Meet Chanel St Sin | Published Model & Award Winning Burlesque Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chanel St Sin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chanel, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I started out in modeling I was young and I was constantly told that I had to lose weight, that they weren’t gonna want me unless I was a certain size. I worked so hard to stay a small size, & that’s all I thought about. I developed an eating disorder as a teenager and then when I gained weight I quit modeling because I wasn’t the size as when I started. I thought I wasn’t the size I was supposed to be so they weren’t going to want me. I got into burlesque much later in life, & there is such a diverse look, all shapes and sizes are celebrated. When I started burlesque I was told by outsiders I was too big to be on stage, that my career wouldn’t go very far. And that really just gave me fuel to continue on my path to get into burlesque and I studied hard with many different teachers that are very well-known. I was able to debut here in Houston with Dem Damn Dames and I just felt like I was exactly where I needed to be. After I debuted I had so many women come up to me and tell me how inspiring I was, and how I made then feel good about themselves. That when they saw me on the stage they saw themselves and they felt beautiful. That lit a fire under me to make sure that everything that I do is body positive and uplifting. As women I feel that we are pitted against each other from a young age to always compete. To always try to look better than the next woman and I feel like that’s a toxicity that needs to be taken out of society. I love using my platform to inspire, encourage, and empower anyone I come across. We need that most in the world.

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.
Throughout my time as a burlesque performer and a model Finding your self is a journey in itself my aesthetic is more classic burlesque meets pastel goth. It hasn’t been easy because there’s always challenges and obstacles that try to derail you. I’m excited to start a chapter in photography along with continuing my path of performance and pictures. I’ve been on hiatus this year because I am battling metastatic breast cancer. But I’m still reaching for my goals and setting the bar high for myself. Go big or go home lol that my motto. I’m always pushing myself to be edgy, different, like kinda of a bad girl type, and I’m always pushing my comfort zone. I’m also continuing the good fight for body positivity and keeping the doors open for all sizes modeling. And I’m not the first there’s plenty of amazing women who also make this happen here in Houston.

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?
Ohh that’s a good question. Of course we have to hit all the taco places, street tacos is probably my favorite food ever. Las Brasas Tacos and Grill always has the best looking food, Torcheys Tacos of course Chuys is another favorite. I also love to cook so I’d probably cook at home. I’m a huge fan of museums. I love photography so I discovery green and a few awesome spots for photo opps like the art district, montrose and downtown would be on the agenda. Nightlife, well that’s easy BURLESQUE SHOWS! Every Tuesday Nikki Knockout has a show at the Pearl Bar, Every other Saturday Dahlia Derringer has a show at Darwin’s pub. Ghoulia Child has a show at Rudyards with the Rock N Roll Revue & Dan Electros she does Sing and Strip! Avant Garden hosts a burlesque show called The Short and Sweet Speakeasy, House of Blues will have a show hosted by Piper Daily soon and Burlesque Bingo with Kitty Corviar. It would be a fun filled week!

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 credit my success to my Burlesque Teachers and Mentors, Burlesque Legends Sequin, Satans Angel, Judith Stein and Gabriella Maze. Also Tifa Tittlywinks, Coco Lectric, Nikki Davaughn, Piper Daily, Bunny Gee, Ginger Valentine. My modeling career I thank my photographers of Houston, who helped get me published over and over. Thank you David Johnson, Bill Hunton, David Tjiok, David Sanchez, Genesis McCabe and Crown Studios, Bella Mari and Xade Graves and ShowGirl Studios and Megan Elizabeth.

Instagram: @chanelstsin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChanelStSin

Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdyt8cUd/

Image Credits
David Sanchez, Midnight Howl Photography, Midnight Howl Photography, Ron Maggard, David Johnson DAI Photography, Triple Moon Photography, Crown Studios Genesis Mcabe, Euphoric Woman Imaging Studios, Bella Mari Photography