JULY
 
To say ‘my life has changed’ since winning the USPDF Championships would be a massive understatement. I wake up most mornings still pinching myself in disbelief. As Alethea said to me after I won the title, “buckle up. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
 
Here’s a partial recap of what’s happened since April 29th:
 
1) I’ve been written about in the Huffington Post and my hometown newspapers The Austin American Statesman and The Westlake Picayune, and was amused to find myself as D-Listed’s “Hot Slut of the Day.” (To give you an idea of the company I keep, an opossum who’d been shot five times and survived preceded me just the day before.)
 
2) I practiced my on-camera interviewing skills with CBS Morning News, Al Jazeera and Telemundo, and made two appearances on Good Day LA and one on The View. I experienced the media’s love of schadenfreude – laughing at other’s misfortune and I fully came to understand the adage “any press is good press.” (This coming from a former publicist). I also saw Barbara Walters rock the X-Stage Lite, which will be one of my most cherished memories for life. That woman has raw, untapped talent.
 
3) I did a Girl Next Door photo shoot at Vasquez Rocks in which we lugged an X-Stage and set it up, renegade style. Hikers were disappointed to find that we were NOT shooting a porno.
 
4) I shot the COVER (!!!) of the next issue of Vertical Art & Fitness magazine and did an amazing session with the wonderful Jeff Xander for my X-Pole press photos.
 
5) I performed in the Showcase of the Stars at Pole Convention in West Palm Beach and gave a talk about competition preparation and finding your own voice as a dancer and artist. I overcame my fear of public speaking.
 
6) I jetted off to Greece to perform in a performance piece for artist Doug Aitkin that starred actress Chloe Sevigny, the band No Age, gospel singers, a tapper and a 3-time world champion whipper. We introduced pole to the tony fine art crowd, who respected our art tremendously.
 
7) I mapped out a workshop tour through the fall that will take me to San Francisco, San Diego, Mexico City, London, Bristol, Manchester, Hertford, Dublin, Stockholm, Milan, Rome, Athens, Vancouver, Dallas and Sydney.
 
I performed in July’s Girl Next Door show, which was the first time all three of the USPDF National Champions have graced the stage. Sharing the stage with Alethea and Jenyne was such a huge honor.
 
9) I quit my PR job of nine years. Yes. I really did. Leaving my career was a difficult decision, but the right one. Who else gets the opportunity to do what they love most?
 
This next year is bound to be filled with even more adventure, personal growth and I hope, increased acceptance of pole dancing as a legitimate sport/art that empowers both women and increasingly men. As US Pole Dance Champion 2011, I hope to represent all polers in that respect.
 
I’ll be writing regular blog posts for X-Pole throughout the year chronicling my new life as I perform, teach and dance my way across the globe. Drop me a line at Natasha@natashawang.com or hunt me down on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/natashapatwang to contact me personally. Look for me in the next X-Pole newsletter and thank you for reading. Happy poling!
 
XOXO,
 
Natasha