Bendigo actress Hannah Raven Smith has been crowned the country’s top burlesque performer.
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Smith won Australia’s Burlesque Idol recently and will now head to the US to further develop her skills.
She entered and won a Sydney heat before taking out the national title in Canberra.
“Life is a funny thing. I’m just a girl from Bendigo,” she said.
“When I won the Sydney heat in February I was just heading overseas and it opened up opportunities in New York and Canada.
“I have been doing burlesque for four years and came to it as an actor. To me they’re not exclusive and are one in the same for me.
Part of Smith’s prize was a photo shoot that took place in Las Vegas.
“Burlesque Idol have a worldwide franchise. It has been running in Australia for three years but this year was the first time they decided to have a grand final,” she said.
“You can pick any style of burlesque you like whether it is comedy, traditional or satire.”
Smith’s burlesque character, Hannie Raegen, is a satirical character based on 1920s vaudeville performer Fannie Brice.
“Fannie used satire and used to send up her own ethnicity. She was classically Jewish but played to it and made people embrace her for who she was,” Smith said.
“My act is a modern one that comments on online dating, finding love and depths people will go to for it.
“The Hannie character is awkward, comical and insecure but has the best intentions. She is a clown and my act revolves around that.”
Smith also has acted in a short film touring international film festivals.
The Handbook For Keeping Us Safe From Terrorism is a satire on the fear-mongering associated with terrorism. It recently won best foreign short at the Sacramento International Film Festival.
In 2014, she was in feature film Zoe Misplaced, which also screened at international film festivals.
Smith has plans to head back to Las Vegas with Burlesque Idol.
“The help support you as an artist to get your brand and name out there,” she said.