COVER
OVERCOMING HURDLES Whilst Chloé praises many of her teachers , she tells me stories of what can only be described as bullying . Chloé explains that she never had the relationship with dance that she felt deserving of , having always been pushed to the back of the class and feeling like she was constantly trying to prove herself and getting nowhere . Unfortunately , when Chloé was accepted into one of the top dance colleges in London , the pattern didn ' t change .
" I never expected an easy ride , I always knew it was going to be hard , but I wasn ' t prepared for how hurtful the comments could be . By one teacher , I was made to repeat , " I , Chloé Baker , am an amateur " in front of the whole class . Of course , I listened and did as she said ; she was my elder , I respected her , I just never understood why I was the only one singled out .
" I think the most hurtful comment , though , was being told that ' my mother would be so disappointed in me ', especially knowing that my parents were breaking their backs for me to be there . It never made any sense to me , I was getting the highest marks in the class in my ballet assessments , and I tried so unbelievably hard . I realised that that was it ; they saw a weakness in me - I wanted it too much . I don ' t like throwing the word about , but now , as an adult , a mother , and a professional , I look back , and I can see that it was bullying . There was no reason to be treated that way , and I quickly learnt that if I was going to make it , I would have to make it by myself . It made me so determined never to give up , and that I take with me everywhere ."
PROFESSIONAL LIFE After graduating in 2012 , Chloé got her first job with Costa Cruises as a singer and dancer after successfully auditioning amongst hundreds of other professionals . " It was a big deal for me . After everything I ' d been through in college , I was one of the first of my peers to be offered a job . It made me learn never to take no for an answer and that I was always capable of this ."
After three years with Costa Cruises , it was time for Chloé to chase her dream and head to Paris . " I was invested in France - working in Paris was the ultimate goal . My dad must have driven me to Paris from St Malo at least 15 times ! It ' s a laborious process ; after making your way to the audition and standing with 400 other girls , to be told no within 5 minutes is soul-destroying . My legs were long ,
but just never quite long enough . It ' s a ruthless world , but I had to be in it ; there wasn ' t another option for me ."
After dozens of auditions , Chloé ' s dream was realised when she began work as a showgirl for Moulin Rouge ' s ' Paradis Latin ' – one of the top Paris cabaret shows . Not only was she was a showgirl in ' Paradis Latin ', she was the centre girl , a position you could only ever wish for in the lineup . " I ' ll never forget the moment the curtains went up on my opening night in Paris . I was standing there , not just as a showgirl , but in the middle at the front of the stage . My family and friends filled the rows ; as I caught their eyes , I realised that every single challenge I had faced led me here and that my journey was for a reason ."
From here , she would also tour France with Cirque d ' Hiver Bouglione . Whilst Chloé ' s professional life was everything she had hoped for , she was missing something from her personal life . Love . �
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