26 July 2008 6,724 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

When Danni left home to study Psychology at University, little did she know that working in the local supermarket wasn’t going to provide her with the glamourous student lifestlye she had dreamed off.

At 20, Danni quickly realised that stacking shelves was something she wouldn’t last long at. After searching the web and trying a handful of part time admin positions, Danni knew she’d had to find something unique to fund her student days of high street shopping sprees and champagne parties.

“I just didn’t want to be like my mates”, Danni explains. “After first year, when Freshers week had passed us by and the real slog began, all my friends were either couped up in their rooms studying or working part time for pennies, it just wasn’t for me”.

In a desparate attempt to find a job that paid well and didn’t involve mind numbing work, Danni began looking at upping the anti. “I always was a bit of a dare devil and liked the idea of mixing my psychology studies with real life, so decided to try my hand at stripping”.

After convincing a friend to try a local class held in the function room of a local pub, Danni really began to enjoy the buzz of being able to dance like a professional and the reaction she got from the tutor. “The instructor was really positive and once said “You could do this for a living”…so I did!”

Danni visited one club in her town but they turned her down after a failed audition. “I was so nervous I kept slipping and making mistakes,” Danni explains. Never one to accept failure, Danni tried another venue nearby and was asked back for a trial period. “I was so excited at the thought of earning money for doing something I enjoy, it never really sunk in until I had my first paying customer!”

“I was extremely nervous to begin with but some of the girls were really supportive and I quickly got the hang of it - it’s all psycholody at the end of the day.” Soon, Danni began earning £150 - £300 per night and was quickly in a league of her own at university. “I was always wearing new clothes and had a nice car, not a banger most students end up driving. My friends were impressed and the guys in my class seemed to love the fact I was a student by day and stripper by night!”

So, was there ever a time where things got too much?

“With customers it’s the usual no touching rule that they never really obide by after a few rounds, but that’s taken care of by security. Aside from that, rowdy stag parties can overstep the mark occasionally but I put them in line. The money’s good, there has to be the odd snag.”

Have you ever been totally embarrassed?

Not really, I’m not one to blush easily. Going naked in front of hundreds of men (and women!) and grinding up against strangers during private dances has given me the confidence to laugh anything off. There was one time where a group of guys from the Uni came in and I just wanted to hide, but they spotted me and I realised I couldn’t be shy or ashamed, the truth was bound to come out. So I walked over, said hello and asked them if they wanted to see me naked. After a few private shows I became the most popular girl in the class!”

Have you ever wanted to go back and change your decision about becoming a dancer?

“No, I like the hours and money too much, plus I keep really fit! It’s not an abnormal job to me anymore, I just see it as work.”

Danni has admitted to one, minor detail that does bug play on her mind occasionally - her parents are unaware of her job. “I think my dad would freak more than my mum, she was a bit of a girl in her time so she’d probably laugh it off. What they don’t know won’t hurt them - I’m supporting myself in a safe environment without struggling or relying on them for financial aid.”

Now 21, Danni smiles as I ask her whether becoming a stripper was a good decision. “Definately,” she smiles.

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