Kat’s the cream of Burlesque

A SOUTHSIDE based German beauty is celebrating after winning the first ever Miss Burlesque Ireland competition.

Kat Moiselle, from Kilmainham, was crowned during the final at the Button Factory in Temple Bar on July 19 after wowing judges with stunning performances in three Burlesque categories.

The multi-talented entertainer took up Burlesque back in 2011 after attending shows in Ireland and has spent the past three years perfecting her now near-flawless performance.

Risqué Burlesque striptease shows featuring provocatively dressed female cabaret artists were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries and in recent years there’s been a resurgence of the tradition.

But despite its slightly dodgy past, 27-year-old Kat says modern Burlesque is a true art form – and really good fun!

“It’s about telling a story using your body, costume and personality,

? she tells Southside People.

“It’s often comedic and sometimes it includes dance or parody.

“Striptease is a tool used to aid the creation of an entertaining performance but it’s not a must or a given. To start with, you need to have a great idea, then it’s on to picking music and sourcing costumes and finally you need to be able to sell your story to an audience.

?

It took Kat a year of practice before she had enough confidence to grace a stage with her act but since then it’s become a central part of her life, even when she’s not practicing or performing.

“I make most of my costumes myself because they are so specific and need to be tailored to my acts,

? she says.

“It takes anything from an hour to several weeks to complete an outfit and I use all kinds of materials and techniques to create them.

“It’s very much ‘learning by doing’ when you’re trying to translate an idea into a wearable costume.

?

Kat’s act has been described as a unique mix of humour and glamour that can bring high energy and buckets of sparkles to any event. On stage she can be scandalous, quirky, shy, energetic, dazzling, funny, sexy, or all of the above, but says her act is always a reflection of her true self.

Kat’s first stage success came when won ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Dublin Burlesque Festival in 2012. Since then she’s worked on her performance on stages all over Ireland and abroad.

And while she’s become confident and comfortable with her talent, winning the Miss Burlesque Ireland title still came as something of a shock.

“I can honestly say I was in surprised shock while they put THE giant crown on me,

? she laughs.

“I gave a very wobbly speech because I was so overwhelmed.

“At least I remembered to thank my fellow contestants for being such team players and for their support throughout the competition. My long-suffering boyfriend, who had helped build props and with countless other chores, also got a mention.

“I entered into the competition in the hope that it would be a valuable learning experience and would raise my profile as a performer. It also seemed like a great opportunity to bring Burlesque to a much wider audience and promote our local scene positively.

“The real motivation for me was to push myself to my personal best as a performer and improve on all levels in the progress.

“Of course I did catch myself imagining wearing that sparkly crown from time to time but I think everyone who enters into a competition does. I spent a lot of time working on costumes, rehearsing and promoting myself and the competition in the run up to the event.

“On the day itself I tried to not stress at all. I knew I had done all I could and the rest was down to the judges.

“The competition was stiff and I wasn’t sure how my final performance was going to be judged; It included a giant yellow tutu and a lot of silly facial expressions, but it was very me.

“But I really couldn’t have achieved this incredible success without the help and constant support of dozens of friends and fans, encouragement from family, the generous sponsorship of local business such as Dirty Fabulous, John Farrington Antiques and Locks and Lashes, and opportunities I was given within the performing arts community.

“I will wear my title with pride and gratitude.

?