My grade 5 teacher called me her “little Judy Blume” because of my writing. Years later, my Drama teacher remarked that I had “six sets of brass ones”. (I assume he meant ovaries.) And during my singer-songwriter days, I received a review that said: “Imagine Cher in one of her sheer costumes getting drunk at Lilith Fair and hijacking the stage during Jewel’s set.” And this was before I’d even heard of burlesque!

As a theatre geek, I loved performing in plays. I hated how I looked but for some reason I could get onstage in front of a crowd and have a great time, and the audience enjoyed it right along with me. I grew up feeling bigger than the other kids, was always terrible at sports and constantly felt like an outsider. Being good at performing was a revelation. And once I’d discovered that being curvy was actually an asset when it came to plays that required wearing a corset, I was beyond amazed. Liking my body had simply never occurred to me.

After years of acting and working as a singer-songwriter, multiple international moves left me feeling a bit lost. I was thrilled to explore the world, never envisioning that this could happen to me, but it made building a career difficult. From Canada I went to London, and from London I went to Paris. In Paris I found beauty, a broadening of the mind…and burlesque!

Burlesque has taught me how to embrace what flatters me, be it clothes or a pose. It has taught me that I don’t need to wait around for someone to decide whether or not they want to cast me in their show: I can create an act however I like, choose the song I want to sing, and share what I’ve got with the audience as I am. It’s frightening and exhilarating, and I have benefited so much from learning this art form. Whether it’s practicing movement techniques or trusting yourself enough to move through beliefs that have held you back, burlesque provides an exciting way to grow and challenge yourself.

Not only has burlesque given me a new confidence, it has made me more open-minded, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet all kinds of people. Through classes and talks I have helped mothers (both new and experienced), transgender people, and women from a variety of walks of life who simply needed guidance on which direction to take. You don’t need to worry about how “valid” your problem is, if your crisis is actually a crisis, or if you really deserve to take this time for yourself. You’re here because something in you wants to heal, to move forward. That is enough. YOU are enough.

Come as you are. I can’t wait to meet you.