Meet Feisty Fuego | Burlesque Performer, Event Producer, Artist, & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Feisty Fuego and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Feisty, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Finding purpose in what I do brings me the most happiness. Creating for the sake of creating can be self-serving, but creating with intention keeps my drive in check while giving me something to look forward to during the difficult depths of the process.

I strive to create work that makes others feel excited, included, inspired, and full of wonder. Life is difficult enough, so finding moments of joy and bliss is essential in this human journey. If I can tap into that need and connect with someone even for just a brief moment, then it all feels worth it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I found burlesque in 2010, and since then, I have been completely enthralled. Burlesque has seeped into all my artistic expressions. I paint, create costumes, produce events, and write, and in every form, burlesque has found its way into that expression as a source of inspiration.

I started doing “Painting with Rhinestones,” where I incorporate stones and jewelry that once adorned costumes into a canvas format. When I quit drinking, I began attending other burlesque shows to do quick draws and sketches of performers during their acts as a method to keep my hands busy in the presence of alcohol.

Last year, I started focusing on larger-scale events like PeculiariTEASE and Sultry Haze, which encompass a variety of my passions, including writing and spoken word, all within the vein of burlesque and nightlife entertainment.

I strive to create moments in time where people can leave their problems at the door and just exist in hope and wonder. I want people to collectively feel united in our messy and silly weirdness and hopefully leave with a smile and excitement that will make living just a little bit easier.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would have to go to Gloria’s Taco Shop in Golden Hill. It’s a longtime favorite spot of mine. Then, we would take some time to skate at Skateworld during Coffee Clutch. We would have to grab bahn mi at Cali Baguette Express and spend an afternoon relaxing at Yu Spa. We would go thrifting in Hillcrest and grab a coffee at Cafe Bassam. Eventually, we would catch a show at the Casbah, and you can’t go out without ending your night at Turf Club. Depending on how we feel, we might wake up and skate at Liberty Station before it becomes hot and crowded.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am today if it were not for my community. From my family’s encouragement, to the teachers and mentors in my life, to the spaces created that have allowed me to explore and grow, there is no part of this artistic journey that I could have done completely on my own.

When it comes to burlesque, my pillar has been Ginger N. Whiskey. She is my co-producer for Whiskey & Fuego, best friend, wifey-for-lifey, and has taught me so much just through her existence. I’ve learned how to better communicate my vision, think more about details, and curate with purpose.

My family has long been a source of inspiration and drive. My partner has believed in me even when I have struggled to see my own value. Becoming a mother taught me that I never wanted my child to think they have to give up part of themselves in order to care for others.

There are so many spaces in San Diego that have been created to give me a chance to explore and evolve. From pop-up shows by local producers, to dance spaces like Flaunt Dance Studios where we get a chance to lean into our sexy, to the venues that give us the opportunities to create, they have been integral to my growth and development.

Big shoutouts to Sycamore Den, Riviera Supper Club, Queen Bee’s, and Tenth Avenue Arts Center for their continued support and for allowing us space to create.

Website: https://www.feistyfuego.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feistyfuego/

Other: August 17th PeculiariTEASE at Tenth Avenue Arts Center. Tickets: https://www.feistyfuego.com/event-details/feisty-fuego-presents-peculiaritease-2

Image Credits
Credits
Slowhand Photography. MUAH and Costuming Feisty Fuego.

The Lonely Eyelid Photography. Ginger N. Whiskey and Feisty Fuego at Burlesque Boogie Nights at the Sycamore Den.

Behind the Scenes at Great Gig in The Sky produced by Whiskey & Fuego at Tenth Avenue Arts Center. Captured by The Lonely Eyelid Photography.

Whiskey & Fuego promoting Frisky Funk at the Riviera Supper Club captured by The Lonely Eyelid Photography.

Feisty Fuego at Frisky Funk captured by The Lonely Eyelid Photography.

Feisty Fuego at Frisky Funk captured by The Lonely Eyelid Photography.

Painting with Rhinestones by Feisty Fuego.

Feisty Fuego behind the scenes at Sultry Haze captured by The Lonely Eyelid Photography.