Amy Winehouse Statue Unveiled in London, Late Singer's Dad Embraces Figure, Says, "Spiritually, She'll Never Leave Us"

Amy Winehousewas honored with a bronze statue made in her likeness on Sunday, Sept. 14, on what would have been the Grammy-winning "Rehab" singer's 31st birthday.

Her father, Mitch Winehouse, attended the public unveiling of the figure, located in his late daughter's former northern London neighborhood of Camden, with his wife and her mother, Janis Winehouse. He embraced and kissed the statue, which sports the Jewish soul singer's trademark beehive, winged eyeliner and retro-style dress as well as a Star of David necklace, in front of a cheering crowd.

"It's a day of incredibly mixed emotions, ladies and gentlemen," Mitch told reporters, according to the U.K. newspaper The Telegraph. "They don't put statues up to people that are with us anymore, so it kind reinforces the fact that physically, she's gone. But spiritually, she'll never leave us."

Mitch, who also has a son with Janis, had founded the Amy Winehouse Foundation chartty following his daughter's death. Amy died in her Camden apartment in 2011 at age 27 from accidental alcohol poisoning after battling substance abuse for years.

The sculptor of the singer's statue, Scott Eaton, told the U.K. newspaper The Independent that the figure's pose "had to capture Amy's attitude and strength, but also give subtle hints of insecurity."

"The hand on the hip, the turn of the head, the grabbing of the skirt, the turned in foot—these are all small elements that contribute to the personality of the piece," he said.

Camden is home to many musicians and other artists. Winehouse gave her final performance there prior to her death. The unveiling of her statue took place near the neighborhood's famous Stables Market, one of several of its street markets popular with tourists.

"Camden meant a lot to Amy and vice versa," Mitch told The Independent. "To have her forever standing at the heart of the hustle and bustle of that area just fits."

He said in a Facebook post published a day earlier that "now Amy will oversee the comings & goings of her home town forever."

PHOTOS: Remembering Amy Winehouse



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