My awesome interview with the fabulous Egypt Blaque Knyle. I must say, " thank you ", to her again for taking the time to answer all 30 questions. I'm sure all her fans will adore this lengthy interview. I'm a fan of burlesque and a fan of hers. " Egypt goddess of the Nile ruler of hearts taker of souls and temptress of seduction" 1. Burlesque and pinup. How did you begin, when and where? Urban Fairytails”. At that time I was also taking burlesque classes with Lili Vonschtupp at her school Lili’s School for Wayard Girls. In 2013 I graduated and officially became a burlesque performer. I came across Pin Up in 2015 but never took it to serious until I won the Pin Up Perfection Queen in Pittsburgh in 2016. 2. Where do you currently live and perform? I currently live in Los Angeles, California and perform all over the world. 3. To date what is your biggest accomplishment or achievement? Or what are the biggest? To date my biggest accomplishment in burlesque is being the first and only Performer of Color and Performer period to hold the most titles and awards in Burlesque History. 4. Do you perform burlesque full time, as a career, part time or as a hobby? Burlesque started off as a hobby but now has become a part time job. In my muggle life I am a Social Worker working in HIV/AIDS, Mental Health and Homelessness. 5. Lots of burlesque performers, contests and pageants. Have to ever lost or didn't place 1st? If so did you continue to enter in he future? If so, why didn't you throw in the towel? I have been competing in beauty pageants since I was a child holding over 45 titles. This included Pre-Teen, Teen, Miss and Miss titles. In Burlesque I have competed in many festivals and pageants. I have lost about 5 or 6 but have won to date 27 awards and titles and still going. As a competitor you have to know how to lose just as you know how to win. You take it all as an experience and you find the weaknesses and the strengths in your performance and fine tune them, fix them or exchange them for a new performance. I look at it like it wasn’t meant to be and maybe next time if you choose to try again. 6. Do you feel politics has anything to do with burlesque contests? Meaning knowing the judges personally, someone entering that has 100k social media followers verses others who enter having a small fan base? Honestly, I think politics plays a role on many levels. It can be who you are, who you know. It can be the color of your skin or your weight. But then again it can also be what can you bring to the system? What are you doing in the community to create change? It can be so many things. 7. How important is investing money in burlesque as a performer or in pinup as a model? It’s very important to invest into you period. Sometimes investments don’t have to be how much you spent on a costume it can just be the time you invested to put the costume and the piece together. I don’t always live by the rule that you need thousands of rhinestones or crystals in order to have a great piece. You can go to a nice little fabric store and purchase a nice material and get the same effect. 8. Have you studied burlesque performers of the past? If so who's your favorite and why? I am a dancer so I really studied dancers of the past like Katherine Dunham, Raven Wilkinson, Martha Graham and to date Judith Jamison. Judith has been an inspiration to me since I first started to dance. She is always fighting for the kids and young adults to use Dance and the Arts as an outlet. As I she is an advocate for Encouraging Youth in the Arts. In the Burlesque I study Legends such as Toni Elling, Lottie the Body, Gina Bon Bon, Tiffany Carter, Camille 2000 and Stephanie Blake. All of these women exude confidence, courage, sexappeal and they continue to fight for the rights of others. I am truly humbled to be amongst them all. 9. Who's your favorite burlesque performers of today? Have you ever worked with them or are you, your favorite burlesque performers of today? My favorite performers of today are Poison Ivory, Sweetpea, Perle Noire, Jeez Louees, Red Bone, Dirty Martini, Jessabelle Thunder. OMG! There are so many. I have taken classes with Perle Noire this woman has knocked down many doors for black performers to be creative and expressive. She is the Mother who keep us on our toes and push us to stay motivated and Inspired. I have headlined in Jeez Louees’s “Jeezy Juke Joint” in Chicago. Jeez was the first person to crown me as her successor with a Queen title at the Southern Fried Burlesque Festival in Atlanta, GA. Jessabelle Thunder is the reason I even came into burlesque and now we are personal friends and we have performed on many stages together. I have had the honor to share stages with Redbone who is a mentor, my sister, friend, etc… I love Sweetpea because she is a powerful dancer who just put it all out there on the stage. I am honored to have her as a mentor as well. Dirty Martini I have met but we have never performed together or sat down and had a conversation. Dirty Martini has created spaces for women and inspired them to be comfortable in their own skin. Last but not least Miss Poison Ivory! I love this woman with all of my heart. We are each others confidant. We inspire and motivate each other we help each other set goals and stay on the right path. Even when we are not feeling well we will call each other to cheer the other one up. I love all of these women for so many reasons. 10. How essential to being an overall success in burlesque today, do you feel publicity, press and publication are? It’s very important as a burlesque performer to have much publicity, press and publication. You have to get your name out there to get bookings and draw awareness to who you are. People always want to know who you are if you are nice or mean. People want to know your story. 11. Did you ever have any formal dance training before beginningin burlesque? If so where and how long? Yes I started dancing at the age of 4 years old here in Los Angeles, CA. I have danced my entire life being a part of many dance companies. I was the first cast of Disney’s Lion King where I danced as a tribal crane and moved on to Hercules as a Muse and other great shows. I cheered for professional cheerleading teams, I taught dance at Jr high and high schools. I was a video vixen featuring and dancing in videos. I am known as a legend in the urban strip clubs not because of age but because of performance and community advocacy and promoting education. I have always been a praise dancer. Something that is very dear to my heart. Praise dancing is my tranquility and an outlet to assist with my challenges in my everyday life its Food for my Soul. 12. Here in Vegas we have many live shows. And we have places that only present and showcase professional burlesque performers. Solo and in group performances. These shows run every week. There are companies that hire pro burlesque performers to perform every week with a contract, here in Vegas and all over the world. What is your take on that? Do they have similar shows and places of business where you live? I feel that producers can run their show how they want. I feel there is a place for all types of performers at all levels, having professional shows is what helps us develop as performers. To have a professional show you must present professionalism all around. That’s what keeps the business afloat. My only concern is when certain races and or sizes are being booked under contract regardless of performance level. Professional performers come in all races and sizes and we need to keep the diversity going in order to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. 13. When you began performing burlesque what was your goal ahead of time or did it just fell into your lap? My goal was to just get away from my office job and continue dancing. All I wanted was to just dance in my own community to stay active. 14. Do you have a supportive family when it comes to your performances? Oh yes my entire family are very supportive. My family support s everything I do as long as I am not hurting anyone. 15. People I'm sure have many assumptions about pay within every field of entertainment. Have you ever performed for free? If so what were the benefits? On average what do you make per show? I have performed for free when I was just starting out. The benefits for me were to be seen in order to receive future bookings. In anything you do people want to see the product before they purchase. On average it varies for each show on pay which is always negotiated if need be. 16. What projects, plans or goals are you currently working on? What's exciting and new that will be happening in the rest of 2016? As of now I am planning my all POC pageant called “The Bronze Beauties of Burlesque Pageant”. This pageant will be held like a regular beauty pageant. It is not just based on performance but style, grace and community service. I am also competing is Switzerland, Basel in September which I am very excited. 17. From packing to styling, drive time, wait time, performance and you get home, how long of a day have you had? On performing days there are never enough hours in the day. From leaving my day job in Social Services to going to my Night Job in Social Services lol. I am always rushing. 18. Name your most favorite thing about burlesque? Name something you absolutely hate. My most favorite thing about Burlesque is the tease, the illusion and fantasy. I hate the politics. 19. On average, every year how much do you investin your career? On average how much do you make? I invest a lot into my career. Once again it varies. 20. Do you wear tassels in your acts? Ever had a wardrobe malfunction? Is there any particular garments you would never perform or model in? Yes I wear tassels in my act. Yes I have had many malfunctions. As of now there are no particular garments I would never perform in. 21. Do you have representation? Manager, agent, sponsor or publicity manager? No I do not have representation other than myself and my art. 22. Have you seen or personally experience with racism within burlesque? Yes I have personally encountered racism within burlesque. 23. What do you know about the history of the iconic Jet Magazine? I know it was called the Negro Bible and it was geared toward African American readers. It was started in the 1950’s and they had the best articles on Beauty of the Month. I just wish the Beauty of the Month section really gave the entire story about the owner of that pretty face and body. 24. What are your thoughts and feelings about becoming a Jet Beauty of the Week? I am so grateful to be chosen as a possible Jet Beauty. I would love the world to know my story. I think people to need to know that we are not just sex symbols or women who show off their bodies. We are women with children, degrees and goals. 25. How do you feel about today’s pinups and burlesque performers of color? I feel that today we are still fighting for a place in both. There will only be a few trailblazers that will really have an impact within pin up and burlesque. Some are still fighting for EQUALITY! But why? We will never be equal as long as we are still among the close minded societies and communities. It’s not us as African Americans who are enslaved it’s the others who are enslaved mentally. 26. Tell us your take on Dita? I really love Dita. There is so much I have learned about her pertaining to dance, being a brand, and just being a human. My experience with Dita so far has been a very positive one. She is open to answering any questions I may have. She’s honest and that’s always a plus. I want people to understand that this woman studied dance her entire life but also realize she’s a brand and her brand is what’s good for business. I was amazed when I won her award during Viva Las Vegas 20. It was the first time this type of award has ever been presented by her and I am truly honored. I assumed she would have chosen a more classical burlesque performer. But afterwards I learned that she was entertained as soon as the curtains opened as I stood there on a platform channeling Michael Jackson. That’s when I also learned she is a trained dancer and she really appreciated the energy, creativity and just the way I showed passion in my performance. 27. Tell us your take on Viva Rockabilly Weekender here in Vegas? Burlesque contests, performances and burlesque bingo! I love VLV. The Burlesque contest of course is my favorite and I want that portion to grow and diversify. Every performance is unique and every performer comes to slay the stage if it’s the competition, showcase and or bingo. 28. What do you see an aspiring to become a professional burlesque performer, biggest challenge is? The biggest challenge for an aspiring burlesque performer is being able to stand as an individual and not jump on the popularity train. I see upcoming performers trying to be noticed by indulging in unnecessary conversations and or drama. I understand taking a stance for what you believe in but you can’t believe in everything because your favorite performer believes in it. You have to find you. 29. What advice would you give a burlesque doll just beginning? My advice for a new performer is to find you, master your art, find what makes you unique and different from others and move forward and stay focused on your goals. Create change and be the change. 30. Do you feel burlesque is more popular now because there's way more performers or back in the past? Definitely burlesque is more popular now because there are more performers. A lot of people never heard of our legends and they don’t know of the past. They may only know the name Dita Von Teese and think she is the only Burlesque star to date. Pinup Talk host Dianna Prince https://www.facebook.com/PinupTalkDiannaPrince/ Egpyt Knyle @egyptknyle EGYPT BLAQUE KNYLE
"The Black Siren" Award Winning Burlesque Dancer Miss Hollywood Burlesque 2017/2018 Dita Von Teese Choice Award "Viva Las Vegas 2017 Miss Viva Las Vegas Princess 2017 Queen of Texas Burlesque "Best Solo" Texas Burlesque Festival 2017 21st Century Burlesque Top 50 #38 2016 Unsung Hero Award for HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention 2016 Miss San Antonio Burlesque Queen 2016 Burlypicks World Championship Games "Overall Winner" 2016 Master of Assels "Burlypicks Int'l" 2016 Best Dancer "Burlypicks Int'l" 2016 Most Fierce "Burlypicks Int'l" 2016 Best Costume "Burlypicks Int'l" 2016 Legends Choice "Burlypicks Int'l " 2016 Miss Pin Up Perfection Queen 2016 Most Entertaining "AburlyQ" 2016 California Burlypicks "Gold Medalist" 2016 California Burlypicks "Master of Assels" 2016 Miss Viva Las Vegas Princess 2016 Sparkly Devil Scholarship Winner BHOF 2016 Best Soloist "Great Burlesque Exposition" 2016 Most Erotic "Hollywood Burlesque Festival 2015" Queen of Southern Fried Burlesque Festival 2015 People Choice Award "Southern Fried Burlesque Festival" 2015 Biggest Tease "Oklahoma Burlesque Festival 2015" Silver Medal Winner "CA Burlypicks 2015" Princess of the Great Southern Burlesque Festival 2014/15 Egypt goddess of the Nile ruler of hearts taker of souls and temptress of seduction
2 Comments
fred
12/27/2017 07:38:27 am
Interesting article. I wonder if indeed this is more popular today then in the past. I also found it interesting that she performed free when starting out. Yes this built exposure but I am guessing confidence as well. Social media including this article should help as well.
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Egypt
12/27/2017 07:57:42 am
Thank you Fred. I really hope that this article will help other performers work hard at their craft and really go for it.
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