By Susan A. Webley

If it's to be conquered, Margaret Cho is the conqueror. Her brand of funny, in your face and REAL comedy catapulted her to national success (though right wingers and homophobes continually fail to appreciate the humor). She has penned two books and over the years has added actress, activist, dancer and director to the notches on her belt. Something tells me there's more to come.

I had the pleasure of having a brief phone conversation with Margaret about her show The Sensuous Woman, female body image and those oh, so pesky politicians.

Let's talk about The Sensual Woman. How long has the show been running?

We've been doing this show for a little over a year now.

What influenced your decision to go on tour with it?

It was just so popular and for me, it's a fun show to do. It combines a lot of different kinds of performance and it really gives me a chance to work with some great people. So I was just really excited about doing it.

I know that burlesque plays a key part in The Sensual Woman. Why burlesque as opposed to another form of expression?

Burlesque is sexy and unique, it's comedy and it's very political because it's really an opportunity to see women's bodies, real women's bodies, which is something that we don't really see too often. In the media you only see one body type for women, so we don't get see what women's bodies really look like. For the majority of women, we're mostly invisible, so it is an opportunity to see women's bodies, to see real people.

Why do you believe that there is such a lack of positive body images for women in the media?

It just exists… I don't know why. It's a mystery, really.

Years ago, in your autobiography I'm The One I Want, you spoke about coming to terms with your own body image and the difficulties you faced breaking into show business because of it. Why do you think that Hollywood is so stuck on "thin"?

It's just a weird image of what beautiful is that they have, a very fixed image. Generally, that image is white. If you are not white, the least you can do is adhere as strictly as you can to that sort of physical ideal and so it's a tough kind of situation to be in as a woman of color and as a feminist. It's very bizarre.

Over the years, there has been an increase of fashion, products and services that cater to women who are more "curvy," or plus-sized. Is this a step in the right direction for how society views beauty as a whole?

I think it helps. I think ultimately, we need to see women with curves; we need to see these bodies used in advertising and in the media, in movies and television. We need to see those people.

Is there anything that you think we can do individually and collectively to improve our own views on body image?

Well, I think it's about showing off. It's about feeling really good about ourselves and getting out there and doing shows like this, doing burlesque or whatever your own kind of exhibitionism is, and feeling like we're being seen. I think that's really important.

Going back to your biography, are there still days that you don't feel too good about what you see in the mirror?

Oh absolutely, yes!

What do you do to get yourself out of that?

I just sort of go on. I have to just deal with it and move on. Everybody has those days and fortunately for me, they are very few and far between.

If there were one thing that you could change about yourself personally or professionally, what would that be?

I don't know… I think I'd probably wish that I slept less, so that I could do more! *laugh*

I can relate! Over the years you haven't bitten your tongue politically, helping to champion the cause of equal rights for minorities, the LGBT community etc., and braving the backlash as a result. What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing our community today? What can be done to rectify it?

We're always fighting invisibility. Our issues get eclipsed. For example, the democratic candidates for president don't want to talk about gay marriage because they believe that bringing it up will make fewer people want to vote for them or it will make them less popular with conservative voters, and so, they opt to make the gay issue invisible as opposed to addressing it. That is a major problem, this invisibility.

In regards to gay marriage and other issues facing our community, do you think we are political enough? Do we need to do more?

I think that we need to question these candidates more about why they are opting to use invisibility as a political tactic. That's wrong.

What can we do to become less invisible?

Just being very vocal about that issue and being very vocal about everything that happens, whether it's writing or blogging or whatever, those things have tremendous power.

Stepping away from politics, let's talk about the film Two Sisters, which is your directorial debut. What is this story about?

It's a film about a belly dancing family and about these two sisters who find a closer relationship through dance. It's really great.

How did you get involved with this film?

I was asked to do it. It was part of a program that invited women to direct. I thought it would be a really great project and I loved doing it. I think I'll do it again!

With all of what you're doing right now, what is a typical day for you like?

Well, I'm usually getting up and doing a lot of press, morning shows and phoners then going off to rehearsal and performing.

Do you find time to relax?

A little bit here and there. I hang out with my dogs and my husband, I eat and watch television, which I love!

Do you usually watch yourself?

*laughing* No, not really!

What other projects do you have in the works?

I will be developing my own one-woman show after The Sensual Woman is finished. Other than that, I'll be on the road, touring and working.

Margaret, it has been an honor! Thank you so much for speaking with me!

My pleasure!