Every weekend, Ruby* steps into the spotlight donned in revealing attire, platform heels, body glitter, and a killer smile.

Engulfed in sultry music, she moves her body in hypnotic rhythm getting high off the cheers of Nakuru revelers and their tips.

At first glance, it is easy to cast judgement on Ruby* without knowing that she has dreams and aspirations beyond the pole.

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While chatting with me over a cup of coffee hours after her shift, she hesitantly opens up to Mtaa Wangu about her life as a stripper, how she got there and plans for the future.

Much to my shock, Ruby* shares that she is not only a business owner but is currently enrolled as a nursing student.

"Many people wear the same shock you've exhibited whenever I tell them that I have a life outside being a stripper," the quick-witted 28-year-old shares amidst a chuckle.

Ruby* began stripping close to four years ago after a grizzly road accident that left her and her siblings orphaned.

"After losing both my parents to a car crash along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, I needed to step up as the first born and provide for my younger siblings," she shares before adding, "I did every hustle under the sun before settling on this job."

Once she set foot in the land of exotic dance, she was dazzled by the large amounts of cash she'd take home in a night and decided to stay.

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Ruby* shares, "I was two months into the job when I decided to fully delve into exotic dancing. The particular moment was the night I walked home with a bag full of 100 shilling notes totaling to five thousand Kenya shillings. I had never received that much money in only a day and all I could think was how much I would make in a month if I turned it into my career."

In spite of her initial motivation to stay being money, Ruby* shares that her motivation has evolved with time.

"At the moment, I do this purely as a form of self-expression since I now view exotic dancing as pure art," she shares before adding, "I also feel very empowered whenever I get up on the stage."

However, Ruby's four-year stripping journey has not been an all empowering one with the over-objectification of strippers being her biggest hurdle.

"Initially, I used to cry myself to sleep due to how disrespectful men can get, with most feeling entitled to my body since they are giving tips. Many don't respect that we are just trying to earn an honest living. Luckily, I now work at clubs that hire bouncers who ensure there is no unnecessary and inappropriate touching," she narrates.

She additionally notes another challenge she faces in her line of work is the competition between other exotic dancers sharing that some women even go as far as tampering with the attire of a lady they're jealous of.

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Since starting her stripping job, Ruby*has since then opened up a business and enrolled as a nursing student.

She shares, "As much as people in the society view stripping as a vice, I have love for it since it has helped me take my siblings to school. I have also been able to open up a boutique shop, which I run during the day and I am currently enrolled as a nursing student with my classes set to begin next month."

When asked whether her siblings know of her nocturnal activities she answers, "No they don't. They think the money is gotten purely from my boutique."

While narrating her story, Ruby* additionally notes that if she had the power to go back to the past, she would still choose stripping as her career choice.

"Although I don't plan on being a stripper my whole life, I have to admit that I have fallen in love with being on stage. The plan is to open up a pole dancing class but given the conservative nature of our Nakuru people, I think it best to set up shop in Nairobi," she jokes.

As the interview comes to a close, Ruby* clears up on some of the common misconceptions that the general public has about strippers.

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"The most common misconception is that all strippers are the same. No we aren't. Not all of us are promiscuous and drug users. Yes, we all started stripping due to circumstances, but some of us do have aspirations for a life beyond the pole," Ruby* concludes.

diligenceodongo@gmail.com

Nakuru's night life: What drove 28-year-old to become an exotic dancer

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Diligence Odongo