In this series, we explore what it means to be a “Smoke Sister” through interviews with inspiring women that we either know personally or admire from afar. Smoke is a brand of connection, intentional living, self-care, and uplifting friendships. With each interview, we hope to delve deeper into this culture.
I couldn't be more excited to welcome Trixie Minx to the series! Trixie is the queen of New Orleans burlesque, an institution, and a total goddess! We hope you enjoy this peek into her life as much as we did.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your work, and where we can find you?
My name is Trixie Minx & I am the burlesque Queen of New Orleans. Beyond the whole royal title bit, I also produce several burlesque/circus themed shows & create custom entertainment experiences for private events through my company Trixie Minx Productions. I’m also a healthcare advocate & work with the New Orleans Musicians Clinic to get performers access to affordable healthcare services. But most importantly I’m a goofball that loves New Orleans with every bit of my being. You can learn more about me & my ridiculous shenanigans at www.trixieminx.com / facebook.com/trixieminxproductions / instagram.com/trixienola / and on twitter.com @trixminx
What is an early or favorite scent memory you have? What comes to mind when you imagine your favorite scent?
I love the smell of clean laundry. For some reason the act of folding freshly laundered clothes is super calming to me so whenever I smell a dryer sheet or drive by a laundromat I feel relaxed. But this question actually reminds me of my Mom. My Mom always used to say she loved the smell of BBQ sauce & sunscreen because it reminded her of summer. We still joke about trying to find a perfume or candle that can somehow capture that scent.
What is one non-negotiable self-care ritual that you try to regularly attend to?
I always wash off my make up & apply night cream before I go to bed.
We take great inspiration from travel & nature. What is the most inspiring natural place you’ve ever been to and why?
To be bluntly honest nature & I aren’t the best of friends, but I’m always a sucker for a beautiful body of water. I truly believe there is inspiration in everything but there are two particular places that stand out in my mind. A beach on one of the Greek Islands & a natural stream in the Alps of Switzerland. In Greece the beach was covered in perfectly polished marble stones of all different rich jewel tones; paired with the crystal clear water of the sea the whole beach looked like a living kalidescope. And in the Alps the snow turned to stream was so poetically powerful you could see where it carved the stone over time. The color was this rich turquoise blue green & the scent was intoxicatingly fresh, almost too much to breathe.
Here at Smoke, we believe in fostering joy. We feel that this emotion is a key element in well-being, creativity, resistance, and productivity. How do you cultivate joy in your daily life?
I’m naturally a pretty joyful person & have found that being happy is not so much about cultivating joy as it is about not participating or including negative people/behavior in your life. At my company, Trixie Minx Productions, I always say “Teamwork makes the dream work” & have a no tolerance policy for any person or action that does not support myself or my friends. Life is short & we are so very lucky to experience the ride, there’s absolutely no sense in wasting even a moment on something that doesn’t make you happy, support your friends, or benefit your community.
What’s your greatest hope for the future?
Personally I have a ton of plans in the works for the future but would hate to jinx them or even spoil the surprise but… I can tell you I hope to continue producing beautiful creative shows & private events, working with amazingly talented people, & above all contributing to the bizarrely unique culture that thrives so beautifully in New Orleans.