Times Square in New York City, New York, has always been a cultural hub for the United States. Different displays of art and culture can be found on every street and even every street corner. Not only is being topless legal in NYC, but in some instances it’s encouraged. Who hasn’t heard of Robert Burck, aka the Naked Cowboy? Even his wife and sister-in-law, Patricia Burck and Elizabeth Cruz, are in on the undressed act and perform as the Naked Cowgirls. Recently, though, a new art form has emerged that has taken things to the next level.
Desnudas, the Spanish word for ‘nude,’ has taken on a new meaning as women parade the streets in nothing but thongs and body paint, taking pictures for tips. The act is similar to the Naked musicians, but certainly shows more skin. New York Post reporter, Amber Jamieson, noticed the growing trend and decided to get to the bottom of the toplessness.
“There had been a few quotes and interviews with the painted ladies talking about how empowered they felt, but not a whole lot of it,” said Jamieson to Benjamin Mullin, writer for www.poynter.org. “I wanted to hear more about their experiences, and I kept thinking the best way to do that would be to nude up and do it secretly. I kept waiting for another reporter to do it, but no one did.”
Eventually, Jamieson grew tired of waiting on someone else to take that step. After much deliberation and mental preparation for strolling the streets naked, Jamieson pitched the idea to her editor.
“My editor, Steve Lynch, started laughing for about 10 straight seconds, before saying ‘if my office is bugged, let it be clear that she suggested this!’” said Jamieson.
The article was approved, though, and Jamieson reported for duty in Times Square. According to her article, “I went undercover as a topless performer in Times Square.” The arrangement was fairly simple: a man named Chris painted her body, kept up with her clothing and bag, and kept an eye out to make sure no one touched her or any of the other girls inappropriately in exchange for 30% of their tips for the day.
According to New York City law, it is illegal for street performers to have a set rate, but they are allowed to collect tips. The painted ladies, as they prefer to be called, take pictures with tourists in exchange for a few bucks here and there. While it’s true the Governor and NYPD are actively trying to shut the performers down, Jamieson reported that she had a good experience overall. She received multiple compliments and took pictures for hours with people of all ages, making a total of $210 after Chris took his share.
“Most of [the reaction] has been positive, several people emailed me about how I’m helping the feminist cause, which is my life dream and lots of fellow reporters commending my bravery, which is friendly,” said Jamieson. “I learnt that it’s worth putting yourself out there if you believe in the story!”
Jamieson’s article was a great read and certainly fascinating as she relayed the day's play-by-play, including pictures. The ladies she worked with even responded to her article, saying that if she ever needed some extra cash, she was always welcome. Jamieson has officially raised the bar for reporters everywhere.
