Shalimar Seiuli
Introduction
Saoaumaga Atisone Kenneth Seiuli (July 6, 1976 – April 22, 1998) known professionally as Shalimar, Atisone Seiuli, or Shalimar Seiuli was an American-Samoan transgender dancer and public figure who gained infamy when she was seen getting into the SUV of actor, Eddie Murphy; Shalimar, a known prostitute, was being watched by police getting into the SUV, unbeknownst to them then that Eddie was the driver. Murphy was pulled over, questioned for thirty minutes, then released, while Seiuli was arrested for an outstanding warrant on prostitution charges. Eddie claimed he was just being a "good Samaritan" by giving Shalimar a ride. Overnight the story made headlines and was later parodied on an episode of Saturday Night Live. The National Enquirer paid Seiuli's fifteen-thousand dollar bond for exclusive details on her ride with Murphy. Shalimar also earned enough from publicity on the case to leave prostitution behind to work as a professional dancer.
Early life
Shalimar was born to a devout Mormon family in the village of Mesepa, American Samoa. From a young age, Atisone identified as female; adopting the name Shalimar after the imported French fragrance as a teenager. Seiuli was the cheerleading captain at Leone High School and was crowned Miss American Samoan Island Queen in 1993. By 1996 Shalimar moved to Los Angeles, California where she began her transition from male-to-female via hormone replacement therapy; affording the pills by getting into street prostitution on Santa Monica Boulevard, a street notorious for transgender prostitution.
Arrest and subsequent infamy
At four fifty-five AM on May 2, 1997. Los Angeles Police officers followed and pulled over a Toyota Land Cruiser after watching Shalimar enter the vehicle. It was then discovered that the driver was actor Eddie Murphy. Murphy was questioned then released since nothing illegal had occurred; however Seiuli was arrested for an outstanding warrant for prostitution. By morning the story made international news, with a tabloid paying Shalimar's fifteen thousand dollar bond for details on her arrest. Shalimar was then the subject of Candace Watkins book, In the Closet with Eddie Murphy, which featured stories by Atisone and other transgender sex workers who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Murphy. Due to Seiuli's rising celebrity status, she filmed an erotic movie and left prostitution to become the House Madame of the nightclub, 7969, in which she performed erotic routines as a dominatrix with live snakes. Actors Demi Moore and Charlie Sheen reportedly attended her shows.
Death
On April 22, 1998. Seiuli's dead body was found by a neighbor in their Los Angeles apartment building, on the sidewalk, outside of the apartment. Clad only in lingerie, Shalimar was believed to have been locked out of her apartment building and tried to use her robe as a rope to swing from the roof to an open window, however she fell five floors; suffering severe head trauma and other fractures which resulted in her death. Conspiracy theories that Eddie Murphy hired an assassin to kill Shalimar were discussed by spectators but never proven. Shalimar is buried in a family plot in her birthplace of Mesepa, American Samoa.