Why skimpy bar maids need a strong woman to rely on

In the most remote areas of Western Australia, there is a different kind of FIFO workers to what many relate the term to for those working in the mines.

In the most remote areas of Western Australia, there is a different kind of FIFO workers to what many relate the term to for those working in the mines.

The group of women, known as skimpies, dish out drinks at pubs and bars while wearing lingerie or a bikini.

The concept isn’t new – there are places around the country that have wait staff in various states of dress – but it has a particular grasp on places such as Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Angelina is a skimpy who has been working for Gold Class Girls and Boober Eats for a year and enjoys the work, having worked in retail and factories in the past.

She told news.com.au that her current job has been her favourite out of all the ones she has ever done.

She’s doing the work so she can eventually go to Los Angeles to chase her dreams of being an indie rock musician.

“I love performing. So even with the skimpy it’s helped me with a lot of skills that translate over into, like, the music industry,” Angelina said.

Angelina has been a skimpy for a year. Picture: Supplied

“Like making contacts, being able to talk to anyone and working on my stage presence and how to entertain a crowd for when I’m onstage like, it’s helped a lot with that sort of thing.”

Angelina said her job is just like any other bartender, making drinks and ensuring all patrons and having a good time – the only difference is the clothing she wears.

However while the job comes with perks such as cash – some reporting earning up to $3000 a week – and freedom, not everyone has a rosy response when it comes to skimpies and the work they do.

“People think it’s a negative thing, they’re like ‘you show your body’ but I feel really empowered,” Angelina said.

“It’s made me more creative. I get there is negative connotations but at the end of the day I am just wearing a bikini and having a laugh while serving drinks.”

Gold Class Girls and Boober Eats founder Nat O’Neill was a skimpy for a decade, flying between her home on the east coast to work in Western Australia.

Three years ago, she was about to give it up and relocate back to the east coast for good — she even sold her belongings to fund the move and packed up her car — when she was struck with the realisation she could run her own agency and went into business for herself.

Angelina said the crew is a community. Picture: Supplied

She’d been helping another agent organise her roster when she realised she wanted to do it for herself.

Ms O’Neill decided to keep working as a skimpy to make herself known to venue owners and other skimpies, so she could build her roster.

“It needs to be a woman (running the agency). It needs to be someone that has got experience, understands the industry, has worked the industry, that respects the girls and can relate to them,” she said.

“They need someone to support them if they’re having problems. It needs to be done by someone who really understands the industry. Otherwise it’s just not going to work.”

She said she didn’t know of any male agents looking after skimpies.

When Covid shut down venues, Ms O’Neill had to come up with something quick to keep her team working.

“I remember sitting in the lounge room with my friend going ‘What can we do? We need to keep skimpies alive’ and then that’s when Boober Eats started,” she said.

Boober Eats sees food deliveries being picked up by a skimpy and taken to the hungry person’s door.

Nat O'Neill has run Gold Class Girls for three years. Picture: Supplied

The women would stay on the driveway for a chat, keeping social distancing measures.

It would set customer back an extra $30 on top of their food order.

There have been many debates about the presence of skimpies over the years – with mining boss Fortescue chief Elizabeth Gaines saying in 2020 she just “didn’t get” why women would do that kind of work, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

But attitudes appear to be shifting for those in the industry, with the rising popularity of OnlyFans, TikTok and Instagram influencers normalising these kinds of roles.

One Kalgoorlie pub, Hannans Hotel, even attempted to get male skimpies on board in 2018, with manager Tracey Julin telling the ABC at the time: “It’s something for the ladies, instead of the boys.”

The negative image portrayed so often in both society and media frustrates Ms O’Neill, who says, at the end of the day, being a skimpy is just the same as any other job.

“These are beautiful people, they’re not what some people think they are and they don’t do things that some people think they do,” she said.

“They’re just barmaids in lingerie. They’re there to entertain, have a good time and make money like we are all here to do.

Angelina has said it's helped her with her stage presence for her dream of being a indie rock performer. Picture: Supplied

“All the girls I come across, they’re so beautiful. They’ve got good hearts. A lot of them are studying, trying to get themselves through uni, trying to get themselves to the next stage in life.”

Now that Covid border restrictions are no longer in place Ms O’Neill hopes to expand her business again, recruiting women from the East Coast on a FIFO basis.

Both women say that being a skimpy isn’t for everyone, that’s why Ms O’Neill’s business offers a trial and does what she can to support her workers, setting up and admin office, transport, accommodation, meals and a place to get their outfits for work.

Angelina said the team is like a community, with any nerves or questions being answered by Ms O’Neill or fellow skimpies.

“I can say it’s not as scary as some people think, it’s like you’ve got a whole team of girls taking care of each other,” she said.