Double Creature Double Feature
V-13-V takes on the Queen of Trash.
By Libby Baldwin
Our scene opens on the stage of the Crest theater in Sacramento, California. Sara Dunn
along with several other girls stands waiting to be judged, certain of her impending loss, a
towering Amazon among the petite giggling girls in vinyl. The same thoughts that run through
every beauty pageant contestant's head amplified by the same thoughts that run through
every big girl's head. Strong looking women don't win these things, skinny ones do. But Sara
didn't lose that night. That night the Queen of Trash was born. What started as a contest
during the Trash Film Orgy quickly became a persona, outgrowing her humble stage
beginnings and pervading her way as a trash culture icon.
Sara doesn't look like your average dame. At over six feet tall, and built like a brick shit house
it seems, at first glances, unlikely that she would take crap from anyone. However, having the
look of a strong woman, and being one are totally different things. Bouncing back and forth
from one dangerously violent relationship to the other it seemed for a long time that Sara could
protect everyone but herself. Like so many other women who fall into the cycle of abuse she
would leave one bad boyfriend only to find another bad boyfriend, until finally she'd met her
limit. Shortly after that she was named the Queen of Trash and the slow transformation from
playing a strong leading lady, and being one began.
Being in an abusive relationship is a singularly lonely experience. No matter the actual amount
of time spent in it, the feeling is that the relationship has gone on forever. When you emerge,
you remember everything with crystal clarity and yet the experience feels foggy. It's impossible
for words to describe how your brain digests what has happened to you. As easy as it would
be to feel like the victim, the thought never really crosses your mind. What does cross your
mind is how you will deal with it, should it ever happen again. In Sara's case, she found out
that she'd played being the Queen of Trash so long, they were the same person. One night
Sara invited a guy home to watch movies, telling him in no uncertain terms “I ain't gonna fuck
you”. Without warning he got violent, calling her every kind of name, and threatening to kill
her. In true Trash style, she pinned him in the side using a her attackers weapon and one of
her own. She then remembered that sending him home on his own would give him a better
understanding of where she lived she ordered him into her car and drove him home herself. It
was the first time she realized that Queen of Trash wasn't a character anymore, that she could
protect herself, and others.
The Queen of Trash is strong, she wrestles bears, drag queens, and creatures alike. She
fights dirty and is fully capable to take whatever she dishes out. She wears 6 inch platforms
and a black corset. She is the very picture that comes into your mind when you hear the word
“Amazon”. She has defended her crown on multiple occasions and always come out on top,
even when told to throw the fight. She's what every subculture girl aspires to, strong but sexy,
aggressive but not mean. She's a role model to big teenage girls, and the heroine of late night
cinema, and for Sara it finally wasn't just a weekend thing.
Since then The Queen has had her hand in just about every cookie jar. She regularly appears
on Cinema Insomnia, a late night program showcasing the best of the worst movies, and co-
hosts the Lobotronic Film Show. She sometimes works as a makeup artist, and has appeared
in several independent films. She stars in her own indie comic “The Queen of Trash”, which
has already been picked up by B-minus Comics. She has done interviews and pictorials for
Cadaver Girls, Big Ol' Face Full of Monster, and PS Pinup Girls, to name a few. All this with
time to spare with the new man in her life, a good man, Mr. Lobo; the eponymous host of
Cinema Insomnia. Together they host the half time show for the Masquerade at WonderCon,
as well as the Lobotronic Film Shows. In October they host the Sacramento Horror Film
Festival.
It's comforting to know that there are women in this world who have been through some of the
worst things that can happen to a person, and not only come out stronger, but place
themselves in a light to which they can be made role models for the little girls of today. Women
who realize that it's not just about being famous, or being cool, but understanding the
responsibility that comes with those things.
Which project is the nearest to your heart?
The Queen of Trash Comic is definitely my baby. Not for the obvious reasons, but that was
the first thing I did to start breaking away from the Trash Film Orgy, and doing things on my
own. I tend to be the type to shy away from new things for the fear of failure, and beginning
the long difficult process of doing a comic book without any idea of how to go about it was a
big step. I've been very proud at how much people have embraced the book, and it fuels me to
branch out and do more with myself!
Do you find it hard to be lumped into the plus size category?
I do! I am proud of my size. I like the look of bigger women, so in that particular part I am
happy, but I have been called a role model and inspiration for plus size women, and that
makes it a bit more difficult. It almost puts a pressure on me to be overweight, and you see, I
am not pro-fat, I am pro health. If I have to loose weight for health reasons, I will, and I hate the
fact that that can be interpreted as letting a community down, or selling out the plus size
community. Whatever your body type, if you are healthy, be proud! A lot of BBW and Plus Size
groups don't have that focus, and it's difficult to be linked to that, because it is very contrary to
my own beliefs.
Whom do you think you'd most like to work with?
John Waters! I am a huge fan. The man has gone against the grain in such extreme ways and
been so successful at it. He has dealt with so much resistance to his films, but created the
most outrageous and intense characters! I would love to be able to work with someone like
that. I would love to benefit from his creative influence!
Why have you taken it upon yourself to make sure you help other people trying to break into
the scene?
The Trash Culture community is very close knit. I have had so much help and well wishes from
others, I can't imagine passing that help and mentoring to a new generation of Trash! Its
incredible to see the scene grow and it is all because of people like Mr. Lobo, Will the Thrill,
Bob Wilkins, Peaches Christ, and others who use their talents to help others reach their goals!
Has it been difficult to muster the courage to market yourself in arenas other than cult cinema?
Not really, most of the arenas that I involve myself in are interconnected, modeling, make up,
comics, acting, it all ties in together. I think the big thing is that I'm not as good of a business
woman as i probably should be, I don't market an image, I just do what I love and hope that
others will enjoy it as well!
How do you feel the Queen of Trash character has grown in the last six years? The main thing
is that the Queen of Trash has gone from a character to who I really am. It's helped me grow
so much as a person, i can't even begin to tell you! Career-wise, I am happy with the growth in
popularity and exposure in the last 2 years since I began to branch away from the Trash Film
Orgy and do something more lasting with my character!
What would you do if you weren't the Queen of Trash?
I don't even want to think about it! Being the Queen of Trash has helped me grow so much as
a person, if it never happened, I don't know what kind of person I would be. I don't know if I
would have ever been able to harness my inner strength and take control of my life.
V-13-V takes on the Queen of Trash.
By Libby Baldwin
Our scene opens on the stage of the Crest theater in Sacramento, California. Sara Dunn
along with several other girls stands waiting to be judged, certain of her impending loss, a
towering Amazon among the petite giggling girls in vinyl. The same thoughts that run through
every beauty pageant contestant's head amplified by the same thoughts that run through
every big girl's head. Strong looking women don't win these things, skinny ones do. But Sara
didn't lose that night. That night the Queen of Trash was born. What started as a contest
during the Trash Film Orgy quickly became a persona, outgrowing her humble stage
beginnings and pervading her way as a trash culture icon.
Sara doesn't look like your average dame. At over six feet tall, and built like a brick shit house
it seems, at first glances, unlikely that she would take crap from anyone. However, having the
look of a strong woman, and being one are totally different things. Bouncing back and forth
from one dangerously violent relationship to the other it seemed for a long time that Sara could
protect everyone but herself. Like so many other women who fall into the cycle of abuse she
would leave one bad boyfriend only to find another bad boyfriend, until finally she'd met her
limit. Shortly after that she was named the Queen of Trash and the slow transformation from
playing a strong leading lady, and being one began.
Being in an abusive relationship is a singularly lonely experience. No matter the actual amount
of time spent in it, the feeling is that the relationship has gone on forever. When you emerge,
you remember everything with crystal clarity and yet the experience feels foggy. It's impossible
for words to describe how your brain digests what has happened to you. As easy as it would
be to feel like the victim, the thought never really crosses your mind. What does cross your
mind is how you will deal with it, should it ever happen again. In Sara's case, she found out
that she'd played being the Queen of Trash so long, they were the same person. One night
Sara invited a guy home to watch movies, telling him in no uncertain terms “I ain't gonna fuck
you”. Without warning he got violent, calling her every kind of name, and threatening to kill
her. In true Trash style, she pinned him in the side using a her attackers weapon and one of
her own. She then remembered that sending him home on his own would give him a better
understanding of where she lived she ordered him into her car and drove him home herself. It
was the first time she realized that Queen of Trash wasn't a character anymore, that she could
protect herself, and others.
The Queen of Trash is strong, she wrestles bears, drag queens, and creatures alike. She
fights dirty and is fully capable to take whatever she dishes out. She wears 6 inch platforms
and a black corset. She is the very picture that comes into your mind when you hear the word
“Amazon”. She has defended her crown on multiple occasions and always come out on top,
even when told to throw the fight. She's what every subculture girl aspires to, strong but sexy,
aggressive but not mean. She's a role model to big teenage girls, and the heroine of late night
cinema, and for Sara it finally wasn't just a weekend thing.
Since then The Queen has had her hand in just about every cookie jar. She regularly appears
on Cinema Insomnia, a late night program showcasing the best of the worst movies, and co-
hosts the Lobotronic Film Show. She sometimes works as a makeup artist, and has appeared
in several independent films. She stars in her own indie comic “The Queen of Trash”, which
has already been picked up by B-minus Comics. She has done interviews and pictorials for
Cadaver Girls, Big Ol' Face Full of Monster, and PS Pinup Girls, to name a few. All this with
time to spare with the new man in her life, a good man, Mr. Lobo; the eponymous host of
Cinema Insomnia. Together they host the half time show for the Masquerade at WonderCon,
as well as the Lobotronic Film Shows. In October they host the Sacramento Horror Film
Festival.
It's comforting to know that there are women in this world who have been through some of the
worst things that can happen to a person, and not only come out stronger, but place
themselves in a light to which they can be made role models for the little girls of today. Women
who realize that it's not just about being famous, or being cool, but understanding the
responsibility that comes with those things.
Which project is the nearest to your heart?
The Queen of Trash Comic is definitely my baby. Not for the obvious reasons, but that was
the first thing I did to start breaking away from the Trash Film Orgy, and doing things on my
own. I tend to be the type to shy away from new things for the fear of failure, and beginning
the long difficult process of doing a comic book without any idea of how to go about it was a
big step. I've been very proud at how much people have embraced the book, and it fuels me to
branch out and do more with myself!
Do you find it hard to be lumped into the plus size category?
I do! I am proud of my size. I like the look of bigger women, so in that particular part I am
happy, but I have been called a role model and inspiration for plus size women, and that
makes it a bit more difficult. It almost puts a pressure on me to be overweight, and you see, I
am not pro-fat, I am pro health. If I have to loose weight for health reasons, I will, and I hate the
fact that that can be interpreted as letting a community down, or selling out the plus size
community. Whatever your body type, if you are healthy, be proud! A lot of BBW and Plus Size
groups don't have that focus, and it's difficult to be linked to that, because it is very contrary to
my own beliefs.
Whom do you think you'd most like to work with?
John Waters! I am a huge fan. The man has gone against the grain in such extreme ways and
been so successful at it. He has dealt with so much resistance to his films, but created the
most outrageous and intense characters! I would love to be able to work with someone like
that. I would love to benefit from his creative influence!
Why have you taken it upon yourself to make sure you help other people trying to break into
the scene?
The Trash Culture community is very close knit. I have had so much help and well wishes from
others, I can't imagine passing that help and mentoring to a new generation of Trash! Its
incredible to see the scene grow and it is all because of people like Mr. Lobo, Will the Thrill,
Bob Wilkins, Peaches Christ, and others who use their talents to help others reach their goals!
Has it been difficult to muster the courage to market yourself in arenas other than cult cinema?
Not really, most of the arenas that I involve myself in are interconnected, modeling, make up,
comics, acting, it all ties in together. I think the big thing is that I'm not as good of a business
woman as i probably should be, I don't market an image, I just do what I love and hope that
others will enjoy it as well!
How do you feel the Queen of Trash character has grown in the last six years? The main thing
is that the Queen of Trash has gone from a character to who I really am. It's helped me grow
so much as a person, i can't even begin to tell you! Career-wise, I am happy with the growth in
popularity and exposure in the last 2 years since I began to branch away from the Trash Film
Orgy and do something more lasting with my character!
What would you do if you weren't the Queen of Trash?
I don't even want to think about it! Being the Queen of Trash has helped me grow so much as
a person, if it never happened, I don't know what kind of person I would be. I don't know if I
would have ever been able to harness my inner strength and take control of my life.
