Starlight – Holly Mehakovic

STARLIGHT ON

Holly

Mehakovic

Horror writer. Burlesque legend. Mother.

June 1, 2026

I first met HOLLY MEHAKOVIC* when photographing the Australian Burlesque Festival 2011. Her stage persona HOLLY J’ADOLL was a major drawcard for burlesque fans, as well as a highlight of Sydney’s “alternative” entertainment scene.

[*then Henderson, her maiden name]

As a performer, Holly was known as much for her beauty and skill as for the witty, “bent, comedic,” statement-making acts that are her signature. [see below for glimpses]. It’s no surprise her writing skills found their footing in horror. As she says: “I loved how polarising and punk it all was. […] I was never scared, if anything, I wanted to be scary.”

Proving that scary and soft coexist, Holly is also adept at the classic burlesque styles, being an accomplished fan dancer and a much in-demand pin-up model. Holly dabbled in mainstream modelling but its rigidity without stability didn’t hook this Piscean mermaid. Instead she chose to use her physicality to break stereotypes.

Her performer accomplishments range from fringe festivals, corporate events, television appearances to being a resident headline act at Sydney’s most glamorous venues, collaborating with international fashion and performance names, feted and celebrated for being “Sydney’s six-foot glamazon.”

...but Holly's mission has always been about helping other women change negative self-perception.

Even before she gave birth Holly was nurturing others and guiding their growth. Teaching burlesque classes (to groups of awestruck women who frankly, if it wasn’t for Holly’s warm and welcoming nature, would all be too intimidated to bump, grind and strip in front of her!) and co-creating and co-producing an award-winning legacy platform.

THE PEEL was an “open-stage burlesque and variety night” held at [the now closed] Slide in Sydney, so popular that J’aDoll and La Rouge took the show on the road to Coney Island, New York.

Holly and her “burlesque wife”, the fabulous Lauren La Rouge, launched THE PEEL in 2010, making it the place to be, to be seen, on stage and in the audience, and to leave preconceived notions about burlesque -and Women- behind.

THE PEEL is iconic, it launched the careers of and hosted many of Australia’s top performance art names and contributed significantly to Sydney’s holistic arts history. Story soon [keep your eyes peeled]. Read excerpts below.

Although she has retired from performing [“maybe“], Holly is still using her light to make others shine [” I’ve dipped my toe back into producing and stage managing“].
Her focus is on literary matters and what matters literally.

Life as a Woman with a calling who answers the call of her body… currently means Holly Mehakovic may be known more regularly as “mum” but rest assured, she is always Mother.

– SN

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PS. Holly and I have been friends since we met and I have had the pleasure of photographing her many times, on stage and for fashion shoots, and the honour of being an official photographer for many of Holly’s life events, including THE PEEL and her wedding and her first pregnancy.

PPS. Mid 00s onwards was a “golden era” for burlesque revival and its neo-burlesque evolution. It was a thriving, dynamic scene with shining stars who crossed over into the mainstream and corporate sectors. By the way, all professional burlesque performers groan at the mention of this movie… [review from 2011]

1. Current mood’s 5 favourite songs / pieces of music:

Current mood is DANCE and JOY, always and forever.
“To Be In Love“ (’99 Mix) by Masters At Work | “Temptation“ (12″ Version) by Heaven 17 | “Heartbreaker” by Crazy P | “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross | “Like it Is” by Coeo

2. Time travel: when, where and why?
Late 1950s Manhattan to hunt down Don Draper and break his heart.

3. If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing?
In a fantasy, I helm a colourful high street shop that serves coffee and vintage clothing by day (my two little divas would LOVE) before morphing into an alternating burlesque bar / discotheque by night (little divas safely home in bed).

Fashion shoot 2013 / Burlesque ABF 2011

4. Your burlesque performances were never just “bump and grind” routines. How do you create a routine? What comes first, the music or the idea? Then what?

Thank you! I was a neo-burlesque girl with a lot to say, keenly interested in weaponising my presence and playing with audience expectations. My process was fluid and loose. I’m not a trained dancer, but I have dancefloor groove, so music often came first.

My best routines always came together in pure flow: when I knew the music as well as my own heartbeat, had a few choreography combos tucked in my garter, and a crystalline idea of my character (usually fierce or funny). I allowed the rest to unfold naturally onstage, then I’d gradually hone the act over subsequent performances.

5. What colour would you use to describe yourself? Why?
Orange, because it’s loud, juicy, and retro.

6. Out of all your talents and skills, what gives you the most thrills?

I always have an answer for everything. I’m not sure my husband is always thrilled about it.

7. What’s something that takes up way too much of your time?
Life admin-mania. I’m a mum of two, a creative, a worker bee, and a fully grown woman with plates to spin. Non-stop busy work is just part of the gig.

8. Have you retired from performing burlesque? If so are you still involved in the community and would you ever perform again?
After eight fabulous years of non-stop performing and producing, I stepped off Sydney’s stages in 2015 to redirect my energy. It was hard at first, and (no one really knows this) I actually grieved the loss of Holly J’aDoll for many months. But it was the right choice.
I’ve dipped my toe back into producing and stage managing, most recently with the FunHaus Factory. Although I sometimes threaten to make a midlife performance comeback, going out on a high was probably for the best. Still, never say never. I’m still in touch with many icons in the scene, which I consider a privilege.

9. Many would say that taking one’s clothes off in public, on stage, in front of audiences who pay to see you do that is the craziest thing. But is it for you? What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done (so far)?

Taking off my clothes in front of many thousands of people in theatres, at festivals, and onscreen was crazy, hilarious, and exciting. But I loved the craziness; it’s addictive.

I loved how polarising and punk it all was. And onstage, I had a shield, right? My attitude, costume, makeup, moves. I’m over six feet tall in heels, and that certainly helped! I was never scared, if anything, I wanted to be scary.

“As for the craziest things I’ve done, I definitely can’t allow you to publish that.”

10. Name 1-3 books that made an impact on you?
I’m a horror girl.
Books of Blood Volume Four by Clive Barker | The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin | The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

11. If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?
You mean five collections, right? [“Hello? Of course“] Oh, good, I thought so.

My cluster of fine jewellery, my vintage clothing archive, all my books, all my old photographs, and the family heirlooms. Burn the rest.

12. If you have tattoos, what do they represent?
I have five small, “white girl” tattoos, all done on a whim, as this flavour of tatt should be. One can’t overthink these things.

– An Egyptian Ankh on my tailbone, done at eighteen because I was obsessed with ancient history, and because I could.

– An ambigram of “sometimes” on my left foot, which I got in my early twenties because I was trying to be profound.
– A hand-scrawled “J’adore” on my upper left ribs, written by my burlesque wife Lauren LaRouge as a tribute to my stage name. I scrawled one for her, too. Both have aged badly and now look quite warped, which is most applicable.

– Morse code initials on my upper right ribs. My two childhood friends and I got matching ones.

….And because he’s not keen on tatts, my husband’s name on my right buttcheek for my 40th birthday. His best mate, the hugely talented artist Warrick McMiles did it.

My girls think it’s hilarious. As do I.

A glimpse of Holly J'aDoll

1. Australian Burlesque Festival 2011

“This debuted at Burlesque Royale at the State Theatre Sydney (2011) and also at Crown Casino Melbourne.
I performed to my own disco mashup of “Theme From Shaft” by Isaac Hayes, “Le Freak” by Chic, and “Sex Machine” by James Brown.
I hadn’t seen much, if any, disco burlesque back then – think it’s pretty popular now – so this routine was a tribute to 70s vinyl culture, featuring an outer gown made from real records, a mirror ball bikini set, and a giant, rotating record player prop.” – Holly J’aDoll. Australian Burlesque Legend

2. Busties June 2012 [Aus Burlesque Awards] / Glamrock Sep 2012

“I debuted this act at the Busties Awards in 2012. A bent, comedic, high-glamour act I freestyled on the fly to Eric Clapton’s ‘Cocaine’.

I just thought it’d be funny to see a showgirl in a coke frenzy onstage, which apparently it was! I repurposed an existing custom costume and topped it with a marching band hat (marching powder, geddit?) and put a heavy emphasis on facial expression and frenetic fanwork.”
– Holly J’aDoll. Australian Burlesque Legend

3. Australian Burlesque Festival 2012

“I debuted this act at ABF 2012 and also performed it at Adelaide Fringe. This act used ultraviolet lighting, body paint, and minimal costuming by Lascivious, set to Ladytron’s ‘Seventeen‘*.
I was completely nude by the end, though the audience couldn’t see ‘everything’ under the UV light.
It was my most daring act, I suppose. It celebrated my love of electronic music (again, at the time, burlesque performed to electronica was unusual, at least in Sydney), while reclaiming some of the toxic objectivity I’d experienced.” – Holly J’adoll. Australian Burlesque Legend

*Holly was also a model and has insider knowledge of the insidious ways of the industry. This act set to this song is a perfect example of Holly “weaponising [her] presence”.

JUNE EDITORIAL: [Holly-day Wardrobe] coming soon…

13. Which instrument would you play if you were in a rock band?

Cowbell, no question. I’d make it rock n roll. [in case you’ve been inspired]

14. What has been one of the most defining moments of your life?
They keep coming.

Discovering the 90s rave scene in my teens; reinventing myself as a burlesque diva in my twenties; marriage and motherhood in my thirties; and in my forties, graduating with a Master’s in Creative Writing from Harvard and drafting a novel. Let’s go, what’s next?

15. THREE things you love about yourself… and ONE thing you would change.
Insistance on glamour as precedent. Ability to make the mundane whimsical and fun. An aggressive geekiness.
I would love to overthink less. I’m working on it. Aren’t we all, babe?

“Taking the Australian burlesque scene by storm from 2010-2015, The PEEL was a much loved blend of grassroots performance with fabulously chaotic styling.”

The Peel fb

The Peel Photography by Steve Wall. Hair by Tommy J.

The Peel was created a couple of years ago with the intentions to give new performers a space to get up there give it a go, an opportunity for new performer to be whoever and whatever they wanted. Holly states that, “we felt a chilled-out night where newbies could cut their teeth, and where established performers could break in acts, was desperately needed. The Peel provides this without any pressure, expectation or sceney bullshit.” – The Brilliant Bones of Burlesque. 2012

“The stunning Holly J’aDoll , the award winning producer of The Peel and Miss Kitka’s House of Burlesque bring you Sirens and Searchlights , a fun and flirty 1940s-style burlesque graduation production celebrating diversity, body positivity and good old fashioned bump ‘n’ grind.”

[..]

I spoke with Holly J’aDoll about why burlesque is so popular today and she had this to say about its revival; “Women are drawn to the classes to explore. […]
“From the start of this class in May to now, it’s been so rewarding to see the body positivity the girls have gained. Students really start embracing their bodies for what they are. You learn to be your most authentic self, that authenticity that burlesque gives you is so hot. It’s the most beautiful thing is to watch”
Holly adds, with a twinkle in her eye, “Know what your flaws are, own them, and rock them!“

– Sirens and Searchlights. 2014

Check out a full list of Holly’s awesome performance and modelling accomplishments [up till 2013] here.