First and foremost, congratulations! You absolutely killed it, and your theme was very unique! Why did you choose the theme you chose, and had you considered other choices?
Thank you so much! I chose the boxing and Latin theme because I felt they were two things that truly represented me and my journey here in Portland. The boxing part was to show that I was here and ready to kick ass, despite any obstacles, and I just honestly thought it would be badass. When I was considering themes, I wanted to choose something that I was proud of. With it being my last competition, I wanted it to be authentically and unapologetically ME, regardless if I won or not. Growing up a first-generation Mexican-American and being from California, I’ve always been deeply immersed in my culture, and it’s always been a huge part of me. I wanted to show my love and pride for my community and my roots, as well as reject the narrative that having the Portland alternative aesthetic is needed to be successful in the industry.
Thinking of the time during your actual performance, what do you remember thinking about or feeling while on stage?
I remember thinking that I was having a great time and loving the energy from the crowd. I remember looking over and seeing quick glimpses of my best friends and my sister cheering. It felt phenomenal, and since it was my last competition, I felt a very all-or-nothing energy toward it. I feel like I was just letting myself enjoy my performance and having fun doing what I love.
Many people may be surprised to hear that you actually hopped a plane to Portland to perform twice, to qualify and compete in the finals. Why did you decide to join the pageant, despite the distance?
It was kind of a spontaneous decision because, with the distance, school, and my personal life, I didn’t know if I’d have time to prepare different themes for two rounds of competition, let alone travel for it. But the competitive me wanted to try one last time at Dante’s, and luckily it was around Thanksgiving, so I decided to just make a big trip out of it. I did the second to last qualifier round, so I could just stay for two consecutive weeks. I was able to qualify, dance some shifts, see my family in Seattle, and then, of course, compete. It all ended up working out with perfect timing, and I’m so glad I did it! Funny enough, I didn’t think it through on taking the trophy on the plane—LOL—but it’s in the best of hands! It’s currently at my sister’s house in Seattle!
Describe your other experiences competing in our events and how they shaped your preparations for Miss Exotic Oregon 2023.
I’ve always (generally) had a great time competing, but I’d felt like I kept falling just a little short. When I first began competing, I didn’t realize the extent of creativity the judges and the crowd expected, so I didn’t do themes for a while. When I placed second in Pirates of the Caribooty in 2019—without a theme—I realized I needed to up my game and get creative. This year, I began taking different things into account, such as picking the right music, inviting friends to support me, making my performances more interactive, using props, etc. My experiences helped me prepare a well-rounded performance that I could enjoy for myself while also aiming to check those boxes and create a show I was proud of. I’m very competitive with myself, so I wanted to give it 100% and walk off the stage confident that I didn’t fall short of my own expectations—even if I didn’t win.
What advice would you offer to other performers who are looking to win it all at an Exotic event?
Be unique and choose your strongest skills to showcase. Let your performance represent you as a performer and what your art means to you. It doesn’t have to be anything complex or deep, but making it your own, as well as having a signature style, makes you stand out and makes it exciting. We can connect with each other so well through art, so by being unique in your own way, people will feel you and connect with you through it. Also, focus on the little things to avoid losing the crowd, such as smiling, choosing familiar music, interacting with the judges, showing a variety of skills, and, most importantly, genuinely having fun with it. People can tell whether a performer is having fun or not, so just let yourself enjoy what you do, and trust in your abilities!
If you could travel back in time and talk to baby stripper Nia, what would you tell her?
I would tell her never to be afraid of being extra or loud about her skills because there are so many people that support her and are rooting for her. And that being confident sometimes intimidates people or can be labeled as "cocky," but who cares? Because it inspires even more people, and there’s nothing wrong with believing in yourself! I would tell her to keep going hard, take up space, and pursue things she wants to do in this industry, even if they sometimes seem far-fetched.
What if our readers are interested in seeing you perform? Do you plan on making any special P-Town appearances? If so, where can they catch you on shift? Drop your social media, too!
I don’t think I’ll be performing in Portland in the future (besides my step-down performance next year), but I’ll probably be back sometime to visit. When I visit, they can catch me on shift at Golden Dragon, and they can also find me on Instagram (@niagiselle_). 🙂
Switching gears for a moment, tell us all about some of your future aspirations, industry-related or otherwise...
I’m currently a biology major in college, studying to be a P.A. In the meantime, I plan to dance until I no longer enjoy it—which I don’t see happening anytime soon! Once I get more settled in L.A., I’ll be teaching pole for PYT Fitness locally, as well as traveling to teach workshops, and if I have extra time, I do want to focus on pole bookings for events and artists too. I also plan on travel dancing in major cities from my stripper bucket list, as well as property acquisition in the near future.
Lastly, what consumes your time when you’re not slaying it on the pole or otherwise kicking ass in the industry?
Aw, thank you! I’m very extroverted, so I spend a lot of time going out with my friends—whether it’s brunch, traveling, clubbing, girls’ night in, axe-throwing, concerts, hiking, etc. I also love spending time with my family, and I hang out with my sisters a lot! I have a few different hobbies like makeup, sewing clothes, going to the dance studio, making resin art, working out, etc. I also have a lot of plants and an energetic little cat at home that I love!
