“Beyond the Pole” showcases some of Atlanta’s most famous strippers. Although the 6 episode docuseries is about strippers exotic dancers and their lifestyle (Beyond the Pole); the underlying message of why these girls choose to dance to make their living is far more important. What’s your life “Beyond the Pole”?
Executive Producer Shanté Paige and partner Mark Stevens invited special guests and Atlanta tastemakers out for a private screening followed by a cast Q & A audience discussion at an exclusive social club in Atlanta. The dancers were very honest about why they agreed to do the show & explaining their feeling on stripping, being called strippers and not entertainers or private dancers and the negative stigmatism associated with being a stripper.
There was also an introduction in the first episode to coach Stormy Wellington. What better person than ex-stripper and now self-made millionaire Coach Stormy Wellington (a.k.a. Pitbull in a skirt), to guide these girls not only to financial freedom; but to teach them how to open, acquire and maintain business ventures of their own to substitute their strip club income.
A press release was launced by publicist Farah Noel on Jan 1, 2019 which states the following:
Building off the success of the summer docuseries Naked Hustle, UMC – Urban Movie Channel(www.UMC.tv), the go to streaming service for the best in Black film and television, continues to expand its original programming slate with the introduction of its first reality series, BEYOND THE POLE. The first non-scripted series that presents an intimate look at some of Atlanta’s most famous strippers, the show seeks to address more than just the complicated professional lives of these women by asking “What’s your plan – Beyond the Pole.”
In the vein of popular reality shows such as Basketball Wives and Love and Hip Hop, the six-episode first season centers on the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of six Atlanta based exotic dancers; Lea Lea, Ling Ling, Ms. Dime, La’ Bri, Laina, Angel Kake; and one former exotic dancer, Stormy Wellington the now self-made multi-millionaire that takes on a matriarchal role to the group of women with the goal of leading them out of the scrupulous strip club world. Yet as the ladies’ various personalities begin to clash, Stormy’s good intentions may be soured before they begin. The reality series also features appearances from recording artists, Yung Joc and Lyfe Jennings.
“The stripping industry as a whole plays a significant role in the urban entertainment culture,” says Beyond the Pole executive producer and show runner, Shanté Paige. “With the success stories of former strippers such as Cardi B, Blac Chyna, Amber Rose and more, it’s long overdue for the unapologetic truth of these women and their stories to be told. With the launch of this series on UMC, I’m confident that the story we are telling in Beyond The Polewill change the perspective of women that are employed by this industry.”
Premiering on Thursday, January 3, 2019 you can preview on www.UMC.tv, amazon prime and on various devices). Beyond The Pole is executive produced by entertainment industry veteran Shanté Paige and Mark Stevens Association with She’s A Movement Media Group. New episodes air weekly on Thursdays through February 7, 2019.
A subsidy of AMC Networks created by founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) Robert L. Johnson, Urban Movie Channel (UMC) is the first and largest subscription streaming service for Black film and television in North America. UMC showcases fresh original series, feature films, documentaries, stand-up specials, stage plays and other popular Black entertainment with new and exclusive content added every week. Watch UMC on iOS, Apple TV, Android, Amazon Prime Video Channels, Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand, Roku, Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick. At www.UMC.tv, UMC offers a free 7-day trial and thereafter is just $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Keep up with UMC on Facebook at Facebook.com/UrbanMovieChanneland on Twitter/Instagram @WatchUMC.
Tune in and keep up with the show, cast and coach Stormy Wellington on social media @coachstormy @lainachampionbtp @thesweetlealea @angelkake@msdime1 @itsmimishaw @labri_ on @watchumc network every Thursday night.
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