Management at St Julian’s-based City of London Bar have expressed delight at the news that the “incredible story” of one of its regular customers, Katya Saunders, is being told in a book.

Ms Saunders was a cabaret performer, a fashion icon and a prominent figure within the Maltese LGBTIQ+ community who passed away suddenly in 2019. Known to friends as Kaka, she was a transgender woman who grew up in the turbulent 1970s, when there was a lack of organised support shown towards the gay community. Transgender people were not allowed to change their name and gender in legal documents, nor were they allowed to formalise relationships. However, she found love and acceptance from her family and friends and was welcomed with open arms at City of London Bar and its owner, Julian Borg.

Mr Borg recalled she was made to feel “really at home” at the bar, and quickly became a regular customer. He describes her as a “unique personality who was popular and loved by so many”, especially at City of London Bar.

The century-old bar, which became a “second home” for her, has photos of Ms Saunders hung on the wall, bringing back memories for Mr Borg, who recalls her “sweet greeting” of “Uncle Julian”.

In an attempt to illustrate her incredible story as one of Malta’s first openly transgender people, the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) is publishing a book written by journalist Ramona Depares. Named “Easy on the Tonic”, the book seeks to recall her “fashionable and avant-garde” lifestyle, as she continued to push the world of fashion “to its limits”.

Ms Saunders also extended her own support system to help others that were struggling with their gender and sexual orientation by “hosting people in her flat”, mentoring them, and also made sure to “help them make connections and build entire brands”. She gave people an “opportunity where they otherwise would have become stranded,” MGRM explained.

Katya was not only a trailblazer and a support system for Malta-based LGBTIQ+ individuals, but she also reached new heights in fashion, working with people like Karl Lagerfeld and David Bowie.

Mr Borg acknowledged that he is “over the moon” that someone opted to tell her “incredible story”. “It’s more than likely that the title of the book was coined at the City of London, the bar where Katya was really at home,” he remarked.

Commenting ahead of the book’s launch, Ms Depares said that she is “overwhelmed” by all the interest and pre-registrations received for it. “Another testament to the impact Katya left on so many people,” she added.