed the premises,’ Det Insp Murray said.
‘Whether they meant to damage these premises or just cause a scare tactic… now they are staring at a charge of homicide, of murder.
‘We’re looking for two murderers. Let’s be clear about that.
‘I know the type of individuals that do that, they do it for a few $100 thinking they’re going to burn something down. This was just a matter of time.’
A Truganina man told Daily Mail Australia he recalled hearing a loud noise after midnight.
‘The roof was fully engulfed. It was ferocious.’
‘It was quite distressing – knowing there might be people in there.’
A community advice warning was issued for smoke in the immediate area.
Police have appealed for anybody with information to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk