- [why lesbians move so quickly] Girl, have you ever seen a woman? We are beautiful, beautiful creatures! How could anyone stay away? I have no idea, honestly. When I lived in NYC, I assumed it was just to save money on rent, but now that I'm in LA where land is cheap, I guess it's just women's nature.
- [most easily mockable lesbian traits] Ugh. I love me some lesbians, but we need to work on expanding our sense of humor department. Whatever our most mockable traits are, you best watch your step if you're making fun of them to our faces.
- [How she identifies sexually] A lot of people assume I am bi, because I tend to blur that line onstage. I am, in fact, full homo, though I do admit to having experimented with men briefly in my early to mid twenties on a backpacking trip through Belize. I like to think of those as my "who wouldn't I sleep with" years, which were as overrated as they were short-lived.
- [why lesbians tend to be suspicious of/avoid bisexuals] Sexuality is fluid, for sure, but a lot of bi girls I know are straight up flakey. Bisexuality, especially for women, just feels a little too "look at me" and, as a lesbian, I get huffy when I feel like my sexuality is being objectified for the benefit of others, especially for men, and especially when I'm not the one doing it, myself. At its core, I think hating on the bi-crowd it's just the gay community trying to protect itself.
- [What drew her to burlesque] Burlesque is insanely fun, and one of the most lady-positive spaces out there. Part of the draw for me was an opportunity to be goofy, which doesn't always read in the stand up world. Comedy writing is about making people laugh with your words, but in burlesque, you get to use your entire body. Your. Entire. Body.
- [any negative experiences in burlesque?] Nah. Who would hate on me? I've always said the only thing more intimidating than a naked woman is a naked woman who can talk, and if there is one thing I have been doing all my life in gluttonous excess, it is talk. If anything, being boldly under-clothed has helped me command respect from an audience. It knocks people off center to see a woman who is naked, well-spoken, and funny.
- [appearing on bisexual dating series A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila] I speak of it rarely, as it is very embarrassing, but I suppose I could have done worse things when I was young and needed the money. Maybe even something that paid. At the time I justified it as being a feminist thing that a lesbian could finally sleep her way to the top, because before that had always been pretty much a straight girl thing.
- [why she competed in beauty pageants] Some people look at pageantry and see exploitation. I see opportunity. I say, nothing exploits you unless you let it! Take the swimsuit competition, for example. Critics of pageantry need more than the swimsuit to prove to me that pageantry isn't empowering. I wear a bikini out all the time now because pageantry has given me that kind of confidence. For me, being half-naked in public is muy importante.
- [do beauty pageants force women to be cookie cutter copies of an unrealistic female ideal] Listen, you can compete as anyone and anything you want to. You just have to fit a certain mold to win. It's no different than everything else in the world. For example, in the U.S., you can speak in whatever language you want to, but if you want our government to recognize you as a real person, you have to speak English.
- [difference between Miss America and Miss USA] In Miss America it's talent, swimsuit, or "fitness and lifestyle," evening wear, interview and onstage question. Miss USA is exactly the same, but without talent.
- [burlesque vs stripping] Regular stripping is: "Let me be your fantasy." Burlesque is: "Let me show you mine."
- [meaning of her album title "Take One Thing Off"] Well, first of all, let's get naked. Second, it's a quote from Coco Channel. She said, "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off." Which is a reference to being a minimalist accessorizer. But my life has been inspired by the power of nudity on-stage.
- [answering onstage questions during beauty pageants] I've been asked everything from my thoughts on date rape to pretending a banana was a telephone and having a fake conversation. Onstage question is my strongest area. For some reason, being articulate while smiling just comes easily to me.
- [is Scout her given name] Actually, no. I changed it when I was eight years old influenced by Harper Lee's character in her classic American novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. "Scout" was my first real love.
- [becoming a burlesque dancer] You have to be blindingly ballsy to be naked on stage. I did a lot in my queer nightlife, so it wasn't really that far of a leap.
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