Stripper takes on ‘prudish’ New Zealanders

Sick of stereotypes and judgments, stripper Shard McNeill has  taken on "prudish" New Zealand in a video blog explaining the stripping industry.

Watched by more than 3000 viewers on youtube, the video has been splashed across the web on facebook.

The video blog, which comes out every week, shows McNeill discussing what she calls the real stripping culture.

The first instalment was about her first day on the job, her first lap dance, and more.

"I wanted to make the blog to show people that I take pride in what I do.

"It's an interesting topic, people are so intrigued by it," the bubbly brunette says.

Starting as a bar supervisor in Tauranga, McNeill loved her job at first, getting paid $400 a week but felt there was more out there for her.

Now working in Auckland she makes about $750-$1000 a night. "In the good season", she laughs.

McNeill goes on stage for 10 minutes at a time, dancing to two songs, at least  five to ten times a night.

She believes she has met lifelong friends in this industry.

"I have never met more interesting and kind-hearted people. Money makers, amazing dancers, mothers, wives, travellers, party animals."

Bought up to value education and academics, McNeill found it hard to tell her mum she was a stripper.

"Beauty and money were never high on our family's priority list. Telling her was the hardest thing my job has ever brought me to do."

McNeill believes as time went past, her mother could see she was happy in her work.

"People search their entire lives for that kind of fulfilment. I'm blessed."

"Just remember, we were born naked." says McNeill.

Bar manager, Ella Cartwright, 21, thinks most of the stripping industry is cast in a negative light, so Shard's video blog is a very good way to explain such a taboo subject.

"A lot of people will never know a stripper or worker in the sex industry and are genuinely curious.

"If you want to do it, for the right reasons, and are comfortable, legal, happy and treated with respect, it's fine,"  says Ella.

- THE WAIKATO INDEPENDENT