marieclaire.com.au 73wearers feel so exhausted by the heat
and discomfort that they remove their
mask and carry it by hand, and getting
through crowds is particularly
uncomfortable as they battle restricted
vision, movement and air supply. Latex
garments have to be carefully rinsed
and dried after every wearing and baby
powder is applied on both sides before
it is carefully folded into clean towels.
But Maskers are happy to put up
with all these inconveniences for the
thrill of hiding their true selves behind
the smooth, expressionless disguise. It
seems to act as a sort of protection, a
concealment of the true self. Katrina, a
male-to-female transsexual, says she
feels “courageous” in latex and that she
likes feeling powerful and provocative
when she goes out in public in full
plastic. “What fascinates me,” she says,
“is the anonymity. You’re encapsulated,
like in a cocoon, and no one can see
if you laugh or cry. That’s what I like.
The feeling of being unknown.”
Christian loves being swallowed by
the latex as well: “I love the physical
sensation I experience throughout my
entire body when wearing latex. Latex
is what drives me. I wonder if my alter
ego, Chrissie, would even exist if it
weren’t for my passion for latex.”
Bear Girl’s obsession with masking
was triggered by her fantasy of
becoming a beautiful woman, despite
the physical restrictions of being born
Above left and left: Katrina often goes out
as a “rubber doll” to interact with members
of the public. Above: a driver calls out to
Christian, aka Chrissie Seams, and Mina while
they go for a walk in Augsburg, Germany.
Society