I had the pleasure of working with the Peepshow TO team and collaborated with their graphic designer Sevvy Skellington. Together we pulled off two really fantastic posters to promote this upcoming event! You can check out the final posters below, as well as a ‘making of’ video from our photoshoot!
You can catch myself and a cast of fantastic performers at The Lord of the G-Strings on May 20th at Revival in Toronto. Get your tickets TODAY!
Leelando Calrissian is flaunting his feminine side with this week’s flirtatious photoset. Bringing Bettie Page realness, this vintage-loving vixen is tight laced, tucked and totally in control. Looks like man-candy, Matt Muir, needs a little lesson in discipline from Mistress Leelando.
You can catch drag/burlesque beauty Leelando at Spielberg-lesque on March 5th at the Great Hall in Toronto. Click here to purchase tickets to this Peepshow TO production.
The producers of Peepshow TO have come out with a fabulous new line of matte lipsticks to help Level Up Your Lips! Whether you are a Sevvy, Betty or Leelando, there is a shade for you in this new collection. Perfect for perking up your cosplay or wear everyday to brighten your look! You can get these fabulous lipsticks at the next Peepshow TO show, Super Smash Bras, which is this Saturday September 25th at the Great Hall in Toronto.
In just a few short days the most epic Nerdlesque show to grace a Toronto stage will be taking place. Lord of the G-Strings, a Tolkien inspired burlesque event will be taking place on Sunday May 17 at Revival in Toronto. I will be playing the majestic role of Galadriel amongst a cast of all your favourite characters.
Doors at 8:30, Show at 9:00. Click the poster below for tickets!
Dolly Monroe as Galadriel and Zilly Lilly as Ringwraith
This week’s photoset stars the captivating Leelando Calrissian shot by none other than myself! Crossplayer extraordinaire Leelando gives us his take on Bettie Page as the Rocketeer. With costume completely created by Leelando himself this pretty pinup embodies the classic comic creation with a gender-bending twist. Enjoy!
It’s hard to believe 2014 is finally coming to a close. This year has been so full of joy and success, good times and great friends. I have a new job which I love so much and is the start of a wonderful career. I have the most amazing group of friends a girl could ever ask for, not to mention the cutest kitten on the planet. And I’ve been able to express my creativity through so many amazing fashion photo shoots and design projects. I performed in an international burlesque festival, got a giant mermaid tattoo, met two of my idols (Yaya Han and Tess Munster) and I even started this blog. I can’t believe what a lucky girl I am and I feel so incredibly thankful to have had all these experiences.
So here we go. This is my year in photos; memories from most of the big events, photo shoots, friends, lots and lots of friends and the most fabulous fashions. Thank you for following my blog and I wish the happiest New Year to you all!
Meryle Trouble and Dolly Monroe as Jamie and Cersei Lannister. Photo by If You Fall Photography.Meryle Trouble, Betty Quirk, Sevvy Skellington and Dolly Monroe preparing for our burlesque photo shoot with Hailey Freisen.Me and Irene of “Petite Plus, Meow!” being models at the Dragon’s Den audition for Your Big Sister’s Closet.Betty Quirk, Laura Desiree and Dolly Monroe shimmying at “Dances the Cramps Taught Us”.Me getting tattooed by Suspira.My beautiful mermaid tattoo from Suspiria.Sam and I celebrating our birthdays together at the Science Centre.My most famous photo of the year (and of all time) from If You Fall Photography.Posing with my lovely friends Betty Quirk, Sevvy Skellington, Zilly Lilly, and Leelando Calrissian at the Nerdlesque Festival in New York City!My favourite photo from my collaborations with the outstanding photographer Dana Brushette.Meeting my model inspiration Tess Munster!I took the Iron Throne with help from Betty, Brittany and Sam!My naughty Betty Page tribute photo shoot with If You Fall Photography.Hanging out with designer Allie of Amplify Apparel and my awesome friends Leeland and Bri!My first photo collaboration with Geoff Larkin.Mermaid Pride at the Pride Parade with Meryle and Brittany.Leeland and I being cute at Atomic Lollipop.That one time my face was all over the TTC for the Taste of the Danforth Festival.More fun photos with Geoff Larkin.Silly friends Leeland and Sevvy at Fan Expo.Meeting the cosplay Queen Yaya Han!My first official Burlesque poster for the Garters of the Galaxy show.Modelling for Gloomth Clothing with photographer Tyrone Islington.Working hard at my cosmetics day job/taking selfies at work.Bringing my favourite Fairy Tale to life in this Red Riding Hood photo shoot with Geoff Larkin.Filming the Brick Wall Sessions videos with Betty Quirk.Possibly my favourite photo of myself of all time from Geoff Larkin.My Bent Beauty Supremes, Betty, Sevvy, Brittany and Trevor!Best friend photo shoot with Betty Quirk, by Tyrone Islington.I had to end with this photo of some of my most favourite people! Sam, Delicia, Betty, Scarlett, Taylor, Brittany, Sevvy, and Leelando!
Our final Peepshow TO show by all means should have been a sad affair. It was the final time our amazing group of performers and friends would come together to put on the biggest and best nerdlesque show in town. The last time we would all gather backstage, getting ready and gabbing, swapping eyelash glue and pastie tape. The final collective feeling of putting on a show that was truly entertaining, inspiring and unique. But instead of feeling loss and despair I could not imagine a more electric evening. There was a buzz in the air from the minute the Great Hall began filling up. Every seat was taken and still people stood to watch what can only be described as one of the greatest shows that we have ever created. From start to finish the energy was palpable. Not one lull or low moment was felt and the volume of cheers and laughs echoed endlessly through the night. Every performer brought their best and the roaring crowd pushed each of us to be that much better.
I feel so lucky to have such talented, inspiring and loving friends and to have had so many opportunities to work with these amazing people. Even though this was the last Peepshow event (for now anyways) I couldn’t be sad for even one second because my mind is filled with all the wonderful moments I have shared with this group.
Thank you Leelando, Sevvy and Betty for giving us a stage to perform on, for making it possible for us to come together as a team and for working so tirelessly to ensure each event has been more outstanding than the last. Thank you to all the performers who have constantly pushed each other to be more creative simply by being endlessly creative themselves. Thank you to Rena, Mong Tho, Amie and everyone who has worked backstage throughout the past few years. Without you we would be utterly lost. And finally, thanks to everyone who has come out to support our shows. Hearing the excitement in your cheers is the fuel that drives us.
The final curtain has closed. The show has concluded. But I promise this is not the last you will hear or see of the members of the PeepshowTO family.
Curtain Call by Lick My Lens CapLeelando Calrissian as NamorDelicia Pastiche as Beast, Betty Quirk as GamoraDante Him as Wolverine, Dolly Monroe as Emma FrostBetty Quirk as GamoraDr. Orifice as Mr. FantasticLoretta Jean as StarlordAlex as Stan Lee, Velvet Valhalla as Lady PunisherLoretta Jean as Starlord, Betty Quirk as GamoraDolly Monroe as Emma FrostMiss Elle Towe as Lady SifSky Blew as Captain AmericaVeronica Vile as Scarlett WitchDelicia Pastiche as BeastDr. Orifice as Mr. FantasticSevvy Skellington as GrootScarlett LaFlamme as Black WidowLeelando Calrissian as NamorHenrietta VIII as She-HulkDante Him as WolverineLeelando Calrissian, Sevvy Skellington and Betty Quirk doing their goodbye speechCharlie Quinn as Captain MarvelZilly Lilly as Dark Pheonix
Stargirl (Sevvy Skellingtong) Wonder Woman (Betty Quirk) and Supergirl (Dolly Monroe) from the DC Bombshells Collection. Photo by Very Frank Pictures.
This past weekend my friends from Peepshow TO and I put on our best cosplays and strutted our stuff at one of the biggest Nerd Conventions in North America: FAN EXPO! Fan Expo brings together fans of Comics, Sci-Fi, Anime, Horror and Gaming for a weekend of geeky fun. The Peepshowers had a booth in the Horror section of the con and spent most of our time advertising our next show Garters of the Galaxy: A Marvel Inspired Burlesque. We had a blast chatting up con goers and posing for photos in cosplay.
This year I really over extended myself by attempting to do 2 brand new cosplays for the con. On Friday the Peepshow crew did a Sparkly X-Men Group cosplay in which I portrayed the White Queen Emma Frost. For the big day, Saturday, we did another group cosplay. This time it was the DC Bombshells, which is a set of female DC characters as 1940s pinup girls. For this group I did Supergirl, which was such fun to make and to wear. On the final day I decided to wear an old favourite, my Batwoman burlesque cosplay. Overall the highlight of the weekend was definitely getting to meet the Queen of Cosplay herself; Yaya Han! Yaya is such an inspiration for me as a cosplayer. Her costumes are flawless and she really embodies each character she portrays.
Please enjoy a few of my photos from this year’s Fan Expo…
Emma Frost and Magik heading to the con on FridayThe Queen of Cosplay: Yaya Han!Lady RobocopBetty Quirk as X Men PsylockeGetting friendly with Daryl DixonGambit (Sevvy Skellington) Domino (Zilly Lilly) Magik (Brittany) and Emma Frost (Dolly Monroe) hanging out at the Peepshow BoothSailor Chibi Moon!Our friend Ajay Fry came to visit usDay 2: Getting coffee in cosplayDC Bombshells Mera (Delicia Pastiche) and Batwoman (Zilly Lilly)Dex Morgan cosplaying Gaslight Catwoman (www.facebook.com/DexCosplay)Leelando Calrissian as DC Bombshells Poison IvyChilling with the BatmobileBrittany as DC Bombshells CatwomanCharlie Quinn joined our group as DC Bombshells Flash!Beautiful Mermaid!Group Selfie with our booth neighbour friends!Amazing Wild, Wild West cosplays!Zilly Lilly as Molotov Cocktease with the Star Wars favsRocket Racoon with a baby GrootRan into my friend Serena… I mean Sailor Mars!Leelando Calrissian and Betty Quirk as Harley Quinn and YoshiRufio and Captain Hook from the film HookBatwoman swooped in to steal the spotlight
One day last year my friend and performance partner Meryle Trouble came to me with a vintage He-Man bedsheet and an idea for the ultimate nerdy, pinup girl dress. In constructing this look I was very careful with the placement of the pattern. The skirt in the back and front showcases He-man battling Skeletor with Teela standing by. For the top of the dress I put the castle front and centre, and on the back the characters Stratos and Zodac are featured. Just for a bit of fun I also added some wristbands with planets from the print to finish the look!
Check out Meryle in her He-Man dress on He-Man World’s facebook and fan forum!
Let’s start this week off Westeros style, with some sensual, filthy Lannister family portraits!
About this time last year my friend Meryle Trouble and I performed an act with the Underground Peepshow for their Dungeons, Dragons and Damzels show. We performed as the Lannisters, Cersei and Jamie, to the song ‘Love is Strange’ with a very Dirty Dancing inspired routine. I had a fun time making both our costumes for the act, including outer and under garments. These costumes are what I call “Burlesque Cosplay”, which is semi-accurate design with a bit more stage presence and of course easily removable. I love doing Burlesque Cosplay because it brings together two of my favourite hobbies. I admire and respect cosplayers who go for 100% accuracy, but I personally find it way more fun to take a cosplay idea and put my own spin on it, especially a Burlesque spin!