2026 Professional Finalists
Angela Nelson
This is Angela's second time competing at USPC. As the owner of The Moxy Movement in Draper, Utah, she loves sharing her passion for pole, aerial, and dance. When she's not dancing, she enjoys getting lost in Utah's mountains, lakes, and deserts. Cat's rule! She's so excited to be back on the competition stage this year!
Chiemi Chunga
Cara has been loving pole for 13 years. She currently teaches at Divafit in Virginia and loves traveling to new places for pole. Please enjoy her routine inspired by van Gogh’s sunflower. A symbol of gratitude and the beauty of simple existence.
Divine Em
Divine Em is a pole champion, performer, athlete, and instructor. She is Muva of Fly Club, a boutique studio offering diverse pole, flexibility, and moveMeant classes to the Chicagoland dance communities. Em believes that pole dance and sensual movement are for everybody and EVERY BODY! Hoping to knock some of the dust off, Divine Em is extremely grateful for the opportunity to compete with US Pole Champions. Beyond regional, national, and international competitions and accolades, Divine Em has enjoyed the privilege of performing with such illustrious productions as Girl Next Door, SEVEN, Schtick a Pole In It, Iron Candy, The Wild Side: A Badass Pole Show, Legends: A Night of Burlesque, The Short Stack: an adorably small pole show, Uncen$ored: Beyond Burlesque, Let Them Eat (Chocolate) Cake!!! NYC, Unbridled at Untitled, Bawdy Suit's Juneteenth Jump-Off, & Bad Reputation: a punk rock pole show. Having evolved into her own brand of pole show producer, Divine Em now produces high-energy & provocative pole shows of her own. Be sure to make Fly Club a must-experience destination while visiting the Chi; Em & the Fly Club Fam are ready to welcome you - with wings wide open.
Kiing NJ
NJ hails from the San Francisco Bay area where they teach at multiple studios and are an integral part of the pole community. Since starting pole eight years ago, it has become a cornerstone of their life. They enjoy bringing characters to life on stage and also attending pole camps and visiting different studios around the world. NJ finished fourth at PSO Nationals in 2024 and second at USPC in both 2023 and 2024. They are thrilled to be back for another USPC performance.
Lisel
Lisel has been studying the art of pole dance since 2014. Through instructing, competing, performing, and teaching workshops, she has developed a passion for sharing her knowledge of strength, flexibility, and technical yet expressive movement. After leaving her 16 year career in dentistry to pursue the work she felt most called to, Lisel now dedicates herself to helping others discover what they’re capable of through pole. As a mother of two, she hopes to show her children the importance of having the courage to follow their passions and build a life that aligns with what they truly love. Her goal is to create a positive, supportive learning environment where students leave feeling stronger, more confident, and inspired to continue their own pole journey.
Meg Austin
Meg Austin is a Seattle-based pole dancer, aerialist, hand balancer and contortionist. After 13 years of gymnastics, Meg discovered pole as a new athletic outlet. Her signature style blends flexibility with dynamic tricks. Meg has performed and competed on stages across the world. She teaches pole, flexibility, and handstands classes at Raven Studios Seattle. When she’s not poling you can find her rock climbing, crocheting, or chilling with a good book.
Melvin Sánchez
Melvin Sanchez started his pole journey 11 years ago when he took his first pole class following the suggestion of a friend. It was love at first pinch. After having competed in gymnastics for many years and danced with several companies in Northern Virginia and Richmond, he never imagined Pole will give him an amazing competitive career. In his decade journey he has acquired many national and international titles including the 2018 POSA Doubles world champion and the 2018 Men's individual world Champion and the 2025 PSO men's professional champion....but his greatest satisfaction comes from the connection he feels with the audience when he performs or with his students when he teaches.
Rachel Barringer
Rachel Barringer is an aerialist and contortionist based in New England. She performs primarily on aerial hoop, mini hoop, dance pole, flying pole, and multi-cordes. She is also one half of DuoShadow with Caroline Wright, and they perform on duo hoop and duo braided loops. She has performed with Shanghai Circus, Boston Circus Guild, Santa’s Circus, Cirque De Light, CirqOvation, and more. She is also a founding member of Circus 617, a contemporary circus company based in Boston. Rachel is a senior coach at Esh Circus Arts in Somerville, MA.
Sara Joel
Sara Joel was an original cast member of Cirque du Soleil's "Zumanity" where she co-choreographed and performed the"Body2Body" duet in over 1,000 shows. Ms Joel gave her first pole performance over a decade ago while 8 months pregnant with her 4th child at "Schtick a Pole in it" in NYC. She made her competition debut in 2018 and won the Amateur Division at USPDF. In 2020 Ms Joel placed 1st in PSO Russian Exotic Level 5. In 2024, 2025 and 2026 she placed 1st in Pole Art Italy Women's Masters Elite category. Sara also won Pole Theatre USA Professional Drama category in 2025. She is thrilled to be performing at U.S. Pole Champions!
Stephanie Lien
As a kid, Stephanie was always dancing and climbing trees. As an adult, she combined her two loves into pole dancing when she started her journey in 2013. Her progress had been quiet and unsteady until she rediscovered what pole meant to her after performing in front of an audience for the first time in 2024. Her passion for dancing and love for the pole community grew from there. To her surprise, she brought home gold after competing in her first competition in 2025. An engineer by day and pole dancer by night, Stephanie continues to dance and develop her skills with no ending in sight.
2026 Amateur Finalists
Ames
Ames is a Los Angeles-based pole dancer who loves fluid movement and silly concepts. Pole performance has provided an outlet for the weird corners of her brain and a fun chance to experiment. She is forever grateful to her friends, pole community, and coach Veronika for supporting her off-the-wall ideas. They lift her up, literally and figuratively! Ames is excited to return to U.S. Pole Champions and see all the incredible talent on stage.
Elle
Before discovering pole in 2022, Elle's dance experience consisted of aggressively vibing at concerts. Since then, she's been making up for lost time with an unapologetic love for dynamic movement. You can usually find her somewhere in DC picking up a new hobby that will most likely be abandoned within three months. Pole, meanwhile, has now survived its fourth year, making it the undisputed champion of her attention span. She's here to trust the momentum and show that a later start just means picking up more speed on the way down.
Ellie
Ellie took her very first pole class thanks to a Groupon and was immediately addicted. She discovered her love for movement that combines flexibility, creativity, and strength and now she teaches at Smoke&Mirrors Fitness, the studio she took her very first pole class at. Outside of pole, she enjoys traveling, playing video games and hanging out with her puppy.
Jennie May
Jennie May started doing pole from a Groupon deal and she's been hooked ever since. Pole has given her strength, confidence, and the mental fortitude to believe in her ability to do hard things. She's grateful for the love, support, encouragement, and lifelong friendships she has made in the pole community. She is currently an instructor at Smoke and Mirrors fitness where she strives to make every class a safe space where students can express themselves fully and discover the strength within themselves to be able to do hard things.
Jessiebella
Jess was first drawn to Pole in 2023 as an excuse to climb, spin, and play like they were on a jungle gym. When they started taking classes at their local studio, The Diva Dive, they learned to love the slow, sensual side of pole. They grew an appreciation for their body and an unknown level of self-love. Their performances aim to tell a story, whether their own or dreamt up; evoke a feeling of awe or magic; and maybe wow you with a fancy trick or two. They are honored to be chosen to compete at U.S. Pole Champions and thrilled to share the stage with all the talented dancers.
Manda Oh
Manda Oh is a pole dancer and instructor from Indianapolis, Indiana, where she has spent the past several years exploring her strength, movement, and self-expression through pole and sharing that passion with her students and her studio community. Known for infusing emotion and storytelling into every performance, Manda Oh uses the stage as a canvas for her creativity and to let out all her feelings.
Reiko
Reiko has been pole dancing for 2 years and is honored to be representing her home studio, Elevate You Pole, in New Jersey! Reiko has gotten to travel and perform in Missouri and Maryland this past year, and is excited to be visiting California, one of her favorite states to visit. As a former dancer, Reiko is excited to be utilizing her dance technique and pole experience to debut a new routine!
St. Sawyer
St. Sawyer is an artist with a love for pole dance. Sam currently lives in Prague and enjoys to travel and dance. As a former theatre kid, they love to create stories and characters on stage. Sam is honored to be a part of USPC and thankful for the opportunity.
the Contortle Portal
Contortle-portal (Amanda Foox): I am an avid pole and aerial artist and flexibility coach. When I am not in the air you can find me running on a trail or adventuring outside with my family. I find joy in helping others finding their own movement in the air. Besides teaching yoga, aerial, flexibility and pole my husband and I also own a Mental Health company where I bring holistic practice to MH and treatment centers. I am grateful to share my passion with you all!
Vira-Trix
Vira has been pole dancing for about 6 years. Her husband bought her first pole class and thinking it be a hobby became her new obsession. With the support of her husband and three amazing children, she proves doesn’t matter how late you start something with enough work and grit, you can achieve your dreams. She loved to perform on the stage giving the crowd strong emotions, from crying to laughing or feeling a little hot and turned on 😜 She is honored to be part of a community where she can share her passion and help others achieve their dreams by being Instructor at an amazing studio in Simi valley called The Gem. And can’t wait to take the stage and cheer on everyone else who hits that stage at pole Champs!