- Rapidfire Royalty
Name: Juniper Fox
Burlesque stripper smokeshow; Producer of SMUT the Show
Mostly hanging in: Brunswick
Hot date night: Cocktails and dinner at Old Palm Liquor then dancing and debauchery at Miscellanea
On the earphones: PBS radio: Ella Stockley’s Stardust show on a Wednesday, Ed Fisher and Palmtree Paddy Ports of Paradise on a Friday –“I get all the music from my acts from his show.”
Caffeine Fix: An oat flat white from El Mirage in Brunswick or Black Cat in Fitzroy
Title images Juniper Fox by Winter Greene
“When I was dancing professionally, strippers used to be the butt of every joke,” says burlesque stripper smokeshow Juniper Fox.
“There was definitely a hierarchy back in the Y2K slut shaming era.”
“If you failed an audition, or things weren’t going well, people would be like “fuck it, I’ll just be a stripper.” And everyone laughed. It wasn’t seen as a viable career choice. If you did make the transition people looked down on you. And I always thought that was bullshit. I’m glad to have been part of the change.”
“So much of my body dysmorphia began to dissipate as I made the transition, only as an adult have I been able to unpack how shakey my mental health was all those years ago. Of course this isn’t everyone’s experience, sometimes it can be the opposite upon entering the industry, but it definitely was mine.”
“In my life as a traditional dancer, I was underpaid, made to feel that my body shape wasn’t good enough. It was the opposite of the experiences I’ve had in burlesque and stripping. Now I have complete artistic control of how I want audiences to perceive me; my music, my costume, my expression. I can completely reframe the narrative.”
Celebrating all things freedom, fetish and fuckery in homage to her roots, Juniper is basking in the radiance of her first ever production in July. SMUT was a non-negotiable tipping event with a sex worker prioritised cast of dazzling long form burlesque, strip and pole performances that were not just raw, untamed and unapologetic, but the true embodiment of sexuality.
I’m so glad the community has trusted in my concept,” she Juniper.
SMUT is a vibrant honouring of badass bitches, celebrating all forms of sexuality, queerness and gender expression, acknowledging the women in history that paved the way for events like SMUT to happen. The show was an homage to radical self-XXXpression in pole, strip and burlesque, with every member of the cast either past or currently working within multiple aspects of the sex work industry.
“The concept for SMUT was originally envisaged as part of a festival which I had intended to MC,” says Juniper. “It was all about the history of sex work and evolution of what we do. A chance to not just celebrate the beauty and talent of our community but recognise the profession as a valid one. To redefine what we do loudly and proudly. Whether it’s stripping or full service work, sex work is hard work. t’s not an easy way to make cash. It’s hit and miss. It involves a hard hustle and the dedication, determination and drive to make your own brand.”
“My pet hate is people discounting the work. Working in a strip club, sometimes I don’t go home with stack of cash. These days we aren’t the regular go-to for after Friday night drinks, we are luxury items. Hustling is getting harder as there are more clubs, more workers and the cost of living eats up disposable income.”
But, I acknowledge my my privilleged experience as a white, femme-presenting able body, and, how it absolutely differs from marginalised communities within the industry. There’s still a long way to go.”
Juniper feels positively about her experience with other workers in the industry, speaking about the harmony and synthesis with fellow performers.
“In my eyes I see the the old hierarchy disintegrating. There’s more mutual respect between dancers, whether burlesque or stripper, and full service workers than there ever has been – before one looked down on the other. Does social media have something to do with it, the accessibility of information? The more sex positive content gets shared, hopefully the safer people feel to talk about it. And people also have an open playing field to tell their own story. I acknowledge that this is not the case for a lot of sex workers, and voices are still being silenced and workers still shamed, colonised and criminalised.”
The venue for the first SMUT show is no stranger to nudity. Northcote club 24 Moons was a strip club back in the day. But it might be the first time tipping dollars have been activated in the venue to their true potential.
“I’ve worked in strip clubs on and off for a long time and Australia just does not have a tipping culture dancers deserve,” says Juniper.
“Not everyone knows that dancers who work in a strip club do not get a base wage. They also have to pay a substantial amount to work at a club. If the club is quiet and the dancer can’t hustle private dancers they simply don’t get paid.”
“At SMUT, your ticket comes with printed tipping dollars to the value of a certain amount. The audience can engage with the performer and each show is interactive.”
“I actually went to Officeworks to print the tipping dollars. I thought my mission was super risqué and was slightly disappointed that when I got there the staff told me they actually print tipping dollars quite regularly for hen parties and fancy dress!”
I want to thank the community of Melbourne for backing my concept. I don’t think this could have worked in any other city, there’s a real grittiness to Melbourne that’s just so SMUT
Juniper enlisted some heavy artillery from the burlesque community to ensure SMUT articulated her creative concept in brand and aesthetics. In yet another smoking hot collab, Juniper worked with Melbourne Creative Director and Photographer Frenchie Holliday to bring her prodigal baby to life, and enlisted the phenomenal photogasms of Alexis D’Lea to capture the raw moments in their perfection.
“Promoters and producers often forget the value in paying a professional to do your marketing and photography. It pays off to get that polish and slickness.”
“We were channelling Y2K strip club vibes,” she says.
“I wanted it to look like a club techno night. That was my inspiration.”
Nailed it.
It was a huge challenge for Juniper to refine her shortlist of performers for the inaugural SMUT. Many people reached out to perform and to proudly share their experience as sex workers. It’s all about building a fierce collective, turning up the volume and instilling people with the courage to be face out.
The diversity of sex work within the cast was amazing, with full service escorts, to brothel workers, massage, pro-domme and strippers.
First up on the insanely talented rolecall was Jada, a Centrefolds showgirl and pole sorceress who weaved her magic across multiple poles installed specially for the show.
“Jada is an athlete, I literally have to pick my jaw up off the ground every time she literally flips and flies.. one of my favourite parts of the evening was watching her face and the audience literally screamed and cheered for her, showering her with smut dollars. To have an audience so aggressively appreciate you. my heart!”
Then was the fire energy of Strawberry Siren, former Miss Burlesque Australia who has also been working the pole for over 15 years
Then there is Strawberry Siren, former Miss Burlesque Australia, Miss Nude and Miss Firm who has also been working the pole for over 15 years. Strawbs – in the game for years
“Strawberry has been an inspiration to me because she blurs the line between burlesque and striptease. Seeing her perform was my first experience of “stripper-lesque” energy, full nude performance in a showgirl headdress. Strawberry is an absolute icon, an inspiration and one of the most beautiful people I know. Her wisdom within the industry is infallible, I will always look up to her.”
Kitty Obsidian brought the heat as a First Nations non binary trans performer – an absolute boss and former pro-domme.
“The energy they brought to bring to the showcase as a face out performer and a huge advocate for sex positivity knew no bounds,” says Juniper.
“Kitty commands the stage, their energy engulfs the room, they literally had the audience on their knees.”
Clara Fable is a musician turned performer who blends all things macabre with her comedic and sensual approach to the stage who was also the leading lady in the Dracula’s Cabaret Resurrection tour.
“Clara is a close friend,” says Juniper.
“The number of times I was asked “will Clara be there?” speaks for itself. She graces sex work across different avenues and is also an established singer.”
Femmeb0t’s stellar, raw athletic talent on the pole made us believe in a higher power.
“She blurs the line between pole and contemporary dance, with audience members commenting on the emotion and energy Femmeb0t brought. It was stunning.”
And the whole shebangbang was effortlessly glued together by the delectable Themme Fatale, a seasoned host and beautiful non binary gender bending performer whose background is in producing insane circus and sideshow.
“I’ve tried to book them a couple of times but they’ve been too busy,” says Juniper.
“The feedback i received, was that the show worked so well, and that Themme was a big part of that. Their boldness, skill and energy was intoxicating. The audience was wide eyed, whether it was hammering a nail into their nose or swallowing a balloon, the transitions of taking poles down and cleaning up mess was seamless.”
Missed out on the first flash of SMUT? Want some more? Prepare to get frothy for Act 2 coming in November… you heard it here first!
