Introducing Miss Exotic World 1995, Pillow. Pre-dating the neo-burlesque resurgence but a key member in bringing it about. Lets take a look at her fascinating career in burlesque dancing.
Miss Exotic World Winner Pillow
Pillow was an American burlesque dancer, hailing from Alaska. She began her burlesque dancing career in 1976 though it was among more bikini and lingerie clad dancers or topless.
She went on to create themed performances with increasingly elaborate costumes. Soon Pillow was known for her artistic and high-energy on-stage presence, according to Burlesque Hall of Fame.
She first visited the Burlesque Hall of Fame in 1991 and became one of their biggest supporters in the industry. She leant her time, money and ideas to the development of the museum and subsequently neo-burlesque.
Pillow first competed in the then Miss Exotic World Pageant in 1993. By 1995 she won Miss Exotic World and the following year was given a special award for her documentary about the museum.
She was also famed as the first muscular female body builder. Through her career, posing and later by writing papers on the sport. Pillow aka ‘The She-Beast’ gained the discipline recognition and legitimisation.
In 2000 she brought the two together like no one else. Pillow performed her farewell show was at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2000 as a Klingon, complete with Bat’leth. Needless to say we love geek burlesque and she was one of the first.
Pillow continues to support the Burlesque Hall of Fame. See her working it at Glamourcon with Tempest Storm and Dixie Evans. Be amazed by how it was, nevermind the amazing hair:
Check out Miss Exotic World 2013, LouLou D’vil.
Burlexe is a sensational London burlesque show inspired by the women who created the genre and perform the art. It fuses burlesque performance with storytelling, dancing with acting.
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(Main image from Burlesque Hall of Fame)
