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Why Sukki Singapora is no Dita Von Teese

SINGAPORE — She has been dubbed Asia’s answer to Dita Von Teese by the media. But if professional burlesque performer Sukki Singapora had her way, there would be no comparisons bandied about at all — be it to the American burlesque star or anyone else, for that matter.

Sukki Singapora, Singapore’s first burlesque performer, was in town to launch popular United States hair care brand HASK. Photo: Raj Nadarajan

Sukki Singapora, Singapore’s first burlesque performer, was in town to launch popular United States hair care brand HASK. Photo: Raj Nadarajan

SINGAPORE — She has been dubbed Asia’s answer to Dita Von Teese by the media. But if professional burlesque performer Sukki Singapora had her way, there would be no comparisons bandied about at all — be it to the American burlesque star or anyone else, for that matter.

“I’m very flattered to be called Asia’s, or Singapore’s, answer to something,” the Singapore-born 26-year-old, whose real name is Sukki Menon, told TODAY in a one-on-one interview on Aug 1.

“(But) I think the problem with current mainstream celebrity, and this is controversial, (is that) there’s a danger of Asian talent being whitewashed.”

Citing Indian actress Aishwarya Rai, she added passionately: “She’s (often pegged as) the Indian Angelina Jolie. No, she’s not — she’s Aishwarya Rai, a talented actress.

“So I don’t mind being called the answer to, say, Dita, but I think the ‘Singapore Dita Von Teese’ is passive racist.”

Indeed, Singapora, who has an Indian Singaporean father and British mother, is not one to shy away from making bold statements — especially about issues close to her heart.

These, of course, include burlesque, a theatrical performance which incorporates elements of cabaret, striptease, satire and music, among others. Singapora has been credited with getting the art form legalised in Singapore early last year.

The doe-eyed lass, a self-professed “staunch feminist”, now splits her time between Singapore, London and New York, where she organises the annual Asian Burlesque Festival. She was in town to launch popular United States hair care brand Hask, 
which is now available at Guardian and Cold Storage outlets here.

It is easy to see why Singapora was picked to be the brand’s ambassador. After all, you can say that her hair is quite literally her crowning glory. Though currently sporting a shockingly bright blue do, she estimates that she changes her hair colour every three months or so — something that sets her apart from the Western counterparts (ahem, Dita) she is so often compared with.

She explained cheekily: “Unlike burlesque stars of the West that might stick to one look, I think it’s cooler to mix things up, rather than be pigeonholed in this ‘this is how she looks’ thing.”

Not that she purposefully concerns herself with trying to stand out or differentiate herself from other burlesque artists.

“Burlesque is about finding your niche and something special and personal to you. For me, it was always about bringing my heritage (with some Bollywood influence) into my routines, promoting Singapore not just as a place where burlesque exists, but a place where there is an incredibly diverse arts scene,” she mused.

“I think that’s the great thing about burlesque. You can interpret it in any way you want so the routines are so different, that there is no true direct competition in that respect.”

Judging by her busy schedule, perhaps Singapora needn’t worry about competition for now. Besides her role as ambassador for Hask, the petite beauty also has London Fashion Week to look forward to next month.

She will also be back to perform at Boudoir Noire during the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix weekend. She had headlined the newly established two-day F1 after-party last year.

Asked about the ever-present detractors who view burlesque as a fancier form of stripping, Singapora said that she intends to keep on working to change misconceptions.

“It is a striptease but it’s not stripping. There’s no nudity, and not all of my routines are striptease,” she insisted. “It also doesn’t pigeonhole women into getting some crazy, hyper-sexualised ‘ideal’ body type. It celebrates all women of all shapes and sizes, of all ethnicities and of all backgrounds.”

Even having her conservative parents come around to accepting her chosen career is “a work a progress”, she admitted, adding that the fact that she was the first burlesque performer to be invited to Buckingham Palace for tea by the Queen has not swayed them.

“Every week, my dad still calls me up and asks me when I am going to get a real job. Parents are going to be parents,” she said with a smile.

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