Sharing a few stories of our amazing performers in this year's festival and this is one of many, that you will see this year at Ohio Burlesque Festival-
Meet Kimberlilly L'Amour from Lexington, KY
Meet Kimberlilly L'Amour from Lexington, KY
When you talk to Kimberlilly, she will strike you as a vibrant woman. Her burlesque journey started in March 2018. Prior to that, she found inspiration with social media through pole and burlesque accounts while she was bedridden fighting cancer. She made herself a promise that after her fight ended she would reclaim her body and femininity, on her terms, in her own way and that is exactly what she did the year of her 50th birthday, with her first show!
At the age of 47 (July 24th 2015), Kimberlilly L'Amour was diagnosed with Stage 2 Rectal Cancer, During the course of the first part of her fight, she had to undergo multiple chemo/radiation treatments before her scheduled surgery, but on November 11, 2015, she underwent a life threatening medical emergency, but to the surprise of the doctor, she successfully had pulled through. After seeing her life flash in front of her eyes, She made a choice that would alter her life even further as she chose to fully embrace the colostomy bag after some online research. Kimberlilly knew it came with a negative stigma but, she received it with a positive light and took full ownership of it. She did now allow cancer to strip her humanity away.
And so she went forward, with a new outlook on life.
At the age of 47 (July 24th 2015), Kimberlilly L'Amour was diagnosed with Stage 2 Rectal Cancer, During the course of the first part of her fight, she had to undergo multiple chemo/radiation treatments before her scheduled surgery, but on November 11, 2015, she underwent a life threatening medical emergency, but to the surprise of the doctor, she successfully had pulled through. After seeing her life flash in front of her eyes, She made a choice that would alter her life even further as she chose to fully embrace the colostomy bag after some online research. Kimberlilly knew it came with a negative stigma but, she received it with a positive light and took full ownership of it. She did now allow cancer to strip her humanity away.
And so she went forward, with a new outlook on life.
She shared the first time she embraced her new body and life, while on a vacation to Jamaica where had the desire to wear a bikini. She describes the nervousness which turned into a wash of positive energy, along with the neon colored bikini that she unapologetically rocked on that day. She owned her body with pride along with the power of her story and enjoyed a day on the beach along with some dance lessons. The second time, was for her premier burlesque show where she shifted her nervousness into excitement and debuted on her terms.
She excitedly took the stage and when the corset came off, the room fell silent and everyone erupted in applause and she knew she was fully seen.
Since then Kimberlilly has been performing burlesque for over a year and a half.
Kimberlilly, as a black woman at the age of 51, she tells us she is still evolving with the relationship with her body, Once she spoke her truth at the age of 27 and told her story of experiencing childhood abuse, she was able to begin the healing process. She describes herself as a grownup kid with some wisdom, who has been here for a while and is focused on healing, growing, living, loving, and inspiring people. She states, “there is still joy amidst the many hardships we all go through. We still smile, laugh, cry, love, and the gift of life after cancer, has helped me to become a better person to myself and everyone around me.
I’m just a broken vase glueing myself back together with gold”
Since then Kimberlilly has been performing burlesque for over a year and a half.
Kimberlilly, as a black woman at the age of 51, she tells us she is still evolving with the relationship with her body, Once she spoke her truth at the age of 27 and told her story of experiencing childhood abuse, she was able to begin the healing process. She describes herself as a grownup kid with some wisdom, who has been here for a while and is focused on healing, growing, living, loving, and inspiring people. She states, “there is still joy amidst the many hardships we all go through. We still smile, laugh, cry, love, and the gift of life after cancer, has helped me to become a better person to myself and everyone around me.
I’m just a broken vase glueing myself back together with gold”
The 9th annual International Ohio Burlesque Festival will be her 3rd festival and she is so excited to come to Cleveland to showcase her truth on Friday Night 2nd August at The Beachland Ballroom and we could not be more ecstatic to have her join us this year.
You can find her on instagram under @cancerwarriorcolostomyqueen
We are honored to have Kimberlilly L'Amour <3
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