Daily Inspiration: Meet Michelle L’amour

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle L’amour

Hi Michelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began doing burlesque in Chicago in 2003. There wasn’t much of a scene to speak of then. Most of the movers and shakers of the burlesque revival were in NYC and LA. I was determined to put Chicago on the map as a city known for burlesque. Two major things helped me to achieve that goal. One, I won the title of Miss Exotic World 2005, which is basically the world series of burlesque. And two, I appeared in the first season of America’s Got Talent. Back then, David Hasselhoff was a judge, so of course I did a Knight Rider act complete with the Kitt car!

I went on to produce shows in Chicago and owned a burlesque school for 10 years. Eventually, I felt I had done all I wanted to do in Chicago and decided to move to LA in 2018. I had always felt at home in LA whenever I would come and perform for the original Lucha Va Voom or to do TV appearances.

When I arrived here I began performing at No Vacancy and Black Rabbit Rose and doing the random private gigs. I continued to travel and teach around the world, but I was always happy to come back to LA. There’s an energy to the city that is exciting and complicated and it keeps me engaged.

These days, I am working as an intimacy coordinator for TV and film, producing Bust For Laughs, my burlesque, comedy and music show with my co-producer Natasha Estrada, running a confidence coaching program, a burlesque mentorship program and hosting a burlesque retreat called Stripper’s Holiday.

As for Chicago, the performers there continue to thrive and innovate and always push the boundaries of performance. While I love my LA, I am proud to come from Chicago.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Any artist will tell you that the road is not smooth. We are very good at pivoting and meeting the moment. We are hustlers at heart.

As a burlesque performer and a woman who puts her sensuality on display, I have always come up against judgment. Like what I’m doing isn’t a real art form or what I’m doing is to be censored or shamed. It is very challenging to be a professional naked person these days. The algorithms do not favor people like me and we are usually confined to the shadows of social media. In that sense, it makes it very difficult to promote shows or classes and to reach new audiences. But we are out here!

On a personal note, I have alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out. I’ve had this since I was 6 years old and I’ve had varying degrees of severity along the way. I had a really bad bout with it almost 10 years ago and I kept it a secret. I really struggled with portraying a sexually empowered and desirable woman while I was losing heaps of hair everyday in the shower. It was a dark time for me and I did all that I could to hide it. I lived with this pain and burden for 2 years in silence until one day, I couldn’t take it anymore. In 2018, I decided to make, The Big Reveal, a video where I took off my wig and told the world what I was struggling with. I thought I was going to lose everything but I was willing to take that risk because I had already lost myself. To my surprise, the venues supported me 100%, as did my fans and my friends. I began living authentically and out loud. No more cover ups. No more turbans or wraps or wigs. This is when I found my true beauty and true confidence and I am passionate about helping others live authentically. We have one life and it is freeing when we stop living for others and start living for ourselves.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I like to describe my performance style as ‘elegant raunch’. I love to play with an audience and connect with them in really intense ways but also offer a smile and some mischief along the way.

My goal is to provide an antidote to the manufactured sexuality that we see everyday. I’m offering an alternative approach to beauty and self acceptance. We’re living in a time where individuality is being commodified by homogenizing our look through filters and more. It’s very bizarre. Everyone is walking around with the same eyebrows and the same body. It’s overwhelming and a bit sad to me. One of the things I say to myself when I am backstage and maybe feeling a bit insecure or I feel like I don’t fit in, is ‘Stand in your difference.’ To me, difference and truth are the most beautiful traits. I want people to see me. When I perform, I am not a character. I’m highlighting different aspects of my personality. Sometimes I’m romantic, sometimes playful, sometimes a steamy siren. They all exist in the same body.

When I teach or coach, I don’t offer a one size fits all approach. I listen. It all starts with intention. I ask a lot of questions and I really learn what the other person feels they need and what their intention is. I’m not looking to make people more like me. I’m looking to support others as they become more like themselves.

The same goes when I’m on set as an intimacy coordinator. Of course I have a vision, but my job is to serve the vision of the director and the project all while upholding consent and boundaries of the actors. I find that my experience as a hyper exposed performer and as a teacher and coach really help me in times on set when insecurities are heightened and people are in vulnerable states.

After over 20 years in this business, I’m really proud of how I have navigated this world with integrity and stayed true to myself, knowing that who I am continues to grow and evolve. I’m grateful for the time and experiences I’ve had on stage and right now, I feel really fulfilled in my teaching, coaching, intimacy coordination and producing Bust For Laughs.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that there is always something to do and you never know who you’re going to meet. I love being in a city where there is energetic momentum. Everyone is TRYING. Everyone is DOING. I always say that I want to be the least interesting person in the room and I love that that can happen here.

I also love the nature. The hikes and the ocean. I’m totally charmed by this city. I don’t even mind the traffic. I know, I know. But honestly, as a Chicago girl, I can tell you the traffic is much worse there and there aren’t even pretty palm trees to look at while you sit in it.

I love the history here. The old glamour. The success and the heartbreak. The possibilities!

What I don’t like, are people who take advantage of artists and their dreams. How do they sleep at night?

What I like least is the rent!

Pricing:

• Bust For Laughs – March 6 at Three Clubs – $25-$250
• Coaching – $200-$1000
• Burlesque mentorship – $200-$1000
• Intimacy Coordination – depends on the scale of project

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.michellelamour.com
• Instagram: @michellelamour @bustforlaughs @theexperttease

Image Credits
Joshua Shultz
Chase Stevens
Bettina May
Hazel von Houston
Gina Barbara
Aldon Baker