Molly Moonstone: “It's Perfectly Normal To Be Bi”

By Jennie Roberson

February 24, 2022

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Photo credit: Photo/Pinup Kulture

I first came across the work of today’s subject, Molly Moonstone, by way of another interviewee, Bitsy la Bourbon. Bourbon’s cabaret show about consent culture, Cabaret Consensual (which is an extension of MoreThanNo.org) brought in this Finnish burlesque dancer for a performance — and it was, without question, the showstopper of the night. It also happened to be the show where Moonstone came out as bi.

Moonstone is, in every sense of the word, a true artist. Recently I was lucky enough to conduct an email interview with the dancer covering a wide swath of subjects — from Elvis to body positivity to Phoenix and everything in between. Read more below.

Molly Moonstone in front of a garden wearing a colorful dress and posing with a flower.
Photo/Isaia Mays

JENNIE ROBERSON: How did you come to identify as bi or queer?

Molly Moonstone: It was at a very young age. I guess I was around nine years old, and I went to some camp with my friend for a weekend; I remember there was a women's volleyball game, and one of the players just kinda got my eye. I remember being very confused about it at first, like, “why [do] I feel this way towards a woman? This can't be normal cause I'm a girl, and she's a woman; I should like boys.” But then I realized that I liked them both.

What has your experience been like being out as a bi artist and burlesque performer?

MM: For me, it's been very easy; the burlesque community is very open-minded, and many performers are bi or queer. I kind of "came openly out" as bi in a show in Los Angeles in 2017. It was a show produced by the More Than "No" organization which is all about bisexuality and sexual minority in general. That was the first time I publicly said it on my social media, though it has never been a secret. I just hadn't said it out loud in public before.

That’s where I first saw your work — I didn't know that that was when you first came out! Honored to have been present for that special moment.

MM: I guess it’s always been so obvious to me that I haven’t had to make a big number or an announcement about it. Being bi has just always been part of who I am. But when I did that show, I just wanted to honor the idea of the show, and I made a post about it on my social media and said it out loud to my followers. Happy that you saw that show!

How do you see yourself as an artist, and how does being bi fold into that?

MM: I guess I'd say I'm quite bold as an artist.

Some might say I'm an erotic artist. I know my burlesque acts and my stage presence are quite sexy. I don’t know where the sexual energy comes from, but it's something that comes naturally from me. It is just what it is.

And I mainly paint or draw nude women, so I guess that's where you can see me being bi. I have just always found the female body so extremely beautiful and inspiring. I actually still have my very first drawing that I made at the age of 2, and it is a picture of a woman. [Laughs] Surprise, surprise!

Is there anything about yourself you would like to know that maybe isn’t part of your public persona?

MM: Well, my public persona is very confident and loud and social, but in my "real life," I'm actually quite quiet. I like to be alone a lot — just me and my two cats.

And I'm a bit of a nerd. I love puzzles and cross-stitch work.

I'm also a workaholic; my art is my whole life.

And my family is the most important thing for me in life; my two sisters and brother are my everything. They mean the world to me.

How did you get into burlesque dancing?

MM: I went to a burlesque dance class in the summer [of] 2012 that was taught by the Finnish burlesque legend Bettie Blackheart.

Bettie had actually asked me to come try burlesque in 2009, but back then, I thought it was something weird and too underground for me. [Laughs] The truth is that I didn't have a clue what burlesque was!

I'm glad I decided to go to that class in 2012 because I fell in love with burlesque immediately! And [then] I did my very first solo act in October 2013.

Molly Moonstone posing in a home setting wearing a leopard print dress and looking to her side with a hand on her waist
Photo/Mitzi Valenzuela

I’ve seen you experiment onstage with themes as varied as religious fanaticism to Elvis to making yourself into a one-woman whiskey version of Old Faithful. Do you have a favorite element you like to play with in burlesque?

MM: I guess my favorite act is the whiskey act. It is just so much fun to play with the whiskey on stage! I love the energy I have in that act.

I also sing quite often in my acts. That’s [a] little something special. I originally started as a singer when I started to perform professionally when I was nineteen years old.

What’s something surprising about performing burlesque people wouldn’t expect?

MM: People don't know how much time and effort it takes to put many of those burlesque costumes on. And how you have to tape your privates so that you're "safe" on stage [laughs.] It is insane that it usually takes 2-3 hours to put on your stage makeup and costume, and then it's all off on stage in five minutes!

You’ve done a lot of traveling to do your shows worldwide, but you’ve mentioned multiple times that Phoenix has a special pull for you and that you’d like to live there. What is it about that city that draws you in?

MM: I don't know what it is, but right away, when I went there for the first time in 2017, it just felt like home. I became part of the community immediately, and the people there really felt like my family. They’re all so nice and kind and friendly; they just took me [in] as part of their community with open arms.

I love the atmosphere there and the landscape. Even the weather I absolutely love! It is so different compared to Finland. I don't know what it is about the desert weather, but my skin is just perfect there. The dry heat suits my body.

You’ve been open in the past about having body dysmorphia and about displayingnot hiding — your surgical scars. What’s a message you wish you could give to those who have suffered from body dysmorphia?

MM: I know it's tough, and I guess you can never get 100% over it. I still have those days when it's very hard for me to look at myself in the mirror, and the only things I see are the "flaws" in my body, even though I know it's not true.

You just need [to] accept those days and that it's part of the healing process. You need to remember to be kind to yourself and show some mercy towards your body. Your body is unique and magical, and it doesn't hate you, so don't hate it — love it. Remember to love yourself, love your body. It's a blessing we all are different and that we have different-looking bodies.

Molly Moonstone laying on a bed with her legs crossed wearing a sequenced outfit. Looking to her side.
Photo/Patrice Sabourin

Much of your work — burlesque and with your paintings — leans towards a retro, mid-20th-century, rockabilly aesthetic. What is it about that style that attracts you to it and keeps you coming back to use it in your art?

MM: I just really like the mid-century style and aesthetics. I love the colors they used back then and [the] designs and graphics. That era just keeps inspiring me year after year! I also really love the music from that era and, of course, the cartoons. Something about that time feels like home.

I guess that is part of the reason why I also love Phoenix so much. Many of their buildings represent the mid-century style.

Your recent collection of paintings with male same-sex lovers caused a bit of a stir in the Finland art scene, getting coverage in newspapers. Talk about that.

MM: Yes, that was crazy! I received so many comments and messages from angry people who got really offended by those paintings! I remember one man even commenting that he'd rather get an overdose of heroin than look at my paintings of two men kissing. I mean, what on earth?!

It was really surprising, ‘cause I thought in the 2020s people are already open about this kinda art and pics, but apparently, I was wrong! Many thought my art was vulgar and should not be shown publicly, even though the men in those paintings weren't even naked.

My point was to make paintings about male couples showed in the same kinda pictures we usually see heterosexual couples — you know, kissing, holding hands, showing tenderness towards each other.

But I'm glad it got the media attention. We really need to see more [of] these kinds of images in public, ‘cause love is beautiful. It doesn’t matter if it's a same-sex couple or a heterosexual couple. Love is love. That's it.

Is there anything I didn’t cover that you’d like to make sure we talk about? Any upcoming projects or shows you would like to promote?

MM: Well, actually, I'm happy to tell you that I'll be part of the Arizona Tiki Oasis Festival's art exhibition this year! I'm so excited to be one of the artists and get my painting there. Arizona is my second home, so it's an honor to be there as a “homegirl." And I'll be making a new burlesque act this year; it's been a long time since I made one cause of COVID and [have] not been able to perform. But this year, I'll be back in business!

Finally: Do you have any advice for those who are newly identifying as bi, and/or any advice you wish you could give to your younger self before you came out?

MM: Just be yourself and be true to yourself. There's nothing wrong with you. It's perfectly normal to be bi. I know it might feel scary or confusing when you're young, but luckily these days, people are so much more open about these things than back in the days when I was younger.

I've always thought I'm lucky, ‘cause I'm able to feel attracted to both men and women. It’s who I am. It doesn't make me a freak; I'm just a normal woman.

Molly with her arms on her waist wearing a bright colored corset looking in the mirror with a confident expression.
Photo/Psylent Pictures

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