Photography: Velma Von Bon Bon, Burlesque performer

My neighbors' windows twitch because Velma von Bon Bon is a burlesque performer who lives on my street. When not peeking through the net curtains, my other neighbors are leading their mundane lives; they may be ironing their office shirts or hoovering quavers from their Hyundais, but meanwhile, there is a hive of activity coming from next door.

Gemma is a performer and puppet-maker par excellence. We've often heard her practicing acrobatics and have even spotted her perfecting her unicycle routine. Never a dull moment. I photographed her in my home studio kitchen and even helped make the prop cane. We shot many different poses but decided to concentrate on these images for her brand, with this first image being a regular mugshot for burlesque shows up and down the land.