Breaking the Stereotypes
As many of you know, there is a stereotypical perception around exotic dancers and I feel like addressing that today. For the most part, I have been extremely fortunate to have been shielded from this stigma, I believe it’s because of how I conduct myself and my business, however, I haven’t been completely except and seeing that this is an ongoing issue that affects everyone in the biz, it’s time to share a little, uncover a few layers of the onion.
I’ve ALWAYS prided myself in my showgirl status, performing elite shows with huge, exquisite costumes combined with many specialty skills such as fire, aerials, pole and showmanship; like something you’d think you see in Las Vegas. I LOVE entertaining and connecting with audiences and have always gravitated towards creative facets, such as music-having my own band which I managed and was a singer/songwriter for, acting and stunting in the film industry, writing, personal training (inspiring and designing programs for people to help them reach their goals) and of course, dancing.
What I LOVE about my showgirl career, let me count the ways lol: Embodying feminine energy and confidence and exuberating that energy on stage through the art of creating an erotic journey, the athletics I demonstrate with pole fitness, dance ability and circus skills, creating characters that audiences with love and connect with, designing the music that takes my audience through a playful and entertaining experience, developing shows that are creative with props and special effects that people want to come back in to be a part of the experience, that ‘Sweet Spot’ when I am completely connected to the audience, being able to fill a room and most importantly INSPIRE people around the globe through my own story and performances!
See, so far there’s more than meets the eye, even in the driving motivations behind creating the shows. I am an empowered woman who is tapped into her sensuality, sexuality, feminity and have chosen the stage as my platform and playground to demonstrate that. I am not some dysfunctional party girl, using drugs and alcohol, being promiscuous and that has daddy issues LOL I come from a loving and supportive family, I am a national level, natural athlete, I have excelled in 2 other careers and have a long list of accolades. I am a business woman first, creative artist second. And I’m not the only one! Many girls in this industry have interesting stories to share.
What had prompted me to write this blog was a random comment made from someone in regards to being a high priced escort from having a wishlist and receiving gifts from customers…at first I completely dismissed this because it was SO stupid and ignorant I didn’t think people actually would believe that. I mean, dancing on stage in an glamorous, expensive costume, performing acrobatics and high energy dance routines where NO ONE can touch you is completely different from having sex with strangers for money and gifts…Not to mention if I or any other elite, headlining, showgirl had that reputation you would NOT be booked. Venues do not want that behavior attached to their name. It is frowned upon. CLEARLY people understand the EPIC difference…I mean, I make more than enough money to buy my own damn gifts! And I do! But in this biz your fans sometimes want to express their appreciation, so it is common to receive things as well but without any intention whatsoever in the sex department.
But nope, this person in the beginning really did question that. I guess the being naked part equalled being openly sexual, too lol quite honestly, I VALUE myself, I have deep self-worth and self-love and am traditional in the intimacy department. I DON’T believe in just giving yourself to anyone. I don’t believe that sex is just sex. I believe in honouring yourself and sharing yourself with someone you have mutual feelings for. Meaningful sex only. So yes, provocative on stage, more traditional in my private life.
What’s also interesting is that I have more female followers than I do male. And many of these young girls and women are inspired by the energy I project, for I think they feel their own sensuality, desire and feminine energy heighten from my reflection, I have explained this before. I had a full front row of screaming ladies (not uncommon for me) and a male customer made a comment about how all the women were lesbians. “Maybe a few!, “ I replied with a giggle, “But the majority, nope, just women out showing their appreciation for another woman’s sexiness and sensuality. It is a girl power era! I love it! It definitely helps break down that stigma over dancers because women can come into clubs and see for themselves what goes on.
I have never felt the need to hide what I do. In certain situations I may be more discreet but for the most part, I am proud of my accomplishments and what this career has done for me. Being authentic doesn’t come from what you do, it comes from who you are and when you are being true to yourself, you are being authentic, and when you are being authentic, you will flow that into what you do. So many people talk about taking the road less traveled, be yourself, follow your heart but many of those same people are the first to judge you when you do. I personally don’t care, I am a self-made woman and a successful one at that. I wouldn’t be here if I listened to other people’s judgments and opinions. Their opinions of me are none of my business. It’s their issue, not mine and I don’t make it mine.
When I conceived my son at a young age everyone said that if I kept him, I wouldn’t make it, I’d become another welfare statistic and my modelling career would be over…I owned my first house and vehicle by the time I was 21, traveled the world, had tons of modelling jobs and a successful band but most importantly, he was the BEST thing that has ever happened to me and he makes me proud everyday. We DID make it, above and beyond what even I thought I could do.
When I decided to put a band together, everyone said that it was a cut throat industry, you’ll never make it, why don’t you get a ‘real’ job…. a year later we sang for Jay Leno on the Tonight Show, were on the front page of the newspaper, appeared on E.TV, Global Television, Shaw TV, Online TV and had several publications. When I decided to work in a gym I was told it was a man’s industry, don’t bother trying to move up….within 3 months I was the top producer in the company and in 6 months I moved into management.
When I decided to compete in a fitness competition, everyone said I wouldn’t win, it’s political, you need to pay your dues….and I won my first show. When I was going down to the States to compete in dancing contests everyone said they will never let a Canadian win one of their contests, I not only won 2 big titles, one of them being Miss Nude USA (yes, this Canadian girl won a US title…clearly it wasn’t political LMAO I just did the biggest show, a show that couldn’t lose) but also a slew of mini titles!!
These are just a few examples of where I’ve been and what I’ve done. There are so many more lol but I’ll share these ones with you for now. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that happiness is an inside job. You cannot make anyone else happy or accept you for who you are…and that’s OK. It’s not about making everyone else happy it’s about making yourself happy. And when you are in alignment with your passions and journey, your happiness with be felt by those around you and though they still might not love your choices, they might not battle with you on them because they like how they feel when they around your positive, authentic vibes. And for those who don’t, it’s their loss, not yours.
ahhh delving deep! And there are other ladies with stories just as thick, if not more. Never judge a book by it’s cover, you just might miss how interesting the story really is.
Road to the World’s
Road to the World’s and Exotic Universe 2016
I have been invited to compete in Exotic Nude Universe and Miss Nude World this year and am seriously considering it, I think I have one more contest in me. I have evolved my shows quite a bit over the last 2 years and I think it’d be a great way to end my final year in the dancing industry.
To help cover the expenses of the travel and competing, I’ve decided to sell my promo for a minimum donation of $20 or more, which all will go towards my, ‘Road to The Worlds’ cause. I also think this will be a fun and interactive journey to take with all of my supporters. I will post video clips of my contest prep and give you all an inside look at how I’m getting ready for the contest 😀
As many of you know, 2016 has not been the easiest year for me. I was faced with many challenges and heart aches along the way. It definitely has been a year of endings, personal growth, new chapters…dealt with a few heavy hearted betrayals, my family losing a lot in a forest fire and the trauma that went along with that devastation and the financial loss, my car becoming a money pit…one of those year’s that really tested me on every level to the limit buuuut I not only moved forward keeping the vision of my dreams clear but moved through it all with epic it grace, tenacity and ‘balls to the wall’ determination, not allowing the negative situations to have any power over me and my dreams.
I’m happy to say that I’m now feeling on top of the world these days and things have been moving in an AMAZING direction for me. I’ve let go of a lot of crap, my mind and heart are clear and I have a renewed sense of passion and inspiration, I’d like to just go for it!! In everything! End the year 2016 on a victorious note, both on the inside and the outside. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s to always see the brightside, that things WILL always get better but how fast is really up to you. You can waver in feeling down and out which will just attract more negative experiences when hovering it that energy or let go and move on. Moving forward is freedom. And letting go isn’t giving up, it’s understanding that the best is yet to come
Last time I did the World’s, I didn’t even make podium. Every girl brought her A game and the competition was not only fierce but SO close. There was no clear front runner, which is common in a lot of contests, as each contestant was GREAT. It came down to mistakes…with a contest so close it only took one mistake to knock you out of placing and that’s what happened with me. My first show for the World’s was excellent, nailed it with a lot of perfect scores, it actually won me 2nd place in Exotic Nude Universe. But my second show bombed with a few mistakes that happened with the stage crew and it bumped me right out of placing. That year Isabelle Deltoire won, Layla Dash took second and Justice took third…and she was crippled! LOL YES, my bestie made podium one handed, she killed it! BUT in the end, all had consistently great back to back shows and deserved their placings fair and square.
If I do it this year, I have learned from my previous mistakes and am hoping to nail my shows with the same consistency and greatness those girls maintained.
So let’s do this peeps!! Join me on this journey! If you’d like to buy a poster or magnets you can send me an etransfer to jerichog@live.com, use PayPal or my GoFundMe page. Send me a message or email with your mailing address and I’ll send a piece of promo out to you. Onward and upward!!
NOW….WHAT shows should I perform???
Crowned Miss Nude Exotic Dancer North America 2014!! Part 1
Hello peeps! SO happy to announce that I was recently crowned Miss Nude Exotic Dancer NORTH AMERICA at Deja Vu Showgirls in Las Vegas!! Along with the other titles of Hottest Stage Personality and Overall Best Show! Woot woot!! Have to say that I’m still flying high over the big win, in more ways than one. On this trip to Vegas I also got to see just how good of a friend my bestie, Justice, really is and got to create and deepen a few other friendships along the way. I finally got to meet the amazing Rio Rivers aka Gracie, who puts on all the big contests in the States and got a taste of the U.S. exotic dance scene, which has me intrigued even more! But all this goodness still did come along with some pretty crazy challenges as well….
At 4am on the Sunday morning I was loading my car, getting ready to pick up Justice and go to the airport. While I was loading, my keys fell out of my hoodie’s pocket and into my car un-noticed, until of course I close the hatchback and reach for my keys in my pocket only to realize what had just happened. SO, I call the 24/7 locksmith hotline and they said they’d call me back…I waited 15 mins with no phone call or an answer when I called them back.
I immediately call Justice and explain what happened. I then tell her, we’d have to take her car instead. At the moment she is one handed, she just had a major surgery on her wrist, so thank goodness she only lives 5 mins from me as she is not supposed to drive. I tell her that ALL my clothes and summer shoes are locked in my car, everything including toiletries, along with the two shows I was planning on doing, my Peacock and my Showgirl or Devil :/ and she responds, “I have LOTS of clothes! I’ll pack a bunch for you! What do you want? I have dresses, shoes, everything.” I then laugh out loud and respond, “I won’t fit in your stuff, you’re smaller than me!” She is mini! But she reassures me that it’ll all fit. SO, I grab 2 other costumes, Batman and new Superman, my make-up and some promo and away we go!
She comes to grab me, we stop at her place and grab her luggage with some outfits she put together for me and we dash out the door and get onto the highway heading to the U.S. border to catch our flight out of Bellingham. As we approach the border we read a sign that states that the border crossing is CLOSED-WTH??!! This particular border crossing was closed that early in the morning, so now the nearest one was 30 mins away…NOW we are cutting it too close for comfort. SERIOUSLY?! What is with this luck? I just kept thinking to myself that something wonderful was going to come out of all this.
I will say that through this entire ordeal though, we laughed and stayed so calm and collected. I mean really, what would stressing out do. Just try and keep our heads up with a positive attitude and be open to those lil miracles to flow in and help out. We were both probably a lil overtired from not sleeping at all so it made it easier to be light with the whole situation.
We finally make it to the other border crossing and OF COURSE there’s a line up AND we get hassled a lil from the officer. Of course! LOL By this time it really was comical. I felt like I was watching a movie. Finally we get through and we boot it to the airport! Justice was driving one armed, by her adamant own choice, and ‘would have’ just made our flight if it wasn’t for the wait and hassle at the border. She impressively pulled off getting us to the airport just as our flight was leaving for the runway. She made up really good time, we were so close! AND now I know what it feels like to be driving with a Nascar driver LOL
SO we missed our flight. Still in positive spirits we had enough flirtiness within us to bat a few eyelashes and twiddle our hair with our fingers, to not have to pay the extra fare difference, nor did we have to pay for our overweight bags AND we were seated together in the emergency seats with LOTS of space! Yay, positive energy is now working is magic!
We arrive in Las Vegas, exhausted and excited all at the same time! A GREAT live that a taxi driver said to us was, There are no bad days, just bad moments.” Never allow your bad moments to become a bad day. Another lil splash of positivity to uplift our spirits 🙂 We check into our suite at the Palms Place Hotel and it was GORGEOUS! I particularly loved the bathtub being in the middle of the room lol The producer from Naked Justice swung by with a few comedian friends and I thought it was funny to tell them they couldn’t come in right now because Justice is having a bath AND she’s in the middle of the room! lmao! And then I go over and shave her armpit, the one she can’t shave with her cast on on. You know you’re a true friend when….
She told me I was lucky…because she wasn’t performing I didn’t need to shave her box Bahahaha! I just replied with a great, big smile, “If I had to do it, you know I would in a heartbeat!” lol What are friends for? 😉
Follow Me!