LOS ANGELES, CA / AUCKLAND, NZ – New Zealand-based Erotica – Lifestyles director Steve Crow has traditionally promoted the annual expo with his festive Boobs On Bikes parade down Auckland’s Queen Street. Although this event has brought out up to 20,000 onlookers in previous years, no one was quite prepared for the massive controversy that exploded this past week, when upwards of 100,000 people turned out to watch motorcycles and tanks carrying topless adult stars move slowly down the sprawling, four-lane avenue (particularly impressive given that Auckland’s entire population is estimated at just 1.3 million).
The stunning public display, which received international coverage via Reuters, the AP, and many other news and entertainment services, triggered a debate in New Zealand’s national media, fueled heated arguments on radio and television, and even inspired political cartoons. And caught in the apex of the crossfire were Wicked Pictures very own contract megastars jessica drake and Carmen Hart, in town to appear at the expo and support their company’s new Vixen distribution deal.
“I’ve participated in this event before, including the first year I was with Wicked,” jessica reflected on her time in the national spotlight, which found her and Carmen profiled by such respected media outlets as The New Zealand Herald, Sky TV, John Campbell Live, MSNBC, C4, SKY TV, Breakfast (TV), and many others. “Nothing had prepared me for a turnout of this magnitude. From the very moment we arrived in the country, Carmen and I were doing mainstream radio, television, and print interviews, and many concerned the debate over the propriety of the Boobs On Bikes parade. For me, it wasn’t about being adult stars or sex workers. It was a celebration of self-expression, and I encouraged all the women of Auckland to join us!”
For the exotic Carmen, the entire New Zealand adventure was something she won’t soon forget. “It was an amazing experience! Even though there was a lot of controversy, over 100,000 people came out to support us, and that meant the world to me. jessica and I both saw the event as an opportunity for self-expression, and we celebrated every aspect of it. I feel very fortunate to have participated, and I look forward to going back next year!”
During the event, Queen Street’s overflow crowd was estimated by the media as exceeding even the thousands that attend the city’s Christmas parade every year. But while such a reception could quickly inflate the egos of many, for level-headed jessica (who’s currently featured in a pictorial on the New Zealand Herald’s official website) the Auckland sojourn carried a specific agenda. “I feel very grateful to have been able to go on this trip to support Wicked’s new distribution deal with [New Zealand/Australian distributor] Vixen, and to meet our fans there. Also, this was Carmen’s first time out of the country, and I relished the chance to break her in to the way we do business in the international arena.”
Boobs On Bikes kicked off Erotica – Lifestyles 2006, acclaimed far and near as “The Most Talked About Public Expo New Zealand Has Ever Seen.” The show, which took place August 25th, 26th, and 27th at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland, featured erotic displays and exhibits from all over the world.