watch out, boy, she'll chew you up.

Oksana Markovich was an unexpected blessing. Though Aleksei and Dominika had once considered their family complete with two little ones, they were elated to welcome their third and final child in the fall of 1984. Pampered and doted on by all, parent and sibling alike, Oksana’s childhood was a charmed one. The youngest was also to be the wildest of the bunch, something which became glaringly obvious shortly after her birth. Oksana was consistently the first, both at home and at school, to find herself in a myriad of trouble as a result of her insatiable curiosity. It wasn’t long before she developed her patented angelic grin and talent for feigning innocence.

Growing up the daughter of a homicide detective, Oksana gained a strong respect for law and justice from an early age. While she was never allowed to enjoy a ‘take your child to work day’ that extended past visiting her father’s office and eating the secret stash of jelly beans he hid in his desk, Oksana’s father was adamant that his daughter understood the important role that fairness, integrity and law enforcement played in providing a safe community to live in. Throughout her childhood, Oksana dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. Cops and robbers was more than just child’s play; she was convinced that it was indeed some sort of “training” for her future career. Her dedication to a career in law enforcement continued throughout her schooling, but when a gymnastics injury left her with a busted knee her physical fitness and endurance was impacted heavily. While Oksana had understood that gymnastics was a high-risk sport, overconfidence mixed with foolish optimism had overshadowed the fact that she could possibly fall victim to an injury that might permanently affect her future plans. Her knee injury left her sidelined for the remainder of her final year in school, and any hope of applying to the police academy was dashed.

Years prior to her injury, Oksana’s brother had been proudly accepted into the police academy, and by the time his younger sister completed her schooling he was enjoying a rewarding position, with room to grow into more responsibility and higher rank. Her bitterness concerning her injury and her increasing jealousy of the success of her brother only fostered Oksana’s unhappiness. With her injury weighing so heavily on her mind and the uncertainty of her future career options haunting her, Oksana fell into a mild depression. At the urging of her mother, she considered a trip abroad in search of clarity and peace of mind. Oksana knew a change was necessary and, armed with a one way ticket to New York, she went in search of it. In 2004, Oksana arrived with nothing but a tiny suitcase and a large amount of optimism. She quickly fell into the burlesque scene, happily losing herself within the best underground spots to catch a show. It didn't take long before she decided a return ticket home would not be necessary. To support herself, Oksana took on numerous wait staff jobs, though she considered the up close and personal access to the wide range of performances salary enough.

It was through the burlesque scene that she would meet a wealthy gentleman with a desire to spoil someone handsomely. He immediately took Oksana under his wing, despite her initial hesitation to accept his generosity. While she had flourished in New York, his charm convinced her, within two weeks of meeting no less, to return with him to his native Texas - where his membership in the Davenport chapter became blatantly obvious. This revelation stirred up a storm of inner turmoil within Oksana as it seemed her past and her present had suddenly collided in a messy moral battle. However, the kindness he continued to show to her, as well as the friendships she found within the club, made her decision to stay the obvious choice. Secretly, the two wed in late 2007, not only awarding Oksana a green card, but also access to sums of money she could have never dreamed of as a child of humble beginnings. Currently the pair continue to enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship - Oksana providing companionship while he provides a steady stream of cash flow, with a side of emotional support. While the two remain close, they have since amicably divorced as their relationship grew into one more fitting of a father and daughter than lovers.

Today Oksana is at the top of her game, working as a Swizzle's Lounge favorite, traveling for participation in various burlesque festivals around the country, and using her popularity on the scene as a platform from which to positively impact female confidence and self-esteem. A strong believer in the notion of beauty’s ability to exist outside of the strict guidelines set in place by society, Oksana's routines encourage flirtation, fun and, most importantly, confidence. To those whom Oksana appears conceited, she shrugs her shoulders, having little patience for those who expect of her a mild meekness. Now fully recovered from the once self-loathing and self-doubting mindset brought on by her past injury, Oksana continues to not only practice but also preach the concept of loud and proud self-love and body positivity.