Mel, she/her. The background image is a closeup of Mel's chest, wearing a magenta bodysuit and a large crystal necklace.

 In conversation with Maya Hart | Images by Sky Sirens’ Creative Team

Mel is posing in a magenta lace bodysuit and gold burlesque shoes. She has a set of red ostrich feather fans - one placed behind her in a peacock position, and the other lowered in front of her, revealing her body. She has blonde hair clipped back

How do you identify?

I’ve always been fat, ever since I was a schoolchild. It just is the way that I am. I’ve recently been describing myself as “chonky” because people think it’s more amusing. But really, it’s just me. I have always been fat, and I don’t find it to be an offensive term unless it is used as an insult towards me.

Since it has always been a part of me, I don’t really think a lot about it. It’s not until I am unable to do something that I start to think about it.

How has your experience been as a Plus Size student at Sky Sirens?

My experience at Sky Sirens has been really good. I am glad I found the studio. I had seen an Instagram ad, and decided to come along to a Sample Session in March 2020.  At first, I wanted to do Pole, but I found a love for Burlesque instead.

I love it because it is something completely different to anything else I have done before in my life.

These days, I mostly do Fan Dance. I love them, they are so elegant and amazing. It makes me feel so good. I can do the routine and do it nicely. It’s just a great space.

Recently, Mama Medusa advocated for new chairs to be bought for chair work. In Burlesque, I have always avoided chair work as I was scared that the old ones would collapse. So, i never really got involved in it. Little things like this, you don’t even realise could be fixed. Now, I am enrolled in Mama Medusa’s new class Bend & Grind - which is a chair-based class! If I don’t like it, I will know for sure, rather than never really knowing and being held back by fear.

The hardest thing was just getting here.

Almost all of the teachers here have been very accommodating for things that I can’t do. It’s an alternative - and it’s just different, not worse. For example, I had to do some squats in a class and I wasn’t able to do it - so it was adapted in a way that I could do it. Little things like this make life a lot easier.

The other students at Sky Sirens have been good. I’ve never had any problems with anyone before. No one has commented on my body, and they’re really encouraging. But, everyone encourages everyone here. I’m not singled out because of my size, and I’ve never felt left out because I can’t do something.

Mel is posing in a magenta bodysuit wrapped in a large tulle red boa, looking to the side and smiling. Her blonde hair has brown lowlights and is clipped back.
Mel is posing on the floor holding a bouquet of red roses, wearing a magenta lace bodysuit and silver burlesque shoes. She is lookng up and smiling.
Mel is posing in a magenta bodysuit and a baby pink robe, holding the edges of the gown out to the side. She has a large necklace, and her blonde hair is down and straight.