Sophie Lloyd, a talented female magician, has made her triumphant return to The Magic Circle, a prestigious London-based magic society, 34 years after her original expulsion. The Magic Circle, founded in 1905, is known for its relentless, high-brow standards. It currently has more than 1,700 individual members, including the likes of King Charles III, who became a member in 1975.
Yet Lloyd’s journey to rejoining his society is an incredible one. In the early 1990s, she took a big risk and smartly hid her identity under the alias of “Raymond Lloyd.” This all enabled her to gain entry, as The Magic Circle banned women until 1991. To complete her scam, she donned a full bodysuit, gloves and plastic face fillers. This audacious decision allowed her to walk on display her individuality and love for sorcery. Consequently, she became the first female to receive a position in the society.
The support of fellow magician, Jenny Winstanley, made all the difference, giving Lloyd the confidence to apply for membership in the first place. Winstanley believed in Lloyd’s talent and encouraged her to jump into the largely male-dominated field.
To become a member of The Magic Circle, magicians are required to demonstrate their ability, and then pledge to protect the society’s secrets. Reflecting on her audition, Lloyd recounted, “I did a 20-minute show in front of 200 people, three examiners, and spoke to an examiner for an hour and three quarters afterwards.”
Lloyd’s skillful gifts and talents were not enough to save her from expulsion from The Magic Circle. Throughout her life, she remained dedicated both to her craft and to the fight for all women to be welcomed into it. As of today, The Magic Circle has more than 80 female members.
In November 2024, The Magic Circle formally inducted Sophie Lloyd back into its fold. A statement from the organization noted, “We’re proud to welcome back magician Sophie Lloyd to The Magic Circle.” They further acknowledged her pioneering spirit, stating, “Over 30 years ago, Sophie took extraordinary steps to pursue her passion — disguising herself as ‘Raymond Lloyd’ to join our then all-male society.”
As Lloyd looks back on her own journey and on the transformations achieved at The Magic Circle. In her testimony, she thanks the committee for the opportunity to come back. And I truly believe that this would have made Jenny very happy. In doing so, she paid tribute to the friend who saw her possibility.
