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Full slideshow of the real strippers of Boardwalk in Fort Lauderdale's Wilton Manors
On a recent Sunday afternoon, still hungover from drinking martinis and watching Magic Mike, a group of friends and I munched on brunch and sucked down healing mimosas. Maybe it was the mimosas, maybe it was our memories of Magic Mike, but we left the restaurant in a drunken haze, on the hunt for some serious man meat. Hey, it's not easy getting past the image of Channing Tatum dropping trou on the big screen (still wish it was in 3-D). We needed Magic Mike come to life in front of our eyes, and on our laps, right here in Fort Lauderdale.
Our first stop was Le Bare, a location known for catering to the ladies. But, sadly it turned us away. Next up was Johnny's, a man-friendly joint on Broward Boulevard that also told us to take a hike. But in the middle of Wilton Manors, we found hope at Boardwalk. Although most patrons were dudes, the greased-up, banana-hammock-wearing, drool-inducing performers welcomed us with open arms.
We grabbed handfuls of dollar bills, took a few shots of tequila, and waited patiently to feast on the bronzed-up babes. Sure, these ripped hunks of burning love were on display for the world to snack on, but they too have hopes and dreams and things to say. Rather than this turning us off (ahem, men), this got us intrigued.
We sat down with some strippers of Broward County to learn more about their pasts, their craziest nights, and most signature moves.
(Interviews conducted by Christina Mendenhall.)
Meet Ricky. This tan babe probably enjoys long walks on the beach, cooking breakfast naked (for you) in the morning, and listening to you call him "Papi" while the lights are down low.
His signature move that drives the crowd wild: He gets into the cage, turns around with his backside facing the crowd, does a pull-up shaking his buttcheeks to the beat, and when the beat drops, he slams down on the ground to do a hip thrust.
Meet Gary. This Latin lover may not speak English, but he is certainly fluent in the language of love. We're guessing he enjoys a passionate evening of making out under the stars and sharing a plate of fondue. Who knows where that melted chocolate could end up?
His favorite dance move: Gary enjoys gyrating his hips in a circular motion while grinding on your lap.
Meet Joshua, a student putting himself through school in the nontraditional way. He's more of the sensitive type; a night out with him would probably include reading poetry by candlelight and watching foreign films. That key around his neck unlocks the pathway to his heart.
His favorite thing to do on stage: He just likes to have fun. He's already stripped down to his underwear, why not just have a good time with it? Who cares if you're not the best dancer? The crowd just likes to see that you're having fun with it.
Meet Sean. This Mohawk-sporting babe might look like he's got an edge, but he's just a Southern boy with a big ol' heart. (And he's got some serious crush-worthy dimples!) He'll probably take you for a round of beers, maybe play some strip darts, and tell you stories about his hitchhiking days by a campfire.
His stripping story: He and a friend hitchhiked from Missouri to Florida. And when financial times got tough, he figured why not use his good looks for something. He stumbled into a dancing bar in Key West, and the rest is just history.
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