Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Nova.
Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Where to begin? I’m originally from Central Florida, middle of nowhere, but close to the beaches so….ya know…Florida-ish. I moved to Atlanta in 2017, and I have been a sparkly mess across the city; I have no intention of stopping.
I began attending conventions and cosplaying at 16. Once I hit 18, I hit the dark side of cosplay and began modeling in and out of costumes. I was one of the first people in my area to be lewd and nude and nerdy.
The internet was my gateway into fetish and flirty; dirty and nerdy. I worked for several companies before teaming up with my best friend and founding MyGeekGoddess.com.
That’s where the story really begins. People don’t understand the art form that sex work can be; I’ve been attacked doing embracing my body, my passions and the freedom I have to express them. We wanted to create a haven for nerdy females with a penchant for the naughty.
MyGeekGoddess opened the door for me to begin performing Nerdleseque at conventions when we were asked to put together a show. With the help of some of our more seasoned performers, I brainstormed acts and hit the stage with my first routine.
It wasn’t amazing.
The feeling it awakened was.
It was cathartic, real, and passionate. It was everything I felt in front of the lens and more. I couldn’t get enough. I haven’t stopped creating nerdlesque and burlesque from that moment. I generally create at least two new fully realized routines a month. I tour across the east coast and sometimes further, always pushing forward. I lead a team of incredible talent; I am gifted to be surrounded by performers that take the time to teach and push me.
At the same time Oracle, my business partner, and I see what we can truly build. We know as time goes on, MyGeekGoddess isn’t just a home for female nerds, it’s a home for those all those without one. A safe space for those that wanted to create free of the burden of judgement, free of constrictions on their art, their passion and their creativity. As I write these responses, we are actually on the cusp of changes that will allow our us to become even more inclusive and limitless for those that crave representation. As the world grows, so do we. With that being said, we launched https://www.mygeekgoddess.com/my-geek-glory-expansion/ to begin the work to make this part of our vision a reality in the best ways we know how.
So here I stand, at this point in the story, a business owner and a creative, on a mission not only for total world take over, but to create change and a banner for those without one.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I keep rewriting my answer to this question. Smooth roads are never worth traveling. Struggles are part of the process and lead to growth.
My struggles, to me, are not significant. I immediately think of those that have had it worse. Then there are the base issues with a company like ours, the constant censorship of the internet, the lack of body autonomy in our culture especially for sex workers…
That’s the day to day; the constant bullshit we have to deal with. We fight every single day to grab hold and carve out an existence for our passions, our beliefs, our art. Every day is a fight, and I’m happy to be part of the battle. I don’t back down.
Smooth? Not at all. From abuse to gaslighting to misogyny and the abundant evidence that there are those people that wish what I did and what I believe in didn’t exist…I’m glad it’s hard. It makes me stronger.
And a bad bitch doesn’t back down.
What I create as Jessica Nova isn’t for everyone. Sometimes it’s silly and stupid, other times it’s uncomfortable and sometimes it just misses its mark. But I’m creating it, it’s mine.
What MyGeekGoddess does isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay too. I’m not trying to make everyone happy, I’m trying to make something for those that want to be involved. So they have a place, a home, and a space. It’s worth fighting for.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
To better understand my business, we are going to tackle the three biggest parts:
Jessica Nova: This is me, the loudest most dialed up version of myself. Free from social anxiety, the fully realized mess, the art piece. This is the face that most people encounter. This is the burlesque and nerdlesque performer that is well versed in weird, that has an infallible talent for causing arousal based on the odd. I’ve been performing Nerdlesque and Burlesque for about four years; producing and performing in various states with no end in sight. I like to think I’m known for working hard, for being professional, and for delivering a solid product. I’m not the most experienced, but I pull my own weight, I won’t quit, and I love what I do.
I am most proud of the work I do every single time I step on a stage. As a sufferer of wild anxieties, it’s always euphoric to have the world stop while your song plays and you truly exist in that moment. Not a damn thing else matters except that 3-5 minutes. Even if it all comes crashing down, those moments are yours, bloody knees and broken nails all the same.
MyGeekGoddess: The website, the nerdy, dirty, fun and flirty. Subscription based, we contract cosplay nerd models all over the world to share their passions with our members. I like to think we specialize in providing something that can’t be found elsewhere, even on similar sites. A true community. We aren’t trying to sell the fantasy of character xyz being naughty, we are introducing you to model xyz; a human that shares your passions and love for a fandom. We provide a space to share that love while celebrating their bodies and sexuality. I’m proud of the models I’ve seen grow and become more comfortable in their own skin. Seeing their confidence grow and glow is a beautiful thing. Everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin, everyone deserves to feel beautiful.
Bifrost Arts Collective: This is my newest project. I co-run this beast with two fine humans; Kali Fornication and Silver Kitsune. Still in its infancy, this undertaking aims to create more than just a production group for burlesque; we will create a collective for artists as a whole. I’m proud of where I see us going, the groundwork we are already laying, and the big beautiful things to come. What sets Bifrost apart? We know how to get out of our own way, we know what we want to create and we have the right heads (three to be exact) to tackle these issues. It serves as a mouthpiece, a teacher, and a student all at once, ready to learn, grow and take action.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is one of my favorite words. It’s so unique to each of us yet so universal. It’s a current location, a destination, a wish and memory all at once. It is something we strive for and something we have already achieved.
I could go on about this topic for a long time but let’s talk about what it is in relation to me.
I define success in the moment. I try to find it, or as I prefer, victory, in every single moment. Even in those moments where I am denied, when a trial or struggle rises before me I look for how I can persevere and conquer.
It’s not always easy, it’s not always pretty. If I don’t use that as my modus operandi, however, I get under ‘It’. It being depression, imposter syndrome, you name it. Success is not giving in to the gremlins in our head. Sometimes success is just getting out of bed. I’ll take it. Whatever form it is, in whatever the moment, it’s all a success. Even failure. Especially failure.
I don’t really have criteria or markers for success, I am able to do what I love every day. I am able to be an ear, a platform, and a voice all at once. For myself and sometimes even for others. It’s a great feeling. And each is a success in my journey.
I breathe in Victory every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mygeekgoddess.com
- Email: jessicaleighnova@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thejessicanova
- Other: instagram.com/bifrostcollective instagram.com/mygeekgoddess
Image Credit:
Stungun Photography, MyGeekGoddess.com, BreninHurley, Charles Bailey
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