Freaky, Fierce & Free: With Miss Terri Boxx & Mama Mamba

Sassy
Aug 25
4 min read

Meet the Artists Rewriting Burlesque

There’s a certain kind of magic when performers step on stage and make the room their own. For Miss Terri Boxx and Mama Mamba, that magic isn’t just performance — it’s revolution. In conversation with host BxSassy, the pair reflect on their journeys into burlesque and cabaret, and how they’re using their craft to challenge norms, uplift their community, and inspire confidence in others.

For Mama Mamba, performance has always been a way of channelling creativity. “I did ballet and tap when I was younger, and I always loved dance,” she recalls. At university, she joined a burlesque society, and soon found herself stepping onto stages that celebrated play, glamour, and expression. A drag lip sync competition followed, which she entered for fun — and won. “That was the spark,” she smiles. “From there it all snowballed.”

Her artistry didn’t stop with dance. For years, Mamba was instantly recognisable with her bold blue hair and glittered brows, and her performances have since grown into a dazzling mix of sultry and shocking. “I always like a juicy combo,” she says. “Very sexy, but I’ll also freak you out a bit — I might hammer things up my nose or staple things to my face. I’ve always been a freaky girl.”

Miss Terri Boxx’s journey took shape through community. Drag first appeared as an at-home experiment during lockdown, where they entered an online competition just for fun. That spark became something bigger. “At first I didn’t see myself represented in drag — especially as a bearded queen,” Terri Boxx explains. “Then I went to shows and realised you can do this however you want. I don’t want to be put in a box. One night I might be spooky, another night camp and ridiculous. My drag doesn’t have to conform to gendered tropes — I just get to be whoever I want to be.”

That sense of freedom has been transformative for both artists. For Mama Mamba, the stage became a space for body confidence. “When I first joined the burlesque society, I’d wear baggy t-shirts and hide my arms. It took me a long time to feel comfortable showing my body. Now, people message me saying I’ve inspired them to accept themselves — that’s the most rewarding part.”

For Terri Boxx, discovering drag unlocked a new self. “I walk around knowing I’m that bitch,” they laugh. “It’s made me more confident in my identity, and I’m more free to be myself in everyday life, not just on stage.” And though their performances are bold, both are open about being introverts. “Every time before a show I think I’m going to throw up,” admits Mamba. “But once I step on stage, I’m a completely different person.” Terri Boxx agrees: “Inside I’m nervous too, but I’ve learned how to put up a poker face so the audience never sees it.”

It’s here that their surprising backstories shine through. For Terri Boxx, the composure they bring to stage was shaped by an unexpected training ground. “I used to be an MMA fighter,” they reveal. “Getting into a cage to fight someone is nerve-wracking. That taught me how to control nerves — I carried that into drag. No matter how I feel inside, I step out and deliver.”

But it’s not just about personal transformation. Both performers are determined to change an industry that too often remains monolithic. “There’s still so much fatphobia,” says Mamba. “Plus-size performers aren’t given enough space, but my body is a big part of what makes my performance powerful.” Terri Boxx adds: “I’m tired of being the only person of colour on a lineup, or seeing drag kings treated as token diversity hires. Producers need to stop booking the same kinds of acts and start diversifying lineups properly.”

Despite these frustrations, their love for the cabaret and queer community shines. From backstage pep talks to audience members inspired to try heels or drag for the first time, they know their presence matters. “Even just putting someone in makeup for the first time can change how they see themselves,” says Terri Boxx. “It’s magic.” And while the nerves may never go away, both embrace them as proof of passion. “The day I stop being nervous is the day I stop performing,” Mamba says. “That adrenaline, that mix of fear and joy, is what makes it all worth it.”

So, what advice would they give to anyone dreaming of the stage? Mamba doesn’t hesitate: “Fake it till you make it, babe.” And Terri Boxx echoes the invitation: “Put the makeup on. See yourself differently. You’ll discover a version of you that deserves to shine.” Together, Miss Terri Boxx and Mama Mamba are proving that burlesque isn’t just about sequins and striptease — it’s about rewriting the rules, diversifying the stage, and showing us all how to live our sassiest, most unapologetic selves.