First and foremost, congratulations! Your performance was amazing, and the theme was very unique! What led to your decision for the theme you chose, paying homage to sideshows/traveling circuses?
When I first started dancing, I quickly gravitated to places like Sinferno Cabaret hosted at Dante's or stage clubs like Acropolis and Devils Point, where the performers are amazingly talented and unique. A lot of them also work in other areas of the entertainment industry, such as circus life. I know hand balancers, jugglers, acrobats, fire entertainers, contortionists, magicians, and the list goes on. After leaving the food service industry and entering this new and exciting world, I often feel like I ran away from real life and joined the circus. A dream not many of us get to live out. When thinking of a good set for this year's competition, I thought it would be imperative to pick something that showcases my personality and my love for performance art.
There was a lot of action during your performance... Contortionist, fire dancer, and then the ultimate finale, where you lit fire to your nipples. How did you come up with all of these ideas and choreograph them to all work in unison?
I got my inspiration from the amazing performers around me. I knew that circus was the route I wanted to go, and I knew I wanted to choose people who inspire me and people who are proud of what they do and who they are. I went to former Miss Exotic Oregon and fellow Sinferno cast member Ivizia Dakini, fellow Sinferno cast member Lark, and Devils Point co-worker and November covergirl Venus with my ideas, and we worked together seamlessly. During rehearsal, everything seemed to fall into place, and I think it's due to everyone's extreme dedication, love, and personal touch that they put into their skills and everything they do. The fire trick is one I have been doing for over three years now, and I wanted to incorporate it into my set, but in a bigger-never-before-done way. I trust Lark, and I know she is a very experienced fire entertainer, so I asked her if she'd be comfortable using her torches to light me, and the rest is history. I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified, but we pulled it off!
Let’s say I wanted to impress someone on a first date. How does one safely set their nips aflame? (Asking for a friend...)
This makes me laugh. I wish I could tell you, but I’m afraid there’s nothing safe about lighting yourself on fire. It hurts a lot—not always, but more often than preferred!
Describe your first experience competing in one of our events and how it shaped your preparations for Miss Exotic Oregon 2022?
In 2018, a year into dancing, I signed myself up for virtually every competition. In 2018, I ended up placing third place in Best Breasts of the West, which was really exciting for me. Later that year, I decided to compete in Miss Exotic Oregon for the first time. At that point, I had been dancing for a little over a year and was feeling confident in my stage presence and thought I had what it took to take home the title. Halfway through the finals, I realized I bit off more than I could chew. I was up against women who have done this for over a decade, building their reputation and perfecting their skills every step of the way... I was new—practically unknown—and had so much more to learn. In fact, I was barely settled into myself as an entertainer. A better way to put it is that I didn't pay my dues. I realized that if I wanted that title, I had to earn it in more ways than just on that stage. For the next two years after that, I sat back and watched others rise to the occasion, knowing my time would inevitably come and I could try again.
What advice do you have for other performers who are looking to win it all at an Exotic event?
Be true to yourself. Skill and beauty are not everything. Are you having fun? Do you feel like you’re sharing a part of yourself on stage or does it feel like your going through the motions? If you're not in love with what you're doing—if you don't see worth in what you're doing, you can't expect others to.
If you could travel back in time and talk to baby stripper Phoenix, what would you say?
Don't be so hard on yourself. Success doesn't happen overnight. It takes consistency, effort, discipline, trial, and error. Being new to the industry can be very hard on strippers for many reasons. One of the biggest is being surrounded by so many talented, beautiful, and well-rounded performers. It can be very discouraging working beside them in your awkward—"I don't know what I'm doing"—beginning stages of finding yourself as a stripper and an entertainer. But it's also a blessing to have that surrounding you. If it wasn't for the hard-working strippers before me, I don't think I would have been as inspired to grow at the rate I did. I have so much respect for the humans who set the bar and shaped this industry.
Switching gears for a moment, tell us all about the new gig you have going with Axel (Miss Exotic 2020/2021) called Social Suicide?
Social Suicide is a production we created for a more "alternative" scene. The kids who were picked on growing up, the "misfits," the "outsiders..." Some know them as the "goth" or "emo" kids. We sing our hearts out to the angsty music we all cried to (and still do). With our production also comes new opportunities for dancers and entrepreneurs—with go-go dancers at every event and pop-ups by different local businesses, many of which are owned/created by Portland community sex workers. Axel and I are having so much fun building this event! Keep updated on our journey.
Instagram: @SocialSuicidePDX.
And what if our readers are interested in seeing you perform? Where can they catch you on shift?
I have been working for Acropolis Steakhouse since 2017; you can see me there every Saturday night starting at 9 p.m. I have been working for the Devils Point and Lucky Devil family since 2018, and you can find me at Devils Point every Friday and Sunday night for the World Famous Stripparaoke—where you sing while we dance for you! I've also been performing in Sinferno Cabaret once a month at Dante's since 2018. You can see me perform my award-winning act on January 23rd, in its full glory.
Lastly, what consumes your time when you’re not slaying it on stage or otherwise kicking ass in the industry?
I love to travel. My goal is to try to adventure somewhere at least once a month, even if it's only a couple of hours away. I also find myself dedicating most of my time to my three dogs, home life, and overall mental health. I would say I'm definitely a homebody. Take a look into my personal life on Instagram at @Motherlucifer.
