Genital augmentation? Pastie scars? Dwarfs? Margaret Cho, star of a new VH-1 reality series, The Cho Show, and a touring burlesque act, gets intimate with us.
Q: What makes your series unique? A: My life is anything but typical. My show features my very Korean parents, my very gay friends, and my wonderful assistant—who also happens to be a little person. So it's like a cross between my stand-up specials and Madonna's Truth or Dare, with a bit of Little People, Big World mixed in.
Q: How did your family react to the show's cringe-worthy fare—like when you injected collagen into your G-spot? A: My parents are very funny when they have to deal with anything racy or off-color. They usually pretend they don't speak English.
Q: What should women know about your burlesque show, Beautiful? A: I'm exploring how we feel about our bodies through laughter. It's important to feel beautiful; it's political to feel beautiful. All my life I felt awkward, insecure, and chubby.
Q: Now you strip onstage. And once you started dancing, you shed pounds. What happened? A: It's weird. Discovering burlesque led me to take up belly dancing, and a lot of my weight came off. It's a pleasurable movement that has positively increased my body awareness. It's so unlike going to the gym and hating it.
Q: How long do you plan to shimmy? A: Burlesque is fun, but now I have big circular scars on my breasts from wearing pasties every night, so soon I'm going to have to take a semi-retirement.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
-
21 Spring Essentials in Madewell, Banana Republic, and Shopbop's Flash Sales
Don’t let these can’t-miss sales pass you by.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published
-
'Shōgun' Is a Masterpiece—Will There Be More Episodes?
With those ratings, never say never.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
32 Child Stars Who Have Aged Like Fine Wine
They made the notoriously bumpy transition to adulthood look easy.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
Sarah Hyland and Adam Devine Play 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
The 'Modern Family' stars reunited for the 'Pitch Perfect' spinoff series.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published
-
The 78 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes of All Time
Honestly, we're impressed.
By Charlotte Chilton Published
-
Super Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Woman
From childhood snapshots to portraits as a young princess, beautiful and rare photos of the late Queen Elizabeth as a young woman.
By Mehera Bonner Published
-
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla's Relationship: A Timeline
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles has ascended to the throne as king.
By The Editors Published
-
Who Is Next in Line for the British Throne, Explained
And yes—Harry and Archie are still in the line of succession.
By Andrea Park Published
-
Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Fiancé Riley Roberts?
AOC's husband-to-be is an "easygoing redhead" who lives with her in D.C.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
68 Times the Kardashians Posed Fully Nude and Owned It
And we mean fully nude—as in, not a shred of clothing.
By Bianca Rodriguez Published
-
Who Is Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles's Fiancé and NFL Player?
"The easiest yes!" Simone wrote about the couple's engagement.
By The Editors Published