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Big & beautiful in Bako
If you like girls with a little more meat on their bones, Bakersfield has a new late night hot-spot for you



By Shirley Wells, Bakotopia.com contributor

Club Mystique, which opened on April 12, 2008 - inside The Element Lounge, 1919 K. St downtown, caters to plus-size customers (aka big beautiful women or BBWs) and those who enjoy their company.

The founders of the club, Cheryl Edenburn and Seven Bates, host the downtown nightclub every Saturday, promising a comfortable atmosphere for people who typically don’t fit into the “one-size fits all” club scene.

“We’ve both been involved with opening BBW clubs in Southern California but we always wanted to open our own club here in Bakersfield,” said Bates, a professional wedding photographer who met Edenburn while researching locations for the venue in 2005. “Cheryl’s enthusiasm convinced me that we could do this. She knew Bakersfield was ready for a big-girl club, and she had all the local connections to make it happen.”



“I’m not trying to start a movement here,” said Edenburn. “But a lot of big girls feel excluded in typical nightclubs. Everything in this society is geared towards idealizing the Hollywood-thin body type, but over 63 percent of Kern County women are considered plus size. That’s a lot of us! I think we have enough big girls in this city to create a really thriving community of hot, curvy women who are confident and not sitting in the corner while everyone else is on the dance floor.”

With a strong grand opening, and the local blessing of KRAB radio’s Meathead and Francis - both vocal fans of BBWs - the club is already doing well.

“We don’t care if you’re a size 14, 6, or 26, we just want you to come and have a good time,” said Bates. “We’ve got guys from all over who appreciate women with curves. People are shocked that we have everything from accountants to bodybuilding firemen coming to meet these girls. A lot of people just don’t know that appreciating a girl with curves, is just as subjective as being attracted to blondes and redheads.”



The dual-level club has an eclectic feel with DJ Hypnotiq mixing rock, hip-hop, dance, ‘80s and ‘70s funk on the dance floor. The club itself is the former Club Hypnotiq location with various lounge areas, sofas, and VIP rooms. Doors open every Saturday night at 9 p.m. Nightly cover charge is only $5, 21 and over only with ID admitted, and expect regular drink specials, events and door prizes every night.

Visit: www.BBWClubMystique.com for details.



Also printed in Bakotopia Magazine, issue 27, 5-1-08