I am but another victim of the roller-derby-to-burlesque pipeline. One of my derby wives took a burlesque class with the Garter Girls; I went to her debut (as a good wife does) not really knowing anything about burlesque, and by the end of the opening act I knew that I wanted to do that too! I signed up for the next burlesque intensive, signed up for a Burlesque Burn class a few months later, and it just escalated from there.

Nerdy, comedic, and campy.

Alternate universe me is probably a marine biologist #90sKid

My signature schtick is definitely my Boob Ross act. I only expected to do that routine a couple of times, but the “bush” had other plans. I got accepted to my first burlesque festival with that routine!

I had a major wardrobe malfunction during my debut solo performance. The zipper on my (non-stretchy!) pencil skirt got stuck and there was no way I was getting out of it on my own. Thankfully, I had friends in the front row. I made my way over to the side of the stage, trying not to let my panic show, whispered to my friend that my zipper was stuck, and she ripped that fucker clean off! The crowd cheered and I made it through the rest of my routine without any other issues. That moment taught me a key lesson; it’s ok if something goes wrong! Since then I’ve gotten stuck in a bra, stuck in a corset, got tangled up in my fringe, tripped, fell on my butt, fell off a stage, forgotten my choreography, and lost multiple pasties… and I’ve powered through it all.