Eye Candy of the Month: Julie Slowinski

Say hello to Julie Slowinski, our newest Eye Candy girl. Known for an impeccable fashion sense along with an out of this world smile, she is more than just a pretty face. As a community advocate, Julie is particularly focused on supporting and creating spaces that are welcoming to newcomers. She also loves to express her gender identity through the art of burlesque. Please give a warm welcome to the cougar first runner up of our 2025 Feeling Femme Photo Contest.

Let’s start by telling everyone where you are from?

I’m a city girl living in Chicago, but I also travel pretty frequently. In the last couple years, Julie has been to Minneapolis, Detroit, Des Moines, Boston, New York and New Orleans.

When did you first start dressing and how did it come about?

I remember the first moment distinctly. My mom had left a pair of strappy heels in the bathroom. Taking advantage of the privacy, I tried them on. I was young enough that we had the same shoe size, so they fit perfectly. I was absolutely mesmerized by how they looked and how they felt. It’s possible I had thought about wearing girls’ clothes before that – I’m not exactly sure of the timeline. What I know is that after that moment, I was totally hooked.

My very, very secret dressing continued into my early 20s. At the time, I was living with my girlfriend and decided I trusted her enough to come out to her. She was really supportive and helped me shop for some of my very first articles of feminine clothing. We eventually split, for unrelated reasons, but that experience gave me the confidence to come out to the woman who would eventually become my wife.

Another major milestone was when Julie made her first public appearance, back in 2017. Girl, I tell you, I took to that like a fish to water. Within a year, I had moved beyond the gay clubs and CD meetups and was doing all sorts of mainstream activities – museums, restaurants, music venues and live theater. It was like my life had restarted. The world was suddenly so much more vibrant and I was determined to take all of it in. I still frequent queer spaces, but not out of necessity. It’s more about being in community, which I’ve learned to appreciate as an essential part of my feminine existence.

Just after the pandemic, I took another big step by taking a burlesque class. I didn’t know it at the time, but my life was about to change again. There were about a dozen of us in the class (all cis women, except for me) and we spent 8 weeks learning a dance routine, culminating with a group performance in front of a live audience. The moment I heard that incredibly supportive audience cheer, hoot and holler, I was once again hooked. Even better, was the friendships I made during the 8 weeks – I’m still friends with most of them to this day. Since then, I’ve taken over a dozen classes, started developing and performing solo acts and produced over 2 dozen open stage shows. The burlesque community is incredibly supportive and surprisingly queer. Here’s the cool part. I perform en femme, but take classes in boy mode. So, just about everyone knows me in both forms. The picture below is of me hosting the open stage show I produce.

How did you come up with your Femme name?

Basically, I meditated on it. I had a list of possibilities rolling around in my head, but couldn’t decide on one. So I found a quiet place, cleared my mind and gently reviewed the list until I found the one that just “felt right”.

Burlesque performers usually take on a stage name. Outside of burlesque, I often refer to myself as a part-time princess. In honor of that notion I picked the name Princess Julie – not too far from my chosen name, but definitely stage worthy.

How often do you dress?

To be clear, I don’t usually dress to hang around the house. Although I could do it, it just doesn’t hold my interest – if I’m not going to be seen, then I don’t see the point of going through the effort of makeup and outfit selection. So, the frequency of my dressing is pretty much tied to my social schedule. That means that I might get dressed to go out 3 times in one week or not at all for 2 or 3 weeks. It just depends on what’s going on in my life. Although, if I get the urge and I don’t have any plans, I’ve been known to get dolled up and head out solo – usually to a jazz or blues club. I have little trouble making friends with strangers, so I’m never really all that alone. Also, I like to travel. So, a few times a year I’ll do a trip specifically for Julie. Usually it’s an organized event, like the Fall Fling in Minneapolis or the Detroit Invasion, or just a trip with a friend, like my recent trips to New York and New Orleans. If it’s a business trip, I’ll usually fit in a few nights of Julie time.

Are you married/in a relationship? If yes, are you able to share your female self with your partner?

I’ve been married for almost 30 years and, as I said above, came out to my wife before we got married. She’s supportive, but not interested in participating in my Julie adventures. As long as she has her husband most of the time, she has little problem with Julie heading out once in a while. More recently, I’ve come out to my kids. They were 17 and 19 at the time, and saw it as a non-issue. Coming out to them has made things significantly easier at home – no more hiding my things nor my whereabouts. Julie is now free to come and go as she pleases.

Tell us what goes into getting the perfect photo?

The most important part is a genuine smile – gotta see them teeth. Second is to be looking at the camera. Eyes are the window to the soul. The viewer will have a much greater connection if you’re acknowledging them. There’s other things like kicking a hip or creating an “S” shape with your body, but it’s not a great pic if you don’t have eye contact and a great smile.

What are some of your favorite outfits/fashions?

The other day, I saw a meme by a cis woman that said, “When in doubt… overdress.” I very much subscribe to that notion. I have absolutely zero interest in being a wallflower. I want to be noticed and appreciated for the effort I put into my makeup and outfit. I’ll take into account the venue and occasion, but will almost always push the limits. My goal is to be the hottest / prettiest / classiest girl in the room. One of my burlesque friends says that I always walk into a room like I own the place. The picture below is from a holiday party with my burlesque friends. Maybe a bit over the top, but to be fair, over the top is what burlesque is all about.

Stockings or pantyhose?

To be honest, I prefer to go bare legged. It feels more natural and authentic, especially in the summer months. However, in the fall, I very much appreciate a nice pair of black tights, especially if they are super soft. Black tights with a short skirt and knee high boots is one of my favorite looks. For the stage, there’s nothing better than garters and stockings. The pic below is from a photoshoot we did to promote a burlesque show.

Heels or flats? 

I’m all about the heels. I’m of the opinion that the right heels will make an outfit. However, being a city girl, I’ve learned to appreciate the flats. Often it’s a long walk to / from the train, so having a big enough purse to hold my heels while I walk comfortably in my flats is essential. Also, if I’m driving out to the suburbs, I need my flats because Julie don’t drive in heels.

Favorite places to go when dressed?

I’ll pretty much go anywhere and am always looking for new adventures. But, I generally gravitate to cultural activities. Art museums and live performances are very high on the list. Of course, scrumptious food at fancy restaurants is also a priority. Shopping is fun, especially going to a department store and trying on dresses I can’t afford. But, I only do that if I have time to kill. Shopping is rarely a destination – more of a stop off on the way to somewhere else.

All of these activities very much align with the activity schedule of a weekend meetup like the Minneapolis Fall Fling or the Detroit Invasion. A similar event is the one I organize here in Chicago. It’s called Paint the Town and gives me an opportunity to share all of the fun activities I’ve discovered in Chicago. Oh wait, I almost forgot about dancing. One of my favorite activities, and something we always do during Paint the Town, is late night dancing – usually in Boystown, which has some of the best dancing in the city.

Go to accessories for a night out?

I’m not sure if hip pads would be considered an accessory, but there ain’t no Julie without her curvaceous hips. I also consider my wig to be an accessory in the sense that selection is based on which works best with my outfit. Often it’s a game-time decision. To the intended question, an outfit isn’t complete without earrings, necklace and bracelets, all of which are usually game-time decisions as well. What never changes is my wrist watch – needed for both fashion and function. And, don’t forget to match the purse with shoes. I prefer a smaller purse, but as I said earlier, often purse size is dictated by footwear necessities. The last accessory is nails. Years ago nails were the first accessory, as I would normally go to the nail salon in boy mode before getting my Julie on. Only $25 for perfectly painted nails, but an hour of time invested. More recently, I’ve discovered a system that involves DIY gelx nails, gel polish and sticky tabs. Once they’ve been made (usually a day or two before), they’re just 10 minutes to put on with the stacky tabs and only 2 minutes to remove. It truly is a game changer in terms of time, cost and flexibility, because I can reuse them over and over again.

Who is/are your female role model(s) and why?

If we are talking about celebrities, then it’s definitely Jennifer Aniston. She has impeccable style and a quiet confidence that I strive to emulate. We’re also the same age. If we are talking about the CD community, then it’s Heidi Phox. Of course she’s gorgeous. But that’s not the reason. She was instrumental to the development of my self-acceptance. Must have been 15 years ago – several years before my first time out. In one of her videos she talked about being a CD and being a great dad – simply adding that the two need not be mutually exclusive. I don’t know why such a notion had never occurred to me before. But, once I heard it, it was like a switch had flipped. The guilt and shame started to melt away. I still had a long road ahead, but that was definitely a turning point.

Tell us some fun facts about yourself. What are your hobbies (either when dressed or not), likes, things you do in your spare time, or anything else you would like to share?

I’ve already told you about burlesque and Paint the Town, both of which keep me pretty busy. Companion to burlesque is stretching and working out, which includes yoga classes whenever I can fit them in. Turns out that flexibility is not just important for dance, it’s also helpful for projecting a feminine image. I’ve found that shoulder flexibility and good posture makes an enormous difference. Also, hip flexibility is essential to getting a swishy walk – heels will only get you so far. I’m also very conscious of my weight. Nothing will ruin a bodycon dress (or a beautiful corset) like a beer belly. So, I try to watch my carbs and work on my core.

In my downtime, which is more often than you might imagine, I’m very much a movie buff. I like great stories that reveal the human condition and try to appreciate the cinematography that goes into telling those stories. But, I also enjoy blockbuster movies like the MCU and Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Something I’ve always wanted to do is host an Oscar party. The idea is that all the guests dress as if they were going to the Oscars (red carpet dresses and all). We then watch the show together, including the red carpet pre-show. It’s kinda like a Super Bowl party, but in fabulous dresses.

Any stories you would like to share about yourself and your journey?

Absolutely. Back in the fall of 2025, I went to the Detroit Invasion. On the first night, my friend said that we were being filmed. She explained that they were making a documentary. It didn’t entirely register with me that night, but in the morning, at the hotel breakfast, the camera crew was filming our conversation. I should note that most of us were in boy mode for breakfast. After breakfast, Desmond and Fernanda (the directors of the film) caught up with me and asked if I would be interested in being interviewed. I said sure, but didn’t want the boy version of me to be in the film. Julie in full makeup was fine, but I didn’t want to be outed by the film. Later that day, they interviewed me a couple of times, but only in Julie mode. Toward the end of the night, I started thinking, What does it matter? Why do I care if someone in my extended family or someone I know professionally sees me for who I am? I mean, I wouldn’t go out of my way to come out to them, but also I don’t really care if they know. The next morning, I told Fernanda of my change of heart, and invited her and the crew to interview me while I did my makeup. Fernanda made it a point to ask about my change of heart. I think she recognized, more than I did, that this was a major milestone in my self-acceptance journey. Of course, I’m super excited about the prospect of this film. As a community, we are very much misunderstood. I’m ecstatic that Desmond and Fernanda have decided to spotlight our community and hopefully dispel, at least some of, the commonly held misconceptions. If you would like to see a “sizzle reel” of the film, check out the link in the next question. Below is a picture of myself, Fernanda and her very impressive camera.

If you have social media, what is the best way for others to follow you?

I am on Facebook, Instagram and have a YouTube channel where you can find a number of my burlesque performances. Links to all 3 can be found by clicking on the top row of icons in this linktr.ee:

You can also find links to my latest projects, including Paint the Town, my burlesque social media, upcoming shows as well as info on the documentary film Ladies of the Midwest.

Before we go, would you like to send a message to your fellow girls out there or a closing statement.

A lot of people talk about pride and confidence and self-acceptance. While those things are critically important, few talk about how to get there. For me, it’s been a decades long process that continues to this day. The demons of guilt and shame pop up regularly and I’m not sure I’ll ever shake them completely. So, I guess my message is to give yourself some grace. We all have a unique journey and it doesn’t really matter where you are on that journey or how long it’s taken you to get there. All that matters is that you continue to move forward. Consider the larger perspectives of life and try to figure out what makes you truly happy. Often it’s more about a change of mindset than it is about any specific action. We only have this one life. We owe it to ourselves to make the most of the time we are given.

Would you like to share your story and become an Eye Candy Girl?

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