Rising Stars: Meet Miss Tosh

Rising Stars: Meet Miss Tosh

VOYAGE LA FULL ARTICLE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miss Tosh.

Hi Miss Tosh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Burlesque & Showbiz has been a part of my family lineage for generations. Right before the turn of the century in late 1800’s my family traveled by train from Chicago to the seaside of showbiz, Venice Beach, CA. My Great-Great Grandmother “Mazie Evans” was a vaudevillian star during the roaring 1920’s performing her infamous strong man duet on the Venice Beach Boardwalk in her vintage striped swimwear with gentleman partner sporting a handlebar mustache. She performed and produced a vaudeville Revue in 1927 at the Historic Globe Theater in DTLA. 94 years later, carrying on in her footsteps I founded “Beauty of Burlesque,” a variatease production that celebrates the glitz, glamour, and the precision of the art. Carrying  on the showbiz legacy, “Beauty of Burlesque” will be running monthly at the Globe Theater in DTLA.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a self-funded queer businesswoman working in the entertainment industry comes with many challenges. I have always advocated for diversity, shining the spotlight on Lgbtqai +, Poc, Body Positivity and differently-abled talent. Not everyone has always celebrated the concept of inclusivity. I have faced a lot of pushback from a very homophobic, sexist, and racist portion of the industry. Navigating peoples’ blatant efforts to see that our productions fail has been a feat of grace and defiance, to say the least. But for every hater there is ten times the love coming in from our fans and team. I don’t let the negativity derail me because I have a louder purpose. I hope that my journey can inspire others to go for their dreams and know that they are worthy of all they dream of.

 Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

“Miss Tosh, the world-renowned burlesque performer and designer, who holds a devotional clasp on the tradition of the craft. Her presence has been one which cultivated and champions the contemporary beauty of LGBTQIA+, body positive and POC figures while shattering the institutional white hetero-gaze which has long been so deeply rooted int the craft’s identity.” – QOOA

I am a queer burlesque star, entrepreneur, designer, & producer known for my dazzling haute-couture burlesque performances, Hollywood productions and LGBTQAI + advocacy. My work pays homage to the aesthetics of the past while flipping the script on what a contemporary burlesque show can be. Showing the audience that lgbtqai+ people have a significant role influencing the entertainment industry of yesterday and today. I believe it is time for marginalized individuals to take center stage. In all my work, I advocate for inclusivity & diversity, showcasing talent and supporting artists of diverse backgrounds.

I have produced and performed for events and fundraiser such as Beauty of Burlesque, Drive-In Burlesque: Creature Feature, Vogue, Lady Gaga & Brian Newman: After Dark, The Glamour Ball, Envie!, HRC Party for a Cause, The Blade Awards, Oxford University, NYC World Pride, Tokyo Pride, Insomniac, Montreal Burlesque Festival, and toured all over Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

I am an established artist and designer with over ten years of experience in the fashion industry. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fashion from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2014 I founded Miss Tosh Collection, a luxurious lifestyle brand influenced by old Hollywood starlets and kitsch vibrancy. The collection features apparel, accessories, footwear, and home goods.

It has taken ten years to grow my brand from the ground up, cutting and sewing dresses on the living room floor while dancing Ballet to working in strip clubs to pay my way through college. I never turned down an opportunity to learn and grow.

I also moonlight as a production designer for music videos, stop motion and Hollywood films. You can see my most recent puppeteer work in upcoming film “Good Mourning with a U” directed by Machine Gun Kelly & Mod Sun starring Megan Fox, Zach Villa, Whitney Cummings and more. I built the hero sets for the Apple Holiday Commercial 2019. A fully practical functioning set for the animated characters to exist in. I have also worked on music videos as choreographer and hero prop fabricator for Katy Perry’s “Cozy Little Christmas.” And dressing Bebe Rexha for the cover of Ellen Von Unwerth’s “Von Magazine.”

As an artist, I wear many hats and feel very fortunate to be able to express my self in so many different avenues. Grateful that the creative industries trust me to produce the vision and that I am not limited by one craft.  From a young club kid dancing on bar tops in the local gay bars to now being a leader is the entertainment industry is bigger and better than I had ever dreamed of. I hope my story shows that hard work really does pay off when your heart is in for the right reasons. I followed my passion and fought for my opportunity to shine. Now I have the privilege of offering opportunities to artists from around the world. Despite any challenges I have faced, it has all been worth it. I am excited for what the future holds.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

For all the Voyage readers please Enjoy 20% OFF tickets to my show “ Beauty of Burlesque” Using Discount Code: VOYAGE

Beauty of Burlesque
Tickets: www.BeautyofBurlesque.com
@beautyofburlesque

Shop Miss Tosh Collection
www.MissTosh.com
@misstosh

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