Mistress Joyen was the 2026 recipient of BHoF’s BIPOC Scholarship, an award created 5 years ago to assist BIPOC performers who would be otherwise unable to afford the trip to the BHoF Weekender to attend. The recipient is chosen by the BHoF Board’s BIPOC Committee to recognize an applicant who seems best positioned to make the most of the educational, social, and artistic opportunities presented by the Weekender and to translate them into action in their own communities. To that end, the scholarship includes a Weekender pass, hotel room, and travel stipend, covering the main expenses of attending the event. While creating a report on their experience is not a requirement, we asked Mistress Joyen if they would like to share their observations and they graciously obliged. Here is their account:
This year belonged to my evolution—my pursuit of growth and raw, unfiltered passion. Yet, one thing remained itchy at the back of my head: the Burlesque Hall of Fame.
For years, applying to perform felt like screaming into a void from across the world. Coming from the Philippines, I wasn’t just isolated by logistics; I was oceans away from the taste, the culture, and the community. I had only ever gushed over my icons—Sweetpea, Frankie Fictitious, Ms. B LaRose, Jett Adore, Miss DiLovely, GiGi Holliday—through the cold glass of a screen. But adoration wasn’t enough. I demanded a real connection. I applied for the BIPOC Scholarship and simply told my story in a video. Raw and unfiltered.
When the acceptance email arrived weeks later, the reality set in. This wasn’t just a milestone; it was my arrival. I expected to attend the Weekender as a sponge, quietly absorbing the brilliance of the legends and icons I’d admired from afar.
Boy, was I wrong.
The Weekender had a way of making everyone feel like a superstar, even for a newcomer like me. Las Vegas was a chaotic vortex, but within it, I found my tribe—people who saw my fire and sought a visceral connection that transcended the stage. It was an absolute honor to be Hawaiian Burlesque Legend Ka’ena’s burlescort, and we ended up like mother and daughter just after a few days of sharing stories about burlesque and beyond. We conquered the weekend, balancing profound, soul-baring mentorship with the absolute madness of late-night glitter parties.
BHoF is much more than the museum, the competition, and the bazaar where I spent too much money. It is a battleground of stories told by warriors of tease and rhinestones. I witnessed the very fabric of burlesque: a fierce, sparkling sanctuary forged by people who fought like hell to create a sparkly safe space for the right to bare their diamond-encrusted souls on stage.
As I went back to my daily routine, the aftershocks of that experience still consume me. The Burlesque Hall of Fame is more than just the most prestigious burlesque event in the whole world. If I wanted to make my mark on that sacred stage, I cannot do it quietly. I cannot hold back. I will give it everything, and I will take what is mine.
Just watch me. When I am ready to tell my story, the world will drop down on its knees and worship.
