HEADLINE acts for one of the city’s newest festivals have been confirmed

Southampton Pride organisers - who are gearing up for the city’s second LGBT festival - have confirmed not just one but two 80s pop sensations will top the bill on Saturday, August 26.

Sinitta shot to stardom in 1985 when her sultry summer song So Macho reached number two in the charts.

As one of Simon Cowell’s first recording artists she went on to release a number of singles before hitting the headlines again as mentor on the X Factor and going on to appear on Loose Women, This Morning and jungle reality show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, as well as Dancing on Ice and The Jump.

Battling it out with Sinitta for the top slot on the Southampton Pride stage will be bubbly Scouser and Stock Aitken and Waterman success story Sonia.

Her ginger curls and girly giggle made her a favourite with teenagers across the UK when ‘You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You’ reached number one in 1989.

The panto and Eurovision star told fans she was “really excited” to be coming to Southampton Pride this summer.

Pride organiser Julianne Watling-McCarthy said: “Plans are progressing well and we’re excited to have confirmed our headline acts and have many amazing local performers on the day too.

“The fun starts at 11am and continues until 11pm.

“Our parade will take place at 2pm from the Guildhall Square and continue down the high street to the Bargate monument and back again.”

There will be road closures during the parade.

Also gracing the stage on the day will be 90s boy band 911, whose hits include 1999 chart topper A Little Bit More plus More Than a Woman, All I Want Is You and Private Number.

Southampton City Council’s culture chief councillor Satvir Kaur said with the rise in homophobic hate crimes events like Pride were “important” in bringing people of diverse communities and backgrounds together.

She said: “I’ve been asked to say a few words on the day and I’ll be there wearing my rainbow tutu.

“I’d like to thank the organisers because they have gone above and beyond and are truly committed to putting on a great day.

“We want it to become a permanent fixture in Southampton’s calendar.”

Last year’s event surpassed expectations when 5,000 people showed up at West Marlands Road to see former X Factor contestant Marcus Collins headline a day of acts, activities and stalls.