THE HUMAN GALLERY
by Katharina Thoma
Amy
The Pole Comedian - Blending strength, sensuality, and silliness to celebrate every inch of her body
“My journey with my body has been a long and winding one — not always easy, but deeply transformative. I’ve had cellulite for as long as I can remember, my sides have always folded, and my stretch marks have become a roadmap of where I’ve been.
They tell the story of growth, loss, and self-love in progress.
Years of weight gain and loss have left me with extra skin — something I used to despise, but now see as a reminder of everything my body has carried me through.
It’s part of me, a marker of resilience, and proof that I’ve survived. I used to think I needed to change it, hide it, make it smaller. Now I know it’s normal, beautiful, and uniquely mine.
My stretch marks are my tiger stripes; my skin tells my story.
When I perform as The Pole Comedian, I get to express the full spectrum of who I am — the sensual and the silly. I often get hit on more when I’m dressed as my clown than when I’m in my natural self, and honestly, that makes me laugh. I feel sexy when I’m playful. There’s real power in joy, in bridging laughter with sensuality — to me, they belong together.
Growing up, I was bullied for my weight and for being weird. I wish I’d believed my own words when I used to say, ‘what makes you think I care what you think?’ I do now. My grandmother used to say, ‘What do pigs know from noodles?’ — everyone will always have an opinion about your body. The only one that truly matters is your own.
My body and I have been through a lot — from abusive relationships and assault to disordered eating and dysmorphia — but we’ve made it out the other side together. Some days the demons still whisper, but today I choose the kinder words.
I remind myself that I’m strong, skilled, and beautifully human.
Every body has skin folds. Every body changes. Every body tells a story. And I’m proud of mine — proud of us — for dancing, laughing, and living through it all.”
