Ivory is a multi discipline performer known best for her booty shakin', shenanigan making, and a voice that just won’t quit. A graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, this former Miss Canada Plus has graced stages across Canada, the US and abroad.! A member of the Succulent Six, Canada's team of curvy superSHEroes (check out their show on YOUTUBE and CBC.CA), and Les Femmes Fatales: Women of Colour Burlesque Troupe, you can follow her antics on Instagram and twitter @pureivorydotca or online at www.pureivory.ca
How and when did you first start playing mas? *
I started playing mas with my auntie Mary, her daughter Jamela and my bestie Nadz when I was 17 years old - 1've never missed playing mas Caribana in 15 years since!
What carnival experience has been your favourite (and most proud) to date? *
2008 Carnival when I was Miss Canada Plus and brought the pageant to the parade by playing frontline for Toronto Caribbean Connection!
What are some of your must-have carnival essentials?
Frozen Gatorade, a Whistle, and ALL OF THE GLITTER!
Describe your perfect mas experience:
We've gone to bed at a PROPER time the night before, so when we wake up early we're ready to go - I've got our favourite soca tracks playing, the sun is shining through the windows, I'm cooking ackee and saltfish and my girls are arriving at my place - I do their makeup and hair, we all get ready, we head down to grab Mary and Jamela and hit di roaaaad! We get to the assembly area and the trucks are all prepped and waiting to go - there's no huge delay, we drink and chip and wine our way to the stage where we dance our BUTTS off with our band and then cross to the other side of the stage for some food, some coconut water, and then we play on down di lakeshore til the sun goes down!
What would you like to tell people about mas, that they may not know?
Mas is the most body inclusive party you'll EVER play - not only is thickness, curves and showing what you've got CELEBRATED, but noone cares if you've got cellulite, rolls, are slim or are thick - it's just about living with pure JOY for the day and it is CONTAGIOUS
Would you change anything about playing mas in your city?
Caribana needs to become CARIBANA again - it needs to stop changing its name and most of all, it needs to go back to the original parade route of hitting the judging stands first, then moving west along the lakeshore for the rest of the day! None of this weird "walk in a circuit around the exhibition grounds" stuff - it's booooooooring and you loose the fun of chipping all the way down di roaaaaaad. ALSO - Bathrooms. We need more and better bathrooms along the parade route, as well as cooling stations to prevent heat stroke!
If you could play mas with one soca artist, who would it be, and why?
Machel Montano because he is THE soundtrack to all our Caribana's - every one of his singles are FIRE!!!
Do you think there is currently an unspoken age or size limit on playing mas?
I see people of all ages playing mas alongside me - from young kids way up to grandmothers and grandfathers, and everyone is welcome and liming up with everybody else!
Do you have a message of encouragement for the #everyBODYplayahmas network? *
Dance like noone's watching - the crowd is there to cheer you on and will LOVE YOU for being yourself, unapologetically
Tell us about your journey to becoming a confident woman:
As a child, I was often bullied for my weight or size, and didn’t fit into the “ideal” body type. I found that I was systematically taught that I was less than – simply because I was MORE than-by coaches, teachers, classmates, colleagues, family members, romatic partners and the like. I spent years carefully learning how to point out all of of my flaws - all of the points where I was not enough.
As a performer, I had to grow a thick skin to be able to own my place onstage in a body that is often told it does not deserve to be seen. I've fought tooth and nail to learn to love my body, and have become an advocate to stop the war on our bodies, and to put an end to the negative relationships that many of us develop with food, because of all this body policing, body shaming and yo-yo dieting that the media force feeds to us from a young age. Every BODY is beautiful.
Do you have any mentors/role models who have inspired you along the way?
My mother - who reminded me that no matter what life throws at you, NEVER give up
How do you think movements like #everyBODYplayahmas assist masqueraders?
#everyBODYplayahmas helps masqueraders have a collective voice
Follow my antics on Instagram and twitter @pureivorydotca or online at www.pureivory.ca
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