Your identity is your greatest marketing tool. Authenticity is the fastest way to change the world — and your bank account. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be honest about who you are and who you were born to serve.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Perle Noire.
Perle Noire, the iconic burlesque queen, redefines sensuality and self-love through her captivating performances and transformative workshops. With roots in Josephine Baker’s essence, she empowers women to embrace their inner divas, fostering a deeper connection with themselves. Thanks to her signature burlesque workshop, Healing Through Seduction, she has helped over 6,000 women and femmes heal themselves through the art of burlesque.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Yes! I am so proud to share my backstory. My journey in wellness started with the art of burlesque. I taught myself how to heal from years of self-harm, internalized racism, body shame, and guilt around my sensuality, while also working through my mother wound through ritualistic burlesque performances and my self-seduction rituals. As a true burlesque living legend, queen, award-winning choreographer, and icon, I am more than just a performer, darling. I am a conjurer.
Through the sacred art of burlesque and my ancestral gifts, I create spaces for transformation, inviting women to shed old narratives and awaken their divine feminine power. With over two decades of performances, my career has taken me around the world. I’ve headlined at venues like the Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, Teatro Circo Price in Madrid, and Burlesque Royale Casino in Melbourne.
I’ve even had the honor of being the opening act for the legendary Diana Ross at the Paradise Club in Times Square and headlining at festivals like the Australian Burlesque Festival, the Vienna Boylesque Festival, and the World Buskers Festival in New Zealand.
Most importantly, I am a survivor who has used her voice and platform to encourage other survivors to reclaim their agency and rewrite their stories.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
One of the most interesting things that’s ever happened to me since I started my career was sharing the transformative power of burlesque in front of 1,000 business professionals, millionaires, spiritual coaches, and wellness leaders at The Millionaire Summit, created by Hello Seven.
The wild part? Just four years earlier, I couldn’t even get anyone to respond to my emails when I reached out to collaborate or asked to be featured on their podcasts or stages. People rejected the art of burlesque and dismissed my company, Healing Through Seduction, because of its name and mission.
The biggest lesson for me was this: never doubt your vision for your artistry or business. One day, people might say no. But if you keep trusting your mission and showing up, those same people might end up in the audience cheering you on.
I went from being overlooked to speaking about burlesque as both a healing modality and a business strategy at a major business conference in Puerto Rico. Trust your vision, honor your ancestral assignment regardless of who is looking, and let the doors open when the time is right.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I made the mistake of thinking I should shift my integrity when hiring loved ones. My integrity is tied to my discipline, work ethic, and vision — it’s the foundation of everything I do. But whenever I hired loved ones, I found myself feeling guilty when they said I was too hard on them or asked too much, even though they were the ones who said they admired my success as a performer and businesswoman.
The truth is, my mission is also a soul assignment, and not everyone is equipped to be a part of that vision. I’ve learned the hard way that trying to make exceptions for loved ones can compromise the very standards that make your business or artistry successful.
If you want to thrive as an artist, entrepreneur, wellness professional, performer, or in any field — you have to honor your integrity, not just with your clients but with yourself. Don’t shift your business boundaries, morals, or mission for anyone. Let people rise to meet you at your level, not the other way around.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I’m so glad you asked! My burlesque company, Healing Through Seduction, impacts the world on a soul level in these ways:
- Empowering Women to Leave Abuse: By reclaiming their power and reconnecting with their bodies, women gain the strength to leave abusive relationships, creating a ripple effect of safety and empowerment.
- Supporting Healers and Activists: HTS offers a space for burnt-out healers and activists to recharge and heal, so they can return to their missions renewed and ready to create change.
- Creating Global Economic Opportunities: HTS hires and collaborates with women entrepreneurs, artists, and mothers worldwide, providing stability and financial freedom.
- Building Confidence and Autonomy: By reconnecting with their worth, women are stepping into leadership roles and inspiring others to do the same.
- Promoting Healing and Growth: Personal transformation — whether it’s setting boundaries or finding your voice — creates a ripple effect that impacts everyone around you.
When one woman heals, she changes the world, darling.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?
1. Start Each Day with Self-Consent
Before giving away your power, give yourself permission to love and trust yourself first. For me, this looks like waking up two hours before the day starts. I spend that time journaling, meditating, greeting my ancestors and plants, eating food properly, or just sitting with myself. It’s a burlesque-inspired ritual that I teach my clients as well.
2. Honor Your Boundaries with Yourself
If you struggle to say yes or no to others, start by practicing with yourself. For instance, I once committed to saying “no” to overworking, which helped me set clear boundaries when my mind tried telling me I wasn’t worthy of financial freedom, community, love or my lifestyle unless I was overworked. By honoring my own needs, I could stand firmer in my decisions with others.
3. Find Your Inner Sanctuary
Create a space where you can reconnect with your body and spirit. For me, that’s my sacred burlesque practice. I have an altar that is for me to celebrate myself, my inner child, inner diva, and higher self. I leave myself flowers, write love notes, share my wins, and more there each day.
4. Prioritize Your Inner Diva
Spend time feeling glamorous, even if it’s just wearing red lipstick while cooking dinner. Tapping into your inner diva reminds you that life isn’t just about to-do lists; it’s about delighting in your light and power regardless of your relationship status or dress size.
5. Let Your Inner Child Imitate the Sun
Embrace joy like a child who feels the warmth of the sun. This might mean dancing freely, playing with colors in your wardrobe, or simply laughing at something silly. When I let my inner child take the lead, I notice how much lighter life feels.
These tweaks aren’t about perfection — they’re about creating a life that supports your growth, darling.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I’m absolutely buzzing with excitement to lead a burlesque revolution through my Healing Through Seduction program! These burlesque-inspired rituals and workshops aren’t just about movement — they’re transformative journeys that help people worldwide embrace vulnerability and authenticity as powerful tools for healing and wellness.
My vision is to create a global movement where women feel safe and celebrated as they reclaim their true selves, tap into their inner strength, and rewrite the narratives that have held them back.
It’s an honor to share this passion and purpose with you today. Together, we can spark a ripple effect of empowerment, healing, and positive change that spreads across the globe. Thank you for allowing me the space to share this vision with you!
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
Oh, boy! Where do I even begin?
- People will sign up for your program or service with every intention to resist the healing process. Show up anyway, darling. Their resistance isn’t your failure — it’s part of their journey. Be patient with yourself and with them.
- Pay attention to the right audience. You’ll be accused of being a scam artist, unconventional, or not a “real” wellness professional because you don’t fit into a box. But trust me, someone out there is waiting for you to honor your assignment. Keep showing up for them. Keep honoring your coaching style even if you’re not the right fit for everyone who signs up. It’s ok not to be the right coach for the entire world.
- Your identity is your greatest marketing tool. Authenticity is the fastest way to change the world — and your bank account. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be honest about who you are and who you were born to serve.
- You will lose someone close to you. This process is non-negotiable for your evolution. But with every loss comes an opportunity to reclaim parts of yourself you buried and to see just how resilient you are. One more thing. If you pay attention, you will also see how loved you are by other people within your community. Try not to focus on what or who you lose during your evolution. Focus on the love you received during your ascension.
- Boundaries are non-negotiable. Wellness doesn’t mean being an emotional punching bag, broke, burnt out, or misused. You can pour your heart into your community or clients without dishonoring your boundaries or your bank account. Living well as a wellness professional has to be the first thing on your business plan and strategy. We must honor our boundaries by charging accordingly to ensure we can hire help and keep up with our spiritual hygiene in order to honor our assignment.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental health is dearest to me because I believe we can’t change the world or become effective activists until we focus on our mental well-being. And let me be clear — mental health isn’t just about addressing trauma. There’s this stigma that prioritizing your mental health means admitting defeat, but it’s actually the opposite.
Focusing on your mental health is a radical act of self-love and a commitment to loving everyone around you. It’s about making sure you’re well so you can show up properly for the people in your life, your community, and the world. You can’t pour from an empty cup, darling. If we want to create true, lasting change — whether in our families or on a global scale — we have to start by taking care of our minds and hearts first.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
If you’re ready to transform your life, join me at my transformative Healing Through Seduction masterclass and burlesque show at Lincoln Center in NYC on March 7th, 2024! During this special event, I’ll be sharing my most popular burlesque-inspired rituals, leading live performances, and offering immersive experiences that show you how burlesque and the art of self-seduction can help you reclaim your power and step into your divine feminine. It’s going to be an unforgettable journey, and I can’t wait to see you there!
Can’t make it to NYC? No worries, darling! You can still connect with me and follow my work. Visit my website at blackburlesquequeen.com and follow me on Instagram at @theperlenoire for all the latest updates, tips, and inspiration.
Also, to get started on your journey of empowerment today, you can download my free ebook. It’s packed with wisdom to help you tap into your true power and begin the transformation right now.
Download the ebook here:
https://healingthroughseduction.ck.page/82d7fb711
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
Thank you! Same to you, sugar.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com .
