Picture This: The Naked Cowgirl
28.09.2009, 01:01
At the busiest crossroads in the world, wearing not much more than a smile, Louisa Holmlund plays the Naked Cowgirl - the latest tourist attraction to hit the streets of New York City.
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The 22-year-old from Oregon has had many jobs in her life - hotel receptionist, cleaning lady, florist, car saleswoman, nanny.
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But none of those odd jobs have been quite like this odd job. She started her gig a few weeks ago, after an acquaintance suggested that there needed to be a female version of the now-famous Naked Cowboy, that well-known brief-clad guitar player in Times Square.
"So I moved to New York City," she says. "It's a means for me to keep traveling and have an amazing experience. It shows that you can do what you want to do. It takes somebody with guts, is good with people and has fun. And has a crazy side. I get a rush. Complete freedom."
She's out there in the middle of Times Square each night, from 3 p.m. until the crowds thin out, or she gets cold. Usually it's around midnight. She strums her acoustic guitar and sings an occasional folk tune as taxis and tour buses pass by and tourists gawk, take pictures and stuff tip money in her boots.
"I make a decent amount of money," says Holmlund, about $1,000 per week. "It's more than working at McDonald's."
Before taking her act to the streets, she contacted Robert Burck, the Naked Cowboy, just to see how he felt about it. After all, he's the original. His image and name have even been trademarked.
"He inspired me. Said, 'You have an effect on everybody who goes by. So make a positive impact."
Holmlund says it's empowering, not demeaning, to be the Naked Cowgirl. She has no qualms about putting herself out there wearing nothing more than pasties with tassels, briefs and show boots. Most of the comments she gets are positive, not negative, despite the obvious attention she gets from men.
"It's natural for a man to be attracted to a half-naked woman. It's a show. The energy is different. If I was in a strip club, it would be negative energy. I get good comments from everybody. Only a handful have been offended."
"Do you do house calls?" asked Ronald Dose, who has been a regular visitor.
"No," the Cowgirl answers with her trademark smile, freckles and dimples included. "I'm not that kinda girl."
The concept of being a naked Times Square attraction was started by Burck in the late Nineties. And it is true, he doesn't seem to mind in the least that Holmlund has copied his idea.
"Yeah, it's OK," he says. "It's the second coolest thing in the world. There's enough room for everybody. There's a Naked Indian, too. I've only seen him one time. I think he flies in on the weekend.
"It's a compliment," he explains. "She's a brilliant young capitalist. I said, hey, it's a free country. I want everything to work for her. I just let her know how important it is to me. I take it seriously.
"Only in America," the Cowboy adds. "Only in New York. It's the epitome of freedom."