[2] Historically, Dame Lorraine masquerade featured a diverse array of performers, including not only liberated slaves and women but also cross-dressing men.
[4] She is part of a collective group of other "Ole Mas", also known as traditional mass characters.
[5] Masqueraders of Dame Lorraine would take part in elaborate skits and parodies of the early French planters.
[6] The names of each character, including Dame Lorraine, were in French Creole.
She is often depicted as a large woman, having an overexaggerated bust and rear, along with wearing brightly coloured ankle length,[2] sometimes floral printed, dresses.