We recently connected with Bahar Gozmener and have shared our conversation below.

Bahar, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was in preschool I wrote in somebody’s friendship book that when I grow up I want to become a ballerina. I must’ve been around 4 or 5 years old.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an artist, filmmaker, writer, actress and dancer. I have always been interested in storytelling and performance, when I was in elementary school I used to write little short stories. In film school I learned the tools to write screenplays and visualize stories on screen. I started combining different art forms like sculpture and video through digital projections and became passionate about hybrid art and performance both live and on film. I started dancing at 4 years old when I did kids ballet, later I joined a jazz, contemporary and hiphop group and took salsa lessons. I was in theater and musical group in high school. I always dreamed of being on stage and performing for others. I discovered pole dance at the age of 23 and it ignited a big journey of transformation for me. I learned to reclaim my power, be confident in my body and express my sensuality and sexuality freely. I started working as an entertainer in august of 2022. Today I teach pole dance at Sadie’s, I am a performer at a bikini bar in LAHAT IS THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY. I train acting at beverly hills playhouse and I have a podcast about female empowerment. My class “Sensual Strip Flow” at Sadie’s is all about creating a safe environment for women to connect to their sensuality in a playful and fun way. My mission is to empower women to be more confident in their sensuality and sexuality.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I august of 2022 I almost became homeless because I couldn’t pay rent. I was studying at California College of the arts on two scholarships and three minimum wage jobs, but still couldn’t get by. I decided to become a stripper and it changed my life completely, both financially and internally. I became so much more confident and empowered. I learned that I can get after what I want.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to empower women around the world to become confident in their bodies and sensuality/ sexuality as well as spark more healthy conversations about consent and sexuality and remove the taboo and shaming around women’s bodies and their sexuality. I firmly believe that a society in which women can be express themselves freely and safely will not only benefit individuals in their lives and relationships but as a collective we will be much more creative and innovative. Our sensuality is deeply connected to our creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yumefilm.com
• Instagram: @sugarspicebb
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/168xCpnSbRFtzI87IZeE0n?si=L_Yjt3mASaiSQ85Dd3iyIg

Image Credits
Tariq Stone (second photo with art installation)