Introducing Miss Marulie, a 25 year old Strata Manager from Sydney. This stunning Siren talks about being a young mum and how Pole Dancing allows her to feel proud of her body and what it can do.
How long have you been Pole Dancing?
I have been Pole Dancing for approximately six months.
Did you feel nervous before your first lesson?
I was in a state of nervous excitement. Pole dancing has always been something I wanted to try but the thought of not ‘fitting in’ physically or being able to do the tricks was a challenge I overcame thanks to the ladies and students at Sky Sirens.
What obstacles have you faced as a result of being a young mum? How has this impacted on your self-love and body image?
There’s this preconceived idea that as a young mum I’m living on Centrelink and that I can’t care for my children because "I’m a child looking after a child". This doesn’t apply to me or to the majority of young mums I know, but we still feel stares when we're out with our children in public which is degrading and hurts because they don’t know us. After having a baby, the media portrays mums going straight back to our pre-pregnancy weight. The media made me doubt my physical beauty even before I had children and that to be beautiful you need to be thin and unblemished.
How does Pole Dancing make you feel?
Pole dancing makes me feel proud in what my body can do. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and happiness.
What do you enjoy most about coming to class?
I enjoy coming to class not only to challenge myself with new tricks, getting my fitness fix on but to be a part of that camaraderie that exists within the studio. Pole classes wouldn’t be this enjoyable if it wasn’t for the other students and instructors that encourage you to challenge yourself and support you not only with pole but as a person.
How would you define Self-Love?
Self-Love to me, is that sense of happiness, pride and being able to love yourself no matter whether you fit into that ideal person society has predetermined you should be or look like. You are who you are, and no one can take that from you. Embrace you.
What is your most beautiful physical feature, and why?
My most beautiful feature is my eyes. Not because of the shape, size or colour but because my eyes will never hide my true feelings.
What advice would you give a Pole virgin who was nervous about signing up?
My advice for pole virgins is, just do it. What do you really have to lose? Unless you open yourself up to new experiences, how will you ever truly know yourself and your capabilities?