Burlesque myths we need to be leaving in 2025! 👇

I have written before about some of the myths about burlesque. So let’s start 2026 off right and dispel some of the common misconceptions about burlesque. Why? Because ultimately I want more people to feel included and to want to join in!

Saying it louder for the people in the back!

This one seems to refuse to die, right? I shouldn’t have to say this time and time again, but there is not one ideal body type or size that burlesque dictates. If you have ever been in a crowd for a burlesque show or chatted to people after an event, you will quickly see that it is the diversity that people LOVE.

If you are burlesque curious and want to get involved just know that the best thing about a burlesque experience is seeing performers of all ages, shapes and sizes and backgrounds. It is what makes a show special. Everyone brings their unique perspectives to the stage, which just diversifies our pre conceptions of what striptease can be.

For producers and venues putting on events, remember this is what audiences LOVE. And it ultimately also brings in different audiences and diversifies your reach - so it’s not just about artistic excitement. Diveristy literally puts bums on seats.

Look burlesque can make you feel sexy. And it’s a great way to explore what makes you feel sexy - not what you think ‘should’ be sexy.

But…. it can also be silly, funny, edgy, political or sad. Burlesque is the art and craft of striptease - and that can be interpreted any way you want!

So many of the performers I admire do not have a dance background. And as I commented to another performer today, doing some tricks like drop splits or backbends might be pretty impressive. But if your act is boring, a dance trick or two isn’t going to save it.

If you are curious about burlesque, don’t feel like you need to be a dancer or stress about your two left feet.
I see people from so many different backgrounds on stage who are all unique and entertaining. It’s not who can lift their leg the highest.

I think the biggest burlesque myth is that performers are somehow miraculously really confident.

Do you know any artist that is supremely confident in their work? I find everyone I know - from visual arts to music to burlesque - doubts themselves. They crumple up work and start again. Fret about presenting new work.
But, they put themselves out there. Terrified at times. But they do it. And the more you do it the more you gain an appreciation that the unease, the dread and anxiety is part of the process. Because it means you care.

Think about baking a cake for a kid or your partner for a special occasion. You might be nervous and stressed about getting it right - will they like it? What if it goes flat? But regardless you put the effort in and make it happen - (as a master of failed icing I can say this for sure!). It’s a bit of a simplistic analogy. But the truth is, nerves are part of life and part and parcel of putting anything in front of someone else.

All I can say is you get more confident in the process, and more confident that if something goes wrong - you can handle it! It’s not that you suddenly wander around with unfailing body confidence or positivity.

What myths would you add to the list?

I put up a post on social media and had some great answers - from the pressure to do the spltis to feeling like pinup hair was essential? What are some myths you want to die ?

Let me know!

Grace Cherry

Owner, Miss Kitty’s Meow