Its hard not to be in awe of Jo Weldon. As a world-traveling, seasoned burlesque performer and headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque, she has gathered decades worth of experience in the sex work space.

But it wasnt always easy for Weldon.

I did not thrive at first, the 57-year-old said. I survived, and not everybody does in the situations I was in.

Growing up in conservative Georgia, Weldon said she was often beat up and bullied for being queer so much that she had to change schools. Still, she remained open about her identity and found ways to express herself, from reading magazines to learning about the history of burlesque to wearing vintage clothes.