Jen’s careers are poles apart

COMPETITIVE pole dancer Jen Squire is set to represent Australia on the world stage.

The 31-year-old, who has a PhD in chemistry, turned down a promising academic career to teach and compete in pole dancing and hasn’t looked back.

She recently won the Overall Semi-Pro Champion title at a national competition with Pole Theatre Sydney, which earned her automatic entry to the Pole Theatre Worlds Competition in London next year.

“I’ve danced my entire life, since I was four, I was a callisthenics girl for 21 years,” she said.

“I had a friend wanted to try it. She dragged me along to a class in 2011 and I got hooked straight away. Basically my whole life is now pole.

“I instruct most nights and as a day job I have a dance costume business.

“I have definitely changed my life around.”

The Geelong West resident goes by the stage name Le Chatelier, after the French chemist, as a nod to her “past life”.

While her recent success guarantees her a place in the international competition, it’s not paid for.

“I have to make my own way over there and since I picked a career for passion and not money I was never intending to go overseas any time soon,” she said.

“I try to live a modest life so I can keep doing what I love.”

Ms Squire, who teaches and trains at En Pointe Aerial Academy in