Miss Nude Australia competitor reveals struggle with addiction and abuse after fire routine sparks blaze

The Miss Nude Australia competitor who set a strip club ablaze in a firey routine has opened up on her struggle with addiction and abuse.

A performer in Miss Nude Australia who was disqualified after she set a curtain alight has opened up about the incident and her battle with addiction and abuse.

Harley Van Dangerfield, who was ruled out of the competition when she lit a “ring of fire” around herself during the first heat at Crazy Horse Revue in Adelaide on August 27, has shared on social media the toll abuse and drug addiction had on her prior to entering the competition.

In the caption of a photo she posted on Instagram, Ms Van Dangerfield said the fire became a “symbol of resilience” after surviving domestic violence and overcoming drug addiction.

“I’ve overcome many adversaries over the last 15 months. I survived domestic violence, drug addiction, debilitating grief and essentially hit rock bottom,” she said.

“For me, fire dancing is a symbol of resilience! It took a level of strength I never knew I had to survive, I feel that strength when I watch the flames dance with such captivating intensity.”

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A male patron told news.com.au a bottle of flammable liquid was left too close to the fire and too close to one of the curtains.

“I think she’d finished with the batons … and she’d put them down and that’s when she squirted the ring of liquid around her and then lit it up,” he said.

The fire ring set the bottle alight and then the curtain.

Van Dangerfield was only the second of seven women due to take to the stage.

“Please understand, after surviving everything I did, only 14 months ago, I trained until I bled, pushed my body until I cried, I crawled on my hands and knees to create that show,” Ms Van Dangerfield said.

“I’m so sorry to everyone involved. I’m so sorry to the competitors, I’m so sorry to the patrons. I’m genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, so sorry.”

In her most recent post, Ms Van Dangerfield shared a picture showing the injuries she suffered while being in an abusive relationship.

“The first photo was taken on December 16th, 2016. This is probably the “least triggering” photo I could find, so you could imagine what I went through,” she wrote.

“The second photo was taken just before the incident at Miss Nude 2019 drug, alcohol, cigarette free and studying my masters in social work.

“I encourage everyone to remember what we should all stand for! We should stand against domestic violence, stand in solidarity with drug addicts in active addiction, trying to get clean and those in recovery and stand with those who are drowning in their own mental health.”

Ms Van Dangerfield “persisted” with her routine while the flames were extinguished by the backstage crew, a patron told news.com.au.

The club — which was packed with up to 200 people — had to be evacuated due to the alarms, sprinklers and “black smoke from the curtains”.

“The fire alarms started going off and next minute the sprinklers are going all over the stage,” the patron said.

“They just said, ‘Everybody out’.”

Firefighters were called just after midnight.

The packed Adelaide club was evacuated.

This Miss Nude Australia website describes the competition as “the most recognised and prestigious competition of showgirls” in the country focusing on “the art of striptease”.

The concept began at Crystal T’s nightclub in Sydney in 1991.

The finals — involving the winner and first runner-up from each state — are held over three nights at the Adelaide gentlemen’s venue.

If you or anyone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.