“The other day, I was curious to see how the iTunes music video [of “Shoes”] was doing,” says Sullivan. “Out of the Top 100, it was #47… right between Avril Lavigne and Britney Spears.”

“If that’s not mainstream, I don’t know what is.”

But in describing Kelly, Sullivan also reveals the biggest key to her Divadom: her Attitude.

“Growing up, I never felt like I fit in,” explains Sullivan. Neither does Kelly, but according to Sullivan what separates her from most people is the simple fact that She Doesn’t Care. “It’s a really freeing thing to be like, ‘Yeah, I’m strange. I’m weird!’” he says.

“Margaret [Cho] was saying that she really liked one particular part of the ‘Shoes’ video: the part where Kelly stands up and says, ‘I’m gonna get what I want!’ It’s not only funny, like a bratty teen… but it’s also her saying, ‘I don’t care what anybody says or how stupid my goal is… I’m gonna do it!’”

It’s true. Once the music kicks in, even a simple beat can turn a vapid blonde’s quest for shoes into a moment of empowerment worthy of any Diva.

“I love that girl!” says Sullivan of his alter ego. “She’s inspiring to me. Whenever I get low, when I say ‘I should quit this [comedy], I suck, I’m going to die penniless and insane… that’s when I ask myself: What Would Kelly Do?”

Indeed, more than becoming a one-woman empire of videos, mp3s, t-shirts, stickers, buttons, and now an opening slot on a major national comedy tour, Kelly has also become a role model.

“We root for her as we make fun of her,” says Sullivan. “In most other stereotypes, we’re making fun of Valley Girls… but this time around, I wanted people on Kelly’s side. We want her to win. She’s our heroine, not the butt of a joke.”

Whether she’s dancing poolside, playing roller derby, or clobbering “stupid boys” with high heel shoes, Kelly will continue to worm her way in to the video bars, iPods, and hearts of the internet generation.

Hey, Kelly? Let’s Party.

 

TRIVIA:

“Shoes” won YouTube’s first ever People’s Choice Award for “Favorite User-Generated Video”

The famous robot costume, featured in the poolside “Shoes” scene, was rented by Liam when he saw an advertisement on a coffee shop’s bulletin board. As fate would have it, the man renting the costume was none other than Margaret Cho’s husband, and fate brought Liam (and Kelly) to the attention of his future touring partner.

Among the random celeb cameos from Sullivan’s videos: Margaret Cho, Dave Navarro (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Chris Hardwick (MTV’s “Singled Out”).

Kelly’s lesbian, folk-singing Aunt Susan will be accompanying her niece on the “Beautiful” tour.

Some of Sulivan’s non-Kelly roles include stints on TV (“8 Simple Rules,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Alias”) and in film (“The Convent”).

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