Kia Puckett aka Mx. Pucks A'Plenty, a performer with a boisterous personality, goes by many titles, such as "the Michelle Obama of burlesque" and "the femme daddy your mother didn't even know to warn you about." They are also a strong advocate for the inclusion of all body types in burlesque.

Through their own production company, aptly labeled Puckduction, Mx. Pucks has over the past few years founded and run both Fat Con and Fatlesque Fest Northwest, which have also been the targets of right-wing media attention and harassment. That, however, has not slowed down Mx. Pucks' momentum with overcoming struggles of running fat-focused evets, or their celebration fat, Trans, and Nonbinary burlesque performers

How they got their start

Mx. Pucks, who came to the Seattle area and its burlesque scene eight years ago, told the SGN that the art form has been instrumental to exploring their Nonbinary gender identity. Despite the creative space burlesque offers, there still has been pressure to conform to cis-normative beauty standards, they explained.

"I am high femme on stage because that is what sells as a Trans person, but my actual style is more Janelle Monáe circa 2019. I would [prefer to] wear suits all the time," Pucks said.

This is what partially inspired Pucks to start their own "puckduction" company to create a welcoming space for performers whose bodies and gender expressions do not conform to beauty standards.

Inspiration for Fat Con and Fatlesque came to Pucks in July of 2017 at the Bucks and Blaze fat burlesque show in Austin, TX, where they recalled the positive feelings of hanging out with other performers in the green room. Pucks started first by forming a BIPOC-centered burlesque show called "What the Funk." It wasn't until 2020 when Pucks approached Fuck Yes Bodies, a plus-size lingerie company, with the idea to launch Fat Con. Together, they ran it for the first time in 2023 as a joint venture, selling out all its shows at Madame Lou's. Pucks reported there were even people packed all the way up the stairs wanting to watch.

Far-right media backlash

Despite its popularity within the community, 2024's Fat Con became the target of far-right harassment. Pucks explained that before the event had begun, "a right-wing group found out about it online and lost their minds. Our Instagram page and email box were all inundated with fat hate."

It wasn't long after that Pucks began noticing right-wing media requesting access. In particular, Pucks pointed out the actions of the Daily Mail, saying that it wanted to send a photographer, not a reporter, indicating it was not interested in the event but rather the spectacle of it. Tomi Lahren, an anti-LGBTQ+ talking head at Fox News, also brought up Fat Con on her show.

Even though all these groups were denied press access, some decided to send people anyway. Pucks also found several groups of men harassing attendees outside the venue. It was surmised that the negative attention Fat Con received from right-wing media is how they found out about it.

And although it was distressing at first, Pucks has since found solace in protesters' discomfort, admitting "it has become my fetish to watch these men lose their minds over it."

Standing in defiance

The hateful targeting has only emboldened Pucks as an artist, driving them to host events that are opportunities for people to experience fat joy and find loving comfort as a radical act of defiance. "Society is hell-bent on us being disgusted with ourselves," Pucks exclaimed.

Pucks also discussed the connections between being fat and being Transgender. Trans masc people seeking top surgery are often turned away if their BMI is too high. "It is brutal to watch people suffering [from] body dysmorphia be told to deal with that first," Pucks said.

Pucks also highlighted the similar plight both groups currently face in popular culture: "It is low-hanging fruit to dunk on someone who is fat. Same with being Trans."

Pucks asked that allies recognize the spaces being created for these people, and to do what they can to keep those spaces open and accessible by donating money and supporting fat friends.

The third Fat Con will run from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 at the King Street Ballroom at Embassy Suites in downtown Seattle. More information about the event and ticket sales can be found at http://www.fatcon.org. Fatlesque Fest Northwest is running Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 at The Triple Door; find more information at https://www.fatlesquefestnw.com.