Book Review: Nipple Caps & G-strings
Written by Isabella Liss
Photographs by Yaeesh Collins
Memoir | Co-authored by Gigi & Nan Roux | Melinda Ferguson Books | R260
Born Perlé van Schalkwyk to a conservative family of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Doomsday Preppers, Gigi’s memoir relays a wild journey that led to her owning one of South Africa’s most successful strip clubs and entertainment venues.
The book chronicles Gigi’s career, throughout which she challenged assumptions about what it means to be a stripper, how it’s done, and navigating business or professional relationships. At its core, Gigi: Nipple Caps & G-strings is unexpectedly a love story. Gigi details the complex and tumultuous relationships she endures with parents, partners, and employers. Initially expressing the desperate desire for an “equal partner”, she marries Egmont, who becomes anything but. Gigi then embarks on a 14-year secret affair with her “security guard”, Mike. The two remain best friends for the duration of their changing relationship, business ventures, and alternate spouses. Through the euphoric highs and dangerous tales of murder, robbery, drugs and police brutality, Gigi’s story culminates in the happy ending of a fairytale romance.
Nipple Caps & G-strings sometimes reads like a documentary film, including anecdotes from those Gigi has loved and worked with. Every few chapters, her tales are interspersed with one of these short pieces. It is Gigi’s story as much as it is her contributor’s, who tell of the times spent with her. It’s unusual for a memoir, but allows the reader to form a comprehensive view of her story from all angles. This even includes a piece from her ex-husband, defending himself against her accusations. “When the truth is not only distorted, but raped, and the untruth — the lie, is consequently propagated in the public forum, it is, perhaps, the moment to defend that truth,” he writes vehemently of the affair. It’s a bold and brave move for Gigi to embrace a narrative that may discredit her version of events, but I believe this only enhances her chronicles.
Gigi is not afraid to let her encounters speak for themselves. Events are often recounted in a succinct, matter-of-fact manner — with the exception of sultry performance routines. (“The silhouette of my boobs and perky nipples were clearly visible. As the song rose to a crescendo, I dropped my dress, turned to the audience, and positioned the hat over my golden triangle.”) However, the people she meets along the way are described in great detail, no matter how minor their relevance to the story. This often comes across as excessive, no physical attribute left without comment. (“ZsaZsa, a charismatic dancer in her late forties, was one of older girls and a huge money-maker. The guys loved her wild style and sensual curves. She had long auburn hair, big false breasts, and the swagger in her hips spelt danger — and that’s what men loved about her! But her attitude, heavy drinking and constant smoking meant that it was extremely frustrating working with her at times. We knew, though, that she was a born showgirl and an asset to the club. She had the body of a belly dancer, her stomach not flat but rounded, her lips bright and a wide smile.”) It is then strange that Mike’s partners are described in as little detail as possible — reduced to “Thai wife one” and “Thai wife two”. Although Gigi admits to distancing herself from these women, who she refuses to meet, the contrast is startling.
Always entertaining, Nipple Caps & G-strings plays on the curiosities people have about dancing girls, all while breaking stereotypes. Strippers may indeed lead double lives, keeping their work and private life separate. But Gigi’s story blurs the lines between the two domains. Her life is her work. A glimpse into Gigi’s life lets audiences know what stripping is really all about — the hard work, theatrical production, and many other talents required to succeed. Gigi shows incredible stamina and foresight in achieving long-term goals, bypassing the many men who make romantic advances. She is astute and decisive in her decisions, slowly climbing the social ladder within the entertainment industry. By the time she reaches the Survivor set 2/3 of the way into the book, it is already clear that she is a winner (despite having never heard of the show).
Grit, tenacity, and charisma carry Gigi through her career trajectory. Whether stripping for drunkards at a gig or the homes and parties of various South African celebrities (Oliver Tambo, Marianne Fassler, Ali Bacher), she conducts herself with grace and professionalism. She sees extravagance, but also a great deal of terribly lonely men. She has been influential in the creation of some of Deon Opperman’s most-lauded plays, at the same time boasting multiple pornographic magazine photoshoots. Gigi has done it all.
The story begins with her agent describing a performer who “could tilt a champagne bottle into her fanny and squirt the foam into the glass” as a party trick. It ends with the looming uncertainty of Lollipop Lounge under lockdown regulations in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, leaving more stories to be told. It is outrageous from start to finish, but authentic and true to Gigi’s roots in the dramatic arts. Testament to the power of dreaming big, Nipple Caps and G-strings showcases the risqué and resourceful in an amazing tale of triumph.
