Every time I’m standing in front of the magazine racks, I am searching for a magazine that interests me and doesn’t try to patronise or pigeon-hole me.

Where are the magazines that grow me, inspire me and include me? Surely there are thousands of people like me who feel the same way, who are interested in other things instead of the same old body shaming, desperate housewives crap you find on the racks?

That’s where this site comes in, I interview and feature people who are outside of the status quo and who are making a life following their passions, I also attend interesting events like tattoo and comic conventions, burlesque and fetish nights, music festivals and concerts and am always looking to stay at unusual hotels and visit unconventional places.

I love to travel and explore and then share my findings with others who are bored of the same old same old. You will also find on this site some advice articles and personal life streaming.

Who is The Dame?

My name is Lisa and I was born and raised in sunny South Africa. I immigrated to England in the summer of 99. Since then, I have visited numerous countries and also spent 2.5 years living in Australia.

I’ve been through all kinds of things in my life that have shaped who I am. From growing up in an abusive home, being bullied at school, escaping with recreational drugs for 10 years and suffering from lifelong anxiety and bouts of severe depression, I have learned many hard lessons.

I have also tried many different jobs in my life so far. I’ve been a stripper and a dominatrix, an animal care volunteer (in Australia, Thailand and South Africa) and a club DJ, as well as too many years spent behind a desk as a PA and project manager working in media and publishing. The only desk job I ever enjoyed was working at the head office of Virgin Megastores.

I didn’t go to University or College but I like to think I have a Degree in Life Experience having done so many things.

I enjoy art, tattoos, horse riding, longboard surfing and skating, dancing, travel, photography, writing and design (I do all the design for this website!).  I am also a slightly obsessive cat lover. My heroines are Mae West, P!nk and Juliette Lewis.

In recent times, I have performed in a rock-burlesque troupe for charity, spent three months volunteering on a guest farm and animal sanctuary in South Africa, rode in a 30km endurance competition, been to Paris and New York (and one of my photos got published in an Italian design magazine), decided to be a street style photographer at London Fashion Week for a day, spent a week off-grid in Wales, and went to a Secret Garden Party. You can read my Bucket List to find out the kind of things I want to experience and achieve or read a little Q & A.

So far, Ive been featured on YesandYes.com and my extremely popular post “How To Be Skinny” was linked to by GalaDarling.com and various other sites.

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and over on Tumblr (NSFW).