Janna Zinzi

Pop A Pastie!

2019

Pasties are a signature piece of burlesque. Their purpose is to cover the nipples. They were historically imposed on women dancers by men, legally codified by the patriarchy because nudity is seen as negative or shameful. But through burlesque, pasties have been reclaimed as a punchline or final touch for an artist’s story. I designed these pasties to show that nipples come in different shapes and sizes. I used different materials to represent my African diasporic heritage with glamour. I included tassels to emphasize the joy of tassel-twirling and the joy and frivolity of our breasts and nipples.