Burlesque My Way: Redefining Sexy in a Suit

Axel Estelle is a non-binary, masc-presenting burlesque performer based in Atlanta. Known for bringing charm, confidence, and authenticity to the stage, Axel challenges traditional ideas of gender presentation in burlesque. A member of The Candybox Revue, they often perform in suits and dapper looks—offering a refreshing take on what it means to be sexy and expressive in the art of the tease.

When I first entered the burlesque scene in 2018, I struggled to find my place. I wanted to do burlesque but as a non-binary lesbian that is masc presenting 95% of the time, I felt like I didn’t belong. I didn’t see anyone like me doing burlesque. Usually masc presenting performers did drag. I emceed for a while, always being comfortable talking in front of a crowd. But I wanted more.

I just didn’t know what to do or who to talk to. I didn’t know anyone else personally that was masc who did burlesque. I hadn’t really seen it outside of a cis male doing boylesque. I didn’t want to wear a panel skirt or a fancy dress and show off my “feminine wiles”.

So, I did what some may consider drag (I realize now that it was more cabaret/musical theatre). But it didn’t feel right. It still didn’t feel like…me. And I felt isolated in that community due to not doing the makeup and costumes that are usually seen in drag. I also felt uncomfortable in that scene. I felt more comfortable in the burlesque scene.

Finally, a wise person (my wife) told me, “You can do whatever you want. Do burlesque your way!” And so I have. This past year has been a year of discovery about me and my body and confidence in what I do. I learned I can be sexy and alluring while still being me. I didn’t have to change myself to do burlesque.

So I have made it my mission to show other masc presenting people that they can, in fact, do burlesque. I want to be the performer I needed to see back in 2018. I want to represent exactly what The Candybox Revue preaches, that burlesque, the art of the tease, is for every body.

My goal is to have a masc presenting person see me perform and say to themselves, “Hey, I could do that,” in pure confidence. We have a handful of masc identifying individuals in our troupe and the majority of them are cis men. Whether they are neurodivergent, queer, plus size, BIPOC, WHATEVER! I want people to understand that there is no box that you must stay in, or even get in, to do burlesque. Exposure to something makes people realize that it is obtainable.

When I first came out, I posted a lot of queer content on my social media, not really thinking anything of it. But just being proud of who I was. A couple of years later, someone told me my posts helped them come to terms with their sexuality and that it was okay to be themselves.

That right there is what I want for masclesque. I don’t feel like myself in heels and short skirts. I’m uncomfortable in that a lot of the times. So, when I come out in a suit and tie, being charming and dapper and causing gay panic and then going down to pasties, it can be validating for others like me.

I may have large breasts but I can still be dapper and sexy in a suit and then charming and sexy in pasties.

My wife and I started a class called Masquerade Menagerie at The Atlanta School of Burlesque. It is a class for people to get in touch with their non-toxic masculinity and embrace who they are while doing burlesque. I struggled with what I wanted. I don’t want other people like me to do the same.

We all know that representation matters in all forms. And that is what burlesque needs to be, a full representation of all the bodies and looks in the world. Someone out there is thinking they can’t do burlesque because they have never seen someone like them do it. But for masc performers, that is changing.