I'm no model lady. A model's just an imitation of the real thing. -Mae West

I wish I could be a good Buxom mom and tell you that I don't have favorites, but I do.  When those burlesque girls saunter into to the store looking for something sizzling to wear I do my own little dance of delight because they are fearless in their dress and attitude.  Even me, the preacher of all things confidence, has nothing on these ladies.  My lovely and talented friend Anabella Lafontaine took some time to answer my questions and I wanted to share the interview. If you only gleen one grain of ferocity from this post then my job has been done, ejoy. 

(all phots are compliments of Anabella Lafontaine facebook)

BR:For the readers who aren’t familiar (or who may have only seen Cher and Christina shaking it on the big screen), what is burlesque?   

AL::Burlesque is a matter of opinion I think. Listed definition: an artistic composition, especially literary or dramatic, that, for the sake of laughter, vulgarizes lofty material or treats ordinary material with mock dignity. My definition is: An artistic expression of sexuality, humor or opinion. Usually a musical act which walks the audience through a thought, an emotion, or just to make them uncomfortable. That is my gig sometimes I like to take the crowd and say “You see stuff on TV or internet all day that tells you what sexy is. Now for the next 5 minutes I am going to convince you in some way this is hot.”  Or in an easy way: burlesque is; GLITTER and feathers dancing to music with a rubber chicken!

BR: Tell us how Annabella Lafontaine came to be?

AL:: Well I was sitting and watching TV one day and this show came on called “pants off dance off” it was this silly show where hot messes take their clothes off on TV for $20. Then in the middle of all the messes came Dirty Martini from New York. She is not a hot mess she is amazing, sultry, sexy and funny. She says she is a burlesque dancer. I then searched the internet and found out that Burlesque was back from the dead.

I was 35 and wanted to have a moment in my everyday life where I felt sexy and amazing just on my own merit. I wanted to believe even for a moment that I wasn’t just a mom, wife, worker, I wanted to feel empowered and sexy. I called Vivienne that very day and took her Vivienne VaVoom’s Burlesque Class. Best $100 I ever spent. I thought I was just going to graduate and move on with a notch in my belt. But then I was addicted to the fun, the glamour and the GLITTER!! I LOVE SHINEY!!

BR: I know a lot of women who aren’t comfortable stripping down even with the lights off, how did you find the confidence to do it on stage?

AL::Well the first time I performed I almost passed out. I was in a class full of little tiny salad eating bitches. I was the oldest and the biggest. I have never ever been the flash my boobies or get attention with my body kind of girl. But I realized that I wasn’t on the stage for the audience I was on that stage for me. I wanted to show myself that I could make it and it wouldn’t kill me. Now I do it because nothing feels more amazing than when a lovely sexy plus size girl comes up to me and say “Thank you for what you do. It is nice to see girls like me be sexy” That makes my day. I enjoy the costumes and the performance but I try to always show that sexy comes from your spirit and your heart not from a tag on a dress.

BR:One thing that I have noticed about burlesque dancers is that just about every body type is up there on stage. Why do you think burlesque and the people who love it are so open to different bodies?

AL::I think people love watching someone else tell them a story, show them an amazing costume or just being amazing. I think everyone wants to be a performer to do something where you walk on the stage and say THIS IS ME!! Remember the whole world is not made up of size zeros, we are all different shapes and sizes, audiences want to see something up there that reminds them or real life.

BR:Is there anything you won’t do on stage because of being self conscience?

AL::I used to never EVER go on stage without my waist cincher or a corset. I have had three kids and it wasn’t 20 something up to par. So I would wear them even if it looked stupid with my costume. Then one day I did my Door’s Whiskey bar act in which I end the act wearing a blank white mask on my face, matching masks on my boobs and underwear, and the waist cincher looked dumb, so I was scared as hell but I did it with full tummy out and a g string. And guess what I didn’t die, no one threw tomatoes at me, and no one booed so I wasn’t scared anymore. Now I can perform in just about anything and I usually do.

BR: Women come into Buxom all the time, and they are afraid to get an outfit that they might be noticed in. One thing I love about the burly girls who shop here is that they only want pieces that will make them stand out. Have you always been a woman who liked to stand out from the crowd or has it been an evolution?

AL::I have been told that being the first born in both my Mom’s and Dad’s families that I was raised on attention and praise. I thought I was Mae West until I was probably four. My uncle had drag queen friends and at my very young age I know those were WOMEN, those are who I want to grow up to be. I want to be sparkly, sexy and bigger than life. Everyone is born with a story and a past but I chose everyday what others think my back story is.
People are going to notice you every day, good bad or indifferent, but I will always know that I put my best foot forward and to the haters I walk on saying “FOLLOW THAT BITCHES!”

BR:What’s one secret that every burly girl knows…that every girl should know?

AF::You don't have to show everything to be sexy. Burlesque is about the tease and the flirt. Walk out of the house feeling like the star you are, paparazzi can be anywhere and tag you on facebook or twitter, make everyday a dressy event, be the star and feel sexy. Oh and glitter lip is fun. Put any lipstick on and press in some fine glitter and POOF you are a star.

BR:: What is proper burlesque etiquette?

AL::Hoot and holler at a show, it is a live performance and you only get one chance. To performers I say act like a professional and be the person people want to work with.

BR:Where can we can we see you next?

AL::

Herman's Hideaway 11/19 and every Thursday at the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse in lovely downtown Denver. Check out Immundo.net for more dates!