Neo-Burlesque Slaps Glitter on Feminism and Makes It Shine

A New Generation of Women Has Found Liberation Dumpster Diving in the ‘Freedom Trash Can’ of the Miss America Protest

Blush! I scream at my reflection. More blush!

I am backstage at the Miss Coney Island USA pageant caking on makeup. My actual eyebrows have been glued down—a technique learned from drag queens—and I’ve shaped new, exaggerated brows into a speculative arch that sits practically in the middle of my forehead. Below them, I’ve painted on clown crème makeup and bright turquoise blue eye shadow. A thick layer of glitter seals the look together. Glitter sticks to things that are wet, I like to say, the double-entendre evident in my inflection.

My …