Behind every BurlyCon Benefactor stands a personal story of growth, and giving back.
Ronda Bordeaux and Bianca Coal share why they choose to support BurlyCon not only with their time, but with their financial commitment. Their journeys remind us that when one person invests in community, that impact ripples outward.
Ronda Bordeaux
My first year at BurlyCon, someone else paid for my ticket. That gift meant more to me than I think they ever realized.
Over the past few years, I have served as a committee member, and I pour my time and heart into helping BurlyCon inspire more sparkle beings each year. In 2018, I took the next step and became a Benefactor. I made that decision intentionally. I wanted to support the organization that has inspired me and brought extraordinary people into my life. And I wanted to create opportunities for others who cannot afford to attend, just as someone once created that opportunity for me.
I choose to invest in equipment upgrades and organizational growth because BurlyCon matters deeply to me. Skipping a few dinners out each month feels like a small exchange for supporting something that has shaped my life in such a meaningful way.
When I give my time as a committee member and contribute financially as a Benefactor, I actively help grow a community that has become an essential part of who I am. That brings me real joy.
Ronda Bordeaux
BurlyCon Hospitality Lead
Bianca Coal
I attended my first BurlyCon in 2015 as a brand-new performer. I wanted to connect with the greater burlesque community and strengthen my craft. While browsing the website, I discovered the peer review opportunity and decided to apply. Even though I doubted I would get selected, I pushed myself to step outside my comfort zone and seek feedback from seasoned performers. (And yes, I truly mean outside my comfort zone—I proudly hold the title of socially awkward introvert.)
Then I received the acceptance email.
After I finished freaking out, I committed fully to preparing. I worked relentlessly to bring my best to the stage. My emotions ran the full spectrum—fear, nerves, terror, calm, and back again. But when I stepped onto the peer review stage, my nerves dissolved. I performed with everything I had. The audience responded at exactly the right moments, and the feedback lifted me in ways I still carry today.
That moment remains one of the most empowering experiences of my burlesque career. Even now, I revisit the feedback from that peer review to remind myself of what happens when I step beyond fear.
That experience explains why I joined the Programming Team as a Presenter Liaison in 2016—and why I remain in that role today. I value BurlyCon deeply. It gives me space to show up fully as myself, awkward introversion and all.
Last year, I expanded my support and became a Benefactor. I give because BurlyCon has given me friendships, growth, and community. I give because many attendees come to BurlyCon to learn, connect, and feel seen in a world that often misunderstands them. My contributions help sustain an organization that preserves and advances burlesque as a theatrical art form.
I proudly continue my support as a Benefactor because I believe in this mission:
BurlyCon fosters professional growth and education for burlesque performers, fans, and aficionados. Through classes, workshops, panels, and educational programs, BurlyCon preserves, promotes, and advances burlesque while supporting personal transformation through creative expression.
Bianca Coal
Presenter Liaison, BurlyCon – 2016 to present
