SuicideGirls' Missy Suicide Talks About Her "Beautiful Sorority of Badass Babes"

SuicideGirls cofounder Missy Suicide describes her most famous creation as a "beautiful sorority of badass babes from around the world." In 2001, at 24 years old, Suicide, born Selena Mooney, along with partner Sean Suhl launched this, one of the earlier, still-running social networking sites from Portland, Oregon.

If you're not familiar with SuicideGirls, it features sexy photos of hot punk and rockabilly women, decorated with tattoos and not afraid to show their boobs or their personalities.

"It has evolved over the years, but it's stayed relatively true to its initial intent," Suicide says. "As a result, it's been a kind of pioneer in the internet community space." She admits to being a web nerd herself. "The way people can use the internet to come together to exchange information, to basically connect on such a global scale, is fascinating to me. It's something I geek out about."

The site isn't just a way for pervs to peep a nipple or two. Compared to the rest of the web, Suicide says, "people are much more respectful on Suicide­Girls." She attributes the lack of trolling to membership fees; also, no one wants to "lose the privilege" of having access to the ladies.

While nowadays the internet is filled with all sorts of sexy bodies and body parts, back in 2001, seeing this kind of community of gals was a rarity. "A lot of [original SuicideGirls] were girls I was friends with, and I was like 'You're so pretty, and there's nobody who looks like you online.' Not just online but anywhere. 'Let's put your pictures up and show your voice, because you have so much to share with the world,' " Suicide explains. As it turns out, of the people online, "they too are tired of the same two body types."

The site popularized an alternative type of beauty, and we wondered what she thinks about how things are shifting in the arena of body consciousness in the media. "People are more accepting of different beauty standards," she observes. "The media is starting to have a new standard of beauty... We get emails every day from women all over the world who didn't think they were beautiful till they saw SuicideGirls." She says it's better to see "someone who looks like you celebrated for being beautiful. It's still important for SuicideGirls to have that confidence and share their beauty and share that confidence. They inspire other girls to have confidence."

And in particular, she notes as a positive sign, "even having just like Kim Kardashian, having curvier women as role models, even if their particular curves are unattainable for most." There's more than just waifs and Pam Andersons out there. Suicide laughingly adds that at least "a third type of unattainable body is good."

SuicideGirls is about to get up close with fans with the 2014 Blackheart Burlesque Tour. Though they've been on the road in the past, from 2002 to 2006, they rebuilt the burlesque show from the ground up "to make it bigger and badder and better," she says.

This year's striptease performances make pop-culture references, choreographed by Manwe Sauls-Addison, that will resonate with the audience. Think Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Donnie Darko, and Planet of the Apes, where two girls "come out in silver bikinis and monkey masks to Disclosure's 'When a Fire Starts to Burn.'"

If that doesn't get your interest piqued, nothing will. "The show is sexy, silly, fun, and it's impossible to leave without a smile." Oh, and a word to the wise: Don't sit in the first few rows unless you can handle getting wet or being pulled onstage as a prop.

SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque Tour. Presented by Inked Magazine. 8 p.m. Saturday, November 15, at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $25 plus fees. Call 954-564-1074, or visit cultureroom.net.

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