Interview with hula hoop performer, Laura Loops (Part One)

For our latest collaboration, Britain Uncovered made the trip down to Fairlight Cove for an in-depth discussion and photoshoot with hula hoop performer and life model, Laura Loops! In part one, we’re discussing Laura’s entire creative journey to date, the ways social nudity experiences have helped the performer overcome shyness in her early years, the long-lasting impact of an impromptu fire hoop performance on the beach, and more!

The latest in our series of beach photoshoots, which have been a staple of Britain Uncovered's content ever since our first session on Brighton beach in the summer of 2020, we once again continued this annual tradition by returning to Fairlight Cove beach in East Sussex - an incredibly picturesque and tranquil setting which has played host to a number of our most successful photoshoots in years gone by (not least our shoot with Elizabeth back in 2021).

The beach environment has always provided a very natural, calm environment - particularly so at Fairlight, which is rarely crowded and offers plenty of breathing space - and the images we've captured in the past have always succeeded with our goal of promoting body confidence by presenting people existing in their own skin in the most natural, normal and desexualised way possible.

For our latest venture down to the coast, we had the pleasure of being joined by Laura Loops, who we first discovered by virtue of her participation in Naked Cabaret events in recent years gone by. Over the course of our conversation throughout our day at Fairlight, it was fascinating learning about how Laura has transformed from a shy, body-conscious adolescent into the strong and confident performer she is today; and the role of social nudity events in this cannot be understated, having seemingly played a very influential role and serving as an important contributing factor. We're sure you will agree that Laura's journey is heart-warming and inspirational in equal measure, and becoming so body confident, partly as a result of partaking in social nudity events, aligns so perfectly with the message we're striving to promote here on the site.

Our conversation with Laura started shortly after we met up at the Fairlight Road Picnic Site on a warm, weekday morning in the spring, and continued as we began our (somewhat precarious) descent down to the beach. Upon arrival, it didn't take long for us to find our own private slice of the beach where Laura felt comfortable disrobing, and, once naked, we began capturing some candid images of Laura as she explored her surrounds while our conversation continued throughout the day. In a Britain Uncovered first, some of our discussion even took place at sea, with Laura perched atop a rock in the water! And as you'll see below, before the day concluded, Laura even ended up reaching for the hoops she's so renowned for, with Britain Uncovered having the pleasure of witnessing an impressive performance that did appear to turn a few heads along the way!

Our heartfelt thanks go out to Laura for a truly fantastic collaboration, and I hope everyone reading enjoys this very special write-up of our memorable day at the beach.

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Laura, who was visiting Fairlight Cove for the very first time, pictured shortly after our arrival at the beach

Britain Uncovered: Hi Laura! Thank you for joining us here on the coast today, and we’re looking forward to discussing your views on body image along with your thoughts and insight relating to many of the creative projects you’ve been involved in over the years. To kick things off, how would you describe your perspectives on body confidence growing up, and did you encounter any challenges with body image in these early days?

Laura: Hi! I was very shy and body conscious growing up. And that wasn’t anything to do with how I looked, I just felt really shy. When I was six and went swimming, I was always covering myself up. My Mum never was at all though – she’s a naturist actually. I actually couldn’t tell you why I was so shy, but I was the one that was always covering myself up while I was swimming. I was so mortified of being seen naked.

Many years later, I remember the first Small World festival I went to. It’s my favourite festival, and I remember my friends coming over to me and telling me they’d just had a shower together, and I was like, “What? Naked?” And I was in shock, and couldn’t believe they’d been okay with seeing each other in that way. And now when I go, I’m in the sauna naked all the time.

BU: Sauna culture can definitely make nudity feel very blasé, but I think people who haven’t tried these experiences may be a little sceptical due to the fact that society does tend to sexualise bodies a lot of the time – which maybe presents a barrier that discourages people from indulging in not only sauna experiences, but other social nudity events too.

Laura: Well that was something I was always worried about. The first time I went in a sauna – at a festival called Buddhafield – I was with my ex, and I felt completely comfortable because he was there. Once I got inside, I thought, “Oh no, it’s completely fine. No one’s here for anything sexual.” Buddhafield is a sober festival as well, which felt quite nice because everyone’s completely clear-minded.

In a Britain Uncovered first, much of our conversation with Laura took place out at sea!

BU: As a dancer trained in ballet, tap, modern, jazz and contemporary from a very young age, would these recitals have been some of your earliest experiences up on stage? If so, having felt nervous about your body even at the age of six, how did it feel being up on stage at such a young age?

Laura: Absolutely fine. I was still really, really shy – painfully shy – but when I danced, I wasn’t. That was my time to get up on the stage and be someone else, and to not be that shy little girl. I guess it’s just my comfort zone with dancing. I’ve always loved it so much.

I sometimes feel as though I struggle with big groups of people in social situations, but I don’t really anymore. I always put myself down in that way, but I think lots of performers I know are very similar to me in that way. They can be a bit socially awkward.

BU: How long did you do ballet for, and at what point did the hoops – which you’re now so synonymous with – come into your life?

Laura: I started ballet when I was three or four, and then did dance until I finished university in my early twenties. I then didn’t do anything creative for a few years, and it felt awful because it was my whole life for such a long time.

I was probably around 24 when I started hooping. I’d had a few years of working in a shop, and working in childcare, and I felt really lost. And then a friend of mine in Coulsdon, which is near where I grow up, started a fire performing team. We would rent a hall out every Sunday and practice, including hula hooping, and then perform at festivals to get free tickets.

BU: What do you think most appeals to you about hooping compared to any of your other creative outlets you’ve practiced over the years?

Laura: I think with hoops, and circus in general, it’s very relaxed in who you are and how you look. Dancing was so much more strict, and especially ballet, where you have to look a certain way. I actually went to dance college, but dropped out because it kind of took all the fun away.

The tap teacher would send you out of the room if you didn’t have enough make-up on, and that was just for a lesson. So it was hard work.

Laura brought along her trademark hula hoops for an impromptu performance on the shoreline

BU: I hadn’t appreciated that it was so image focused.

Laura: Exactly. And hula hooping and circus isn’t like that at all.

BU: So these mediums allow you to feel freer, to be yourself, and to focus purely on the performative aspect?

Laura: Exactly. And you can be really silly on stage. You can do anything you want basically.

BU: Having established yourself as a hula hoop performer, at a later stage you ended up taking part in various modelling projects also. At what point did this all get started, and what was it that interested you in becoming a model?

Laura: I think it started because I always need promo shots to promote my circus, and at first I was really shy about it. Not shy, but I didn’t know what to do with my arms. But the more I did it, the more I found that I actually really enjoy it. It’s not something I do for work much – it’s more about getting promotional content. But occasionally I do photoshoots, and I just really enjoy it. I feel quite comfortable in front of the camera now. But it definitely took a while to get there.

BU: As your modelling work developed, you started including nudity – and within your portfolio is a striking image of you from 2018 posing naked while laying down, with the caption explaining that you were so shy growing up, and that you never would have thought this would be something you could potentially do. Subsequent to this, you’ve also carved out a career in the world of life modelling, and often pose at classes up and down the country. How did this come to be, and how did you feel about making the move into this type of modelling?

Laura: I performed as a life model at a Fringe show, but it was clothed and I was wearing a costume. But I also had lots of friends who had posed naked as life models, and because I was comfortable with nudity at that point, I thought to try. And I was terrified the first time. But although saying that, as soon as I took the dressing gown off, I was fine. It was just that first bit, but I’ve not once been made to feel uncomfortable as a life model. It’s always lovely people.

Laura, who often serves as a life model, striking a pose during our day on the beach at Fairlight Cove

BU: We’ve always found it to be a safe, positive and creative environment likewise. Do you find it rewarding seeing the drawings and artwork of you afterwards?

Laura: I love seeing the pictures afterwards! I always take a photo of them, and sometimes I get given them to take home.

BU: Are there any particular life modelling sessions that have stood out to you over the years as being among your favourites?

Laura: I like doing them with a hoop. I did one recently actually, where the first part was costumed and the second part was nude. And the costume portion was with a hoop, and I really enjoyed that one. I think I enjoy the ones the most that are just very relaxed. Most of them are, but sometimes it doesn’t feel quite as relaxed. I did one once where it was more like a class, and there was a tutor leading it, and that felt a lot more official.

BU: In previous interviews we've held with life models, they've explained to us that there are occasionally days where they're not necessarily in the mood for posing – and it must be challenging to do when you’re not really feeling it?

Laura: Definitely. I’ve had a day where I’d been crying all day, and I’d had a really awful day, and then I had to go and do a cabaret. The last thing I wanted was people to be looking at me!

BU: Did you find it quite therapeutic in some ways?

Laura: I did. I got to the venue, and loads of my friends were there. I spoke to them in the changing room about everything, and then did the show, and I thought, “If I can do the show when I’m in this mood, then that’s quite empowering.”

Laura enjoying a naked stroll along the shoreline whilst exploring Fairlight's rocky landscape

BU: Changing gears, how do you feel about the body positivity movement in general, and is it something that’s helped you at all over the years?

Laura: I think these days it’s so much better than it used to be. The fact that they use models that aren’t just size six is a positive. Most clothing sites that I follow use curvier models now, and I do think social media’s been a huge part of the negative side of it. Years ago, it was all skinny people, and now these days it’s not – it’s for everyone. And I think that’s making a huge difference. It’s much more inclusive too.

BU: And based on comments from past interviewees, even people who would probably by deemed “skinny” by societal standards could still have body hang-ups as well?

Laura: Well I’ve been called ‘skinny’ before and have been really upset. I don’t want to be called skinny. I think people should just not comment on people’s bodies, and I never do. I say to someone, “You look great”, or, “I really like your clothing”, or, “That was really funny, I like the way you said that.” It doesn’t always need to be about image.

BU: Having been naked on the beach for much of our conversation today, how are you finding the experience thus far?

Laura: Absolutely fine! I think if there were more people I might feel a bit uncomfortable. And I hate saying it, but it’s men isn’t it. You’re a man and I don’t feel uncomfortable at all, but I think it’s because of some of the negative experiences that have happened on Brighton beach.

With the tide rising, we took a break from our lively conversation so Laura could enjoy a dip in the sea

BU: Would you feel comfortable relaying some of these experiences in Brighton?

Laura: So there’s been times where I’ve been laying on the beach there with my legs down, and then there’s been a man facing up with his camera. Or there have been times where men have had an erection. I hadn’t even noticed because I was chatting to my friends, but this woman marched over and just started screaming at this man, who was apparently looking at us with a huge erection. It’s things like that, and it’s just not usually like this in Brighton.

BU: What you’ve described here is absolutely awful, and really quite shocking – far worse than I had anticipated. But despite this, you mentioned prior to us recording that you still might consider going back one day?

Laura: I might go back. I haven’t been for maybe two years now, but it depends who you go with as well, I think. If there’s a group of you it’s different, and actually I like going with men and women – and then I feel fine. But often I’ll go with just a group of girls, and that’s when it can be a bit leery. It’s annoying, because I love being naked on the beach!

BU: Have you often visited nude beaches in the past, while on holiday for instance?

Laura: No, because I’m quite new to it. I think the first time I ever got naked in front of people was in Cambodia, which was actually nine years ago. We all went skinny-dipping and it was pitch black, so no one really saw anything, but then we got out the water and I went and put my bikini bottoms back on, and then thought, “Oh, I’m going to fire hoop topless”. Which was a huge deal for me, and that was the start of social nudity for me, actually. How liberating that was, and I had about 50 people watching.

BU: That’s a fairly large gathering for such an impromptu performance!

Laura: Yes, and I was topless. There were lots of us fire spinning – it was a party rather than a beach in the middle of nowhere, but that was the first time I ever felt okay with it, and realised how great it felt!

BU: It’s so interesting how people can oftentimes fall into these experiences almost by accident, and it can prove so liberating and make people realise that social nudity experiences really don’t have to be a big deal. And once they’ve tried it, it can open up a new world full of opportunities.

Laura: And I also noticed that people were complimenting me on my hula hooping, rather than commenting on the fact that I was half-naked.

BU: The focus was in the right place.

Laura: Exactly. And it was soon after that I met my ex, and he took me to naked saunas at festivals, and now I’ll go to Small World and just be naked in the sauna the whole time. They have two festivals a year – in May and August – and I think I normally pay about £15 for access to saunas for the whole weekend. I love saunas, and it’s the best way to start the day.

I’ve never felt uncomfortable there, either. At Small World I go with loads of friends, or I’ll bump into friends in the sauna, and it’s never been weird. I love it, and Small World is my favourite festival too.

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In part two of our interview and photoshoot with Laura, we’ll be talking more about the value of social nudity experiences - including Laura's recent performances at Naked Cabaret events in London - before continuing our conversation about body image, the negative impact social media can have on young people, further reflections on our day at the beach, and lots more besides!

- To see more of Laura’s portfolio and to keep tabs on her upcoming events, be sure to follow the fire ring and hula hoop performer on Instagram at @lauraloopshoops, or through her Facebook page by clicking here.