Riley Schillaci (born December 22, 1982) is an American performance artist, specializing in sword swallowing as one of few professional female sword swallowers in the world.[1]
Riley Schillaci | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 22, 1982 Rochester, New York, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | performance artist (sword swallower, fire artist) |
| Years active | 2007 – present |
| Known for | America's Got Talent contestant, season 6. Ripley's Believe It or Not |
| Website | oddgirl.net |
Early life and inception of career
editRiley Schillaci was born on December 22, 1982, in Rochester, New York. In her childhood, she observed a relative who swallowed forks and knives and stuck licorice up his nose, only to have it reemerge through his mouth. At around 14, Schillaci decided to try swallowing objects because she believed the talent was genetic. She moved on to swallowing drum sticks and glow sticks,[2] and by post-college she swallowed swords.[1] She swallowed her first sword (17 inches (43 cm)) in a sword store.[3] Her second sword (36 inches (91 cm)) was ordered by mail. Her parents held it while she "eased up into it ... 'until it just barely hit the bottom of my stomach'". She cut off the protruding part, making the sword 19 inches (48 cm). Although her parents wanted her to be a singer, they supported her as a sword swallower by attending some of her performances.[1]
Career
editPerformance
editSchillaci was a featured season 6 contestant on America's Got Talent but was rejected by the judges because she did not smile enough.[1] One of fewer than 20 female sword swallowers in the world,[3] she worked with Ripley's Believe It or Not![1] and is a member of the Sword Swallowers Association International.[4] She uses rum to disinfect her sword before swallowing it.[5] Schillaci said that her throat becomes faintly sore after sword swallowing a few times per week.[2]
Besides sword swallowing, her acts include fire eating, fire breathing, human blockhead, human pincushion, and bed of nails.[1] She calls her overall act "Odd Girl".[6]
Other
editHaving earned a degree in sociology and health science, Schillaci has worked in factories, special education, child care, web development, and in administration.[3] Her hobbies include writing and playing music.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Steve Siegel (February 24, 2012). "Cutting-Edge Entertainment. Allentown woman is one of few professional female sword swallowers in the world". Life. The Morning Call. p. D1. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ a b c Tori Uthe (January 13, 2008). "Don't try this at home, boys and girls. Sword swallowing 'extremely difficult and dangerous'". Webster Post. p. 23. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ a b c Al Zagofsky (June 12, 2010). "Hard economic times led couple to ... gulp ... a strange profession". Erie Times-News. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ Dan Meyer (2011). "Actively Performing Professional Sword Swallowers". Sword Swallowers Association International. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Seth Voorhees (February 28, 2008). "Her Hobby's Hard To Swallow". YNN Rochester. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ Walter Perez (April 1, 2012). "Allentown woman makes a living swallowing swords". WPVI-TV. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
External links
edit- Official website
- Riley Schillaci's channel on YouTube
- Melanie Falcon (February 7, 2012). "Woman with unique talent finds rising stardom easy to swallow". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
