When Erika was thrifting one day she came across the rare book “Canned Candies, The exotic women and clothes of Paco Rabanne” printed in 1969. The book is an homage to the perfect woman. Immediately she thought about Lavender May.
“The woman of tomorrow will be efficacious, seductive and without contest superior to man. It is for this woman that I conceive my designs.” - Paco Rabanne.
This quote defines this month’s muse Lavender May a.k.a Marie-Sophie Rondeau down to the last sequin. You may know her as the free-spirited pastel burlesque queen of the Montreal nightlife scene but she’s more than just a showgirl. Erika and Lavender May have been best friends for years. The unlikely duo bonded over their mutual love for vintage fashion, rock & roll, and a fascination for the revolutionary 60’s era. They quickly became inseparable. Fun fact Lavender May can recite every Metallica album forwards and backwards. She’s even performed as part of the opening act for AC/DC. After years of persistence to turn passion into a career, Lavender May is now Montreal’s leading lady of the burlesque scene. We sat down with Lavender May to give us a peek behind the curtain of the famed industry.
Q1 : What is the difference between burlesque dancing and stripping?
[Lavender May] “ The biggest difference between the two is the level of nudity. A burlesque dancer will always finish their set in pasties and a G-String minimum. Whereas when you go see a strip show you know you’ll be seeing nudity. I’d say that burlesque artists strip by passion or self empowerment. They are not as rewarded monetarily and there’s lots of preparation that goes into the routine, the character, the costumes and the props. All in all, Burlesque is a bit more theatrical.
Q2 : What makes burlesque so popular now?
[Lavender May] “ I believe the evolution of our society in regards to accepting female bodies is what's fueling the appreciation of burlesque. Women are using this artform to take back the power of their sexuality, gain self confidence and use burlesque as a creative outlet.”
Q3 : How has the industry changed since you began performing?
[Lavender May] “ I’d say that since I’ve started there have been more places dedicated to burlesque. Social media has also become a very important way of showcasing burlesque. More and more people became aware of what burlesque is. There have been tv series made to showcase burlesque dancers that are being played in prime time slots. I’ve noticed recently that I have a lot more women coming to see me after my shows to tell me they saw my performance on TV or through social media and they couldn’t wait to come see my productions in real time.”
Q4 : What is the difference between the burlesque scene in Montreal as opposed to the International/American scene?
[Lavender May] “ I’ve noticed while performing internationally that out there burlesque is a creative community where women can recognize the star quality and talent in each other without needing to treat it like a competition. Unfortunately in Montreal the burlesque scene has quite the reputation for cattiness between artists, the scene is so small here that everyone is fighting for their spotlight. Another issue with the Montreal scene is the very low pay rates for artists. I’ve been fighting to change this flaw in the scene throughout the past few years. I always make sure to offer my artists a fair salary and work primarily with clients that respect our time and our art.”
Q5 : How does Burlesque Empower Women?
[Lavender May] “Burlesque reinforces confidence in women, it gives them the opportunity to rediscover their sensuality, take back the power of their sexuality and learn to appreciate their bodies. Burlesque doesn’t discriminate body size so not only does it empower the artist but also the women in the audience.”
Q6 : What is your creative process when you are coming up with a new production, costume or choreography?.
[Lavender May] “ I can be inspired by a song, a concept, a piece of material or texture. Generally I just look through all my treasures and allow myself to be guided by the moment and the materials at my disposition. I love starting with a piece of vintage lingerie or giving a second life to some broken pieces of jewellery. I just love salvaging vintage lace, pearls and feathers. It really inspires me.”
Q7: What advice would you give to an aspiring burlesque artist or a baby Lavender May?
[Lavender May]
“QUALITY OVER QUANTITY”
“I love burlesque but I'm especially passionate about the confection of new costumes, so when I started out I made the mistake of always making myself new costumes, spending lots of time and money. However, for those starting out their careers, it’s much more important to work hard on perfecting your routine rather than your look. It will allow you to differentiate yourself from other artists and build a professional reputation. once you’ve established a few solid numbers then you can get lost in creation or evolve your persona.”
Q8: What do you love about Vintage? you spoke about it impacting your creative process but why?
[Lavender May] “ I consider myself a vintage glorifier, ever since I have been a little girl I have been obsessed with finding treasures in thrift stores, it’s my favourite activity. I’m definitely a hoarder of beautiful things, speaking of which my closet is starting to overflow. I’ll be having a studio sale soon! *wink wink*. Personally what I love about vintage is the attention to detail and the construction of the garment. As a seamstress fast fashion makes me very anxious because mass quantities of poorly fabricated clothes are made to fuel the market. We often forget the human behind our clothing (in most cases underpaid and abused children) as well as the detrimental impact it has on our environment.”
Q9: Tell us about your worst Showgirl experience
[Lavender May] “My worst performance was a bit of a double edged sword, I was performing 3 shows in one night and had to sneak out between two sets dressed in a completely different costume. When I got to my second set I had to perform in a fake bath made for bottle service. The client was supposed to have someone solidify the bath to ensure my safety but they forgot in the heat of the moment. I quickly wound up slipping and falling onto my back hitting my head on some stairs as I slipped out of the bath. My head was bleeding and I was feeling really dizzy but I continued my set regardless as if nothing happened. At the end of my performance I found myself sitting in a bath full of 100$ bills.”
Q10 : Where do you see yourself in ten years?
[Lavender May] *Laughing * “Shaking my ass all over the world”
The humbled artist had a hard time replying to this question. When your art is your lifestyle it can be difficult to predict where you’ll wind up years down the road. For Lavender May the perfect future would allow her to continue living her life completely freely through her pastel fantasy. Unbounded by societal norms, flourishing in the light and love she leaves on the stage and in every room she enters.
CREDITS:
At the age of just 22 Cindy is a powerhouse of a young woman. As a first generation immigrant who started from nothing. She quickly learned that in order to become successful in western culture she’d have to work hard. Utilizing sublimity allowed her to build up an empire in the beauty industry as a self taught nail artist. Amassing quite the following on social media and armed with a very impressive portfolio,this is just the beginning of her journey.
What are your zodiac placements (sun,moon,rising)?
[Cindy] “My Sun is in Virgo, my moon in Leo and my rising in Libra”
What are your favourite things to do outside of work?
[Cindy] “I’ve always loved to travel. I’ve been to Mexico, Vietnam, Amsterdam, Berlin, Portugal, Singapore, to name a few. I travel because I really enjoy trying new things that I don’t get to do in my day to day at home. Besides travel, I’m obsessed with food so I’m always excited to try new restaurants and dishes. During the pandemic I was forced to stay in and take a breather, so I started getting really into puzzles as a way to relax. Sometimes I’ll spend 13 hours of the day doing nails and the only thing that gets me to chill out is to sit down with a puzzle. The pandemic allowed me to discover a love for tropical plants, something that I think I’ll love forever now. I went from having 1 small dying plant to having over 20 different types and I love learning about all their particularities.”
Where were you born and what are your roots?
[Cindy] “I was born and raised in Ville St Laurent but my parents are both from Vietnam. My parents are first generation immigrants. My father arrived in Vietnam when he was 8 years old fleeing a refugee in a camp after the Cambodian war. My parents met in Vietnam at work. They dated for 7 years before getting married and immigrating to Canada together to build a better life for their family. When they arrived here my parents didn’t speak the language or know anyone really. They found jobs alongside other immigrants (my mother in the garment district, my father at a company) and eventually they opened up a restaurant. They really built everything up from absolutely nothing.”
Why do you love vintage?
[Cindy] “I really love vintage home decor and furniture. I’ve had a love for the aesthetic of vintage homes since I was young. The pandemic really allowed me to deep dive into the research part of vintage furniture, learning about the pieces and getting them for the best price. I enjoyed the hunt!”
Is Beauty Pain?
[Cindy] “Beauty is unique to each person.It’s importance in your life is solely up to you, however in our society in order to obtain beautiful things ex: nails, lashes, clothes, etc… We are forced to run ourselves ragged to make money to be able to afford what we want. For some it takes 6 hours of work just to be able to afford a mascara, yet our society expects everyone to look their best, follow trends and consume in order to be deemed beautiful.”
When did you start doing nails?
[Cindy] “I started working in a salon when I was 13. My mother’s friend opened up a nail salon. She hired me as her receptionist for the summer since she needed someone bilingual to interact with the clients. In Vietnam it is in our culture to start working young so it just made sense for me to work there during the summer. I started experimenting with the products and tools at the salon, that’s when I started really getting into nail art. It was cool because I was able to grow my independence through work at a very young age.”
What type of worker are you?
[Cindy] “I would say that I am passionately hard working. My upbringing played a big part in shaping my work ethic. I grew up as a first generation immigrant watching my parents work because they had to build a life for themselves from literally nothing. I carry that hunger and drive with me throughout every type of work I do. I’m very precise and I always want the work I do to be perfect.”
What advice would you give to aspiring nail artists?
[Cindy] ‘’Honestly I think the most important part of any nail set regardless of the artwork or jewels is the base of the nail itself. I think any aspiring artist wants to build a client base to have a steady work flow. You’ll achieve your goal faster by focusing on perfecting the base in order to provide the best quality, always keeping in mind that nail health comes first when choosing techniques and products. Once you’ve secured the base then you can start to develop your own personal style that will offer your clients something they can’t find elsewhere.”
In the US, nail artists charge over double the price of what you charge here in Montreal, why is that?
[Cindy] “There are a few different factors at play that cause such a steep price decrease in Montreal as opposed to In the US nail industry. Firstly in the US there is a much larger” market for customized nail art, therefore the nail techs can permit themselves to charge a base rate that adequately matches the quality of their art, whereas in Montreal nail artistry is much less sought after which makes it difficult to find regular clients that are willing to pay 400-700$ a set. Secondly, the clientele is different in places like L.A. where the clients are mainly influencers, musicians, actors and such who make much higher salaries. I also have to take into consideration the fact that nail sets are temporary, they need to be changed once a month so I have to offer a reasonable base rate in order to keep a regular income. I make my prices accessible to the market Montreal has to offer.
Where do you draw inspiration from when you’re painting a new set
[Cindy] “That depends. For my press on kits, draw inspiration from the things or people who inspire me, sometimes it can be as simple as waking up and wanting to draw strawberries. When I’m painting sets for clients then usually it’s a collab between our ideas or client’s specific request.”
How did you start stripping?
[Cindy] “I was open and aware of my sexuality from a really young age. I think when you grow up with the internet there’s something intriguing about sexyness or sex because you see all these influencers and youtubers making money just by being pretty. Stripping was something I saw as a powerful way to own your beauty. As a woman of color, western culture offered me all the rebellious freedom I was craving. Stripping opened that door for me.”
How did you manage your time working a day job while working in the nightlife scene?
[Cindy] “When I started working I had just gotten sober so my view of the clubs was a lot different than that of my coworkers. I went into it with a survivor’s mindset. I wanted to get out of debt, then make as much money as possible. Growing up I didn’t have the privilege of doing or buying the same things my friends had so I associated money with freedom. I had also promised myself that if my mental health started to slip I had to stop dancing. That kept me grounded because I knew I didn’t NEED to work both jobs.”
What motivated you to stop dancing?
[Cindy] “When I started dancing I was really young and still figuring myself out, so I sort of built my life around my stripping persona. As I moved through my career I had gotten to a point where I was beginning to lose my way. I was using my work as validation for myself. The more money I made, the more clients I had the hotter I felt. I just wanted more and more. When the pandemic started I was able to find myself again, re-adjust my lifestyle and put my priorities into perspective. My relationship was really the deciding factor, I was missing out on so much quality time with my partner so I just decided to focus on my nail business and refine my art.”
What was your experience as a POC in the sex work industry?
[Cindy] “As an Asian woman entering the sex work industry I quickly realized that my ethnicity would be an advantage for me. In western culture Asian women are highly fetishized so I built my persona around my heritage. Unfortunately, it is not the case for most women of color in the exotic dancing scene. I witnessed my dark skinned co-workers being singled out and mistreated by club management simply due to their ethnicity. In many clubs when dancers call to inquire about work the managers will ask them how dark their skin is before even looking at the work they do. People of color in the sex work industry often have to make the choice between working and their families, for example in my culture it’s extremely taboo to turn to sex work, there are hundreds of stories about women who are completely disowned by their culture and families when they’re caught dancing.”
What do you wish for in the Future?
[Cindy] “ Honestly, I don’t have a clear cut goal in mind for my thirties. I definitely want a family with my husband in the future. I would love to have a farm full of animals for sure at some point in my life too. Personally, when I think about my future the main thing I want to achieve is to just live my life to the fullest. I want to be able to tell my kids that when I was 21 I was a full time nail artist in Montreal, and then tell them that I went to live somewhere else for a while and worked in a cafe or that I bought a farm when I was 27 and now I have a whole bunch of animals. I don’t want to keep my life focused solely on my career. I love what I do and I wake up every day excited to go paint a new set but if one day I decide I want to try something else then I want to have the option to do it.”
CREDITS:
Stylist & Clothes : Widow’s Blow Playboy set : House Of Vile
Creative Direction : Neve Kerry
Photos: Jf Galipeau / JFGALIPEAU.CA
MUAH: Ann-Frederic Tremblay
Model : Cindy
]]>For this very first issue, we introduce to you our good friend and original muse; Sania Mallory aka The.Real.Satania!
Sania started her career in the sex industry on the day of her 18th birthday. She started dancing at local strip clubs but her thirst for success quickly took her off to bigger pastures. After gracing the stage of New York City, L.A. and Canada's west coast, she settled to have a kid and took on the challenge to transition her work from the club onto the worldwide web. [Sania]“I had always planned on starting an OnlyFans but I was waiting for the right moment. It’s important to take everything into consideration because once you have this kind of website, there’s no going back. When people google your name, they’ll know exactly what you do. I wanted to make sure that I was 100% ready for the challenge and the backlash that might come with it. When the pandemic started, I felt like it was the perfect time for me to start. I finally had time to fully concentrate on my content and familiarize myself with the platform in order to set proper goals.” What women like Sania sell on OnlyFans are personalized experiences and an inside view into their daily life. Fans subscribe to their favourite creators and in return receive private uncensored access and the chance to buy personalized content, photos and videos as well as an array of products and services. In the first few months, Sania climbed the charts and became one of the top earners on the platform with numbers ranging from 1000-1300 subscriptions per month. And if you find her familiar and wonder where you might know her from... That’s because her content caught the attention of major players at Pornhub and she is now the face of some kinky ads on their website! ;)
[Erika]“I met Sania at a party when I had started mulling over the idea of having my own brand. After hanging out a few times at various events, we decided to go to RockFest together. We spent the weekend partying and chilling backstage with the bands and from there on out our bond was sealed. Every time we hung out, it inspired me to make a new piece of clothing or start a new collection. Sania was basically my first muse for Widow’s Blow. I remember the first time we went to L.A. together, we partied so hard it felt like we hadn’t slept since 1972 and it became our catch phrase. When we came back to Montreal, I took our inside joke and turned it into a custom leather jacket inspired by all the crazy shit we did and all the vintage Americana energy we brought back.” The strong bond Sania has with Widow’s Blow made her the perfect contender for our first blog, showcasing the inspiration she was to us from the very start.
What are your zodiac placements (sun.moon.rising)?
[Sania] “My Sun is in Capricorn, my moon is in Scorpio, and my rising is in Sagittarius. I really feel like my big 3 represent me as a whole. When I was younger I identified more with my Scorpio moon, as I got older I recognized my Capricorn traits more and more; I’ve become more mature and calculated, and I'm definitely stubborn as hell. I’m still as crazy as a Scorpio, that's for sure! My Sagittarius however is what makes me feel free and reckless, it’s always been within me.”
What is the best concert you’ve been to and why?
[Sania] “I love going to see live shows so much! It’s difficult for me to choose a favorite… I think the best band I’ve seen live would have to be the first time I saw Misfits in Chicago with the original lineup, tied with the Halloween show in New York, they’re by far the best band ever. I also remember being so excited when I saw Black Sabbath in BC, I was drinking Bailey’s before the show and I was so nervous I puked while I was waiting! Honestly I get that amped up no matter what band I see, I feel like a baby every time I just can’t wait to get back out there after the pandemic.”
You’ve traveled so much in your life, what was your best trip and why?
[Sania] “All of my trips have been absolutely wild, when I was 19 years old I traveled through Australia. That trip shaped me into the person I am today, it was the first time I was leaving on my own. It was crazy. Honestly this might sound a little boring but my heart lies in the states. I saw so many beautiful landscapes, I was able to grow and learn a lot about myself as a person. I was in a field in Indiana during a thunderstorm listening to “Ride the lightning” by Metallica, the sky was completely lit up with electricity. It was one of the coolest moments in my life. I also have an attachment to LA because that’s where I met the love of my life CJ.”
Staying on the same wavelength, what was your worst trip and why?
[Sania] ''This one time I was really hungover after a party and I was supposed to go up to Old Orchard (Try saying that in french LOL) for a friend’s birthday. While driving up, I told my friends to tell my ex-boyfriend that I was dead because I was too hung over to answer his calls. When we actually got to Old Orchard Beach, I had a lot of fun but I realized that it’s a pretty kitsch vacation spot, it’s basically “Expo Quebec”. Pretty underwhelming. Between you and me… I wouldn’t recommend it for your birthday celebrations. (laughs)"
How did you meet your boyfriend CJ?
[Sania] ''I was in LA with some girlfriends and a photographer friend of mine asked me if I wanted to do a photo shoot. We were sitting in a little café, waiting for the photographer, when the most drop dead gorgeous man walked in. He sat at my table and I turned to my friends and said “Oh my god, I just saw the man of my dreams!” So we met then and there. At the time, I had a boyfriend back in NYC so I told myself not to do anything stupid… I was stupid the next day; I just couldn’t stop thinking about him. I still have no regrets because, 5 years later, we’re still madly in love with each other.''
When we first started planning out our editorial photoshoot for Sania, we chose to collaborate with Carrosserie Viau located in Hemmingford, QC. It was the perfect tone for the shoot; a backroad garage filled with a spectacular collection of vintage cars including; a Chevelle 66, a Chevelle 68’ and a bright red vintage Chevy pick up truck. We wanted to show off Sania’s love for cars while paying homage to her father, who raised her on a racetrack. The outfits were created to showcase Sania’s story, her energy and her rock n’ roll lifestyle. [Erika] “I wanted to highlight her story using 3 classic Widow’s Blow looks. Sania has always been a part of the Widow’s Blow family, she’s one of my biggest supporters, she IS Widow’s Blow. We couldn’t do this photoshoot without using the Sania 1972 Jacket I made after our trip to L.A.! All the looks were inspired by different eras of our friendship.” As for the makeup, Neve Kerry drew inspiration from 1970’s playboy and the iconic 90’s Pamela Anderson. [Neve] “I wanted to capture Sania’s natural beauty and merge it with her seductive energy, so I looked towards some of my favourite sex symbols for inspiration”. Paired with our resident photographer JF Galipeau, we brought to life one of our best editorials yet!
Where does your passion for vintage cars come from?
[Sania] ''My love for cars comes from my father. I spent my whole childhood in my dad’s garage when he was fixing his Camaro. There are photos of me in my dad’s car while he was re-working it completely. It was so cute; he had even installed a little TV for me to watch while he worked. I like to go to races and drag strips and I know how to change a carburetor but truly it all comes from my dad. It’s funny actually because lord knows I love cars so much yet I’ve been cursed with the worst luck when it comes to vehicles. One time my car caught fire while I was on the highway, I want to cry just thinking about it. Most people think it’s inconvenient or difficult to be constantly working on your cars but that’s what I love about them. I enjoy knowing that I always have a project to work on but that’s probably because I love making my life extra complicated!''
What is your best vintage find?
[Sania] ''My best vintage find… I’d have to say my favorite pieces were actually gifted to me by my family. My mom gave me this gorgeous leather jacket she wore to a show in the 80’s. It fits me perfectly and there's so much sentimental attachment that comes into play. She also gave me this amazing animal print bikini and I LOVE animal print. My aunt gave me a pair of 70’s disco platform boots that are just completely to die for, I’ve never seen anything like them. I also love everything I get from Widow’s Blow, like my custom misfits jacket and my favorite Misfits T-shirt.''
Why do you love vintage clothes?
[Sania] " I live for the rock and roll style of the past, it really speaks to me. I love anything customized and unique. When I was a young punk, I used to stud and DIY my leather jackets and shirts. I also like that every piece has a story. The environment also impacts my choice of wearing vintage clothes... I find it ridiculous that we constantly produce cheap wasteful garments when there are still warehouses full of clothing available for anyone!"
Tell me about Satania.
[Sania] " It's funny to me that when people hear Satania, they assume I make human sacrifices or something (laughs) Obviously that's not the case! I’ve always been very intrigued by the idea of cults or religion. I'm not personally religious, however I love the idea of community that it creates. It amazes me that people dedicate their entire lives to their different religious and spiritual beliefs. Satania is a persona/name I came up with when I was younger. She's a girl who doesn’t care, that party’s hard and acts reckless. Satania gets into so many funny, crazy situations and she just lives through them and laughs a lot. I had so much fun in my 20’s with Satania. As I got older, I calmed down and grew into Sania. I'm a mom now, I have my family and my career to focus on but Satania still comes out every now and then. I’d say the biggest difference between the two is that Sania is a business woman, she makes the decisions, while Satania is total madness and doesn't care much about adult stuff."
You seem to be such a strong and untouchable woman, how does one break that wall?
[Sania] "When I compare myself to others, I understand why I might come across as strong or guarded. I don’t like to let my emotions get the best of me or be vulnerable. However, in reality, I am a very emotional person and like many people I seek validation from others, specifically my parents whom I know will never fully support me and my choices. I don’t feel comfortable talking to them about my life because I know they have a stigma about my work. I’ve been hurt by so many people through the years. Now I rarely get upset when it happens because I’ve learned not to let it get to me. I healed and I'm past that. I think that's a part of what makes me seem so untouchable. I’m sure people would be surprised to know how emotional I truly am and how often I cry, whether it’s happy tears or just to relieve myself of the day's emotions. I believe that it’s important to live through your feelings, it’s just not something I do in front of others."
What do you have to say to the people who accuse you of not having a “real job”?
[Sania] "I tell those people that I am financially independent, and that I probably make more money than them. I put 80hrs a week into my job and I’m able to make a large profit from it, so if it’s not a real job then I love not working! (laughs)"
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
[Sania] "As of right now my OnlyFans is doing really well. I put a lot of work into it. I wanted to make sure I could really build a career for myself. I’m 29 years old and I’d say the next ten years are my peak years for OnlyFans. Times have changed, women are no longer tossed out of the industry once they hit 30, so there's room for sex workers to work well into their 40’s. My goal would be to be semi-retired by the time I’m 45. I’m very smart with my money, I set goals for myself financially. I’ve invested in cryptocurrency and I’m looking to invest in real estate soon. Once my career as a sex worker is over, I'll focus on my investments and keep managing my side projects."
The current laws against sex work in Canada, Bill C-36, states that purchasing sex or benefiting from the selling of sex is illegal. Sex workers cannot advertise sexual services, and potential clients cannot communicate with a prostitute in any way, or in any place, for the purposes of buying sex. Platforms like OnlyFans are one of the safest ways for sex workers to market themselves and interact with their clients. According to covenanteyes.com: “$3,075.64 is spent on porn every second on the Internet.” After talking to Sania we learned that despite its popularity, it is still incredibly dangerous for sex workers to survive in Canada and the United States. It is our duty to break the stigma associated with sex work. By openly talking about it, we can shine a light on the constant dangers and challenges that sex workers have to deal with. Sania is brave to be so open and honest about it, and we are very thankful to have had the privilege to have an inside glance at what being a self-employed porn star is all about.
Now go SUBSCRIBE to her ONLYFANS while wearing your favourite vintage t-shirt!
by Erika Devile & Neve Kerry
CREDITS:
Models : Sania Mallory & CJ
MUA: Neve Kerry
Photos: Jf Galipeau / JFGALIPEAU.CA
Stylist & Clothes : Widow’s Blow
Location : Carrosserie Viau
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