Meet Mia Preisser

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mia Preisser. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mia below.

Mia, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I learned to meditate when I was 17 years old. My sister and I found an old book in the house that my father had picked up to help him quit smoking, and that was my first introduction. Over the years I have practiced many kinds of meditation, and it has always helped me deal with things better, see different perspectives, and make clearer decisions. It gave me a way to trust my intuition.

That practice became especially important when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to stop performing, rebuild my strength, and face the fear of losing the life I knew. What carried me through was meditation and the support of my community and my partner. I was amazed at my capabilities and at my strength, and I also had to learn to accept help and lean on others, which was not easy for me.

I see resilience not as being tough all the time, but as soft power the ability to ask for help, let people help you so you can heal, and rise again.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a dancer, visual artist, and modern-day mystic whose work blends performance, storytelling, and meditation. Alongside my stage career, I teach creative and act development for burlesque and I also offer training in feather fan technique for beginners and professional performers. My work is rooted in both artistry and education, helping performers build confidence, self-esteem, and imagination.

I am also building out my platform on Substack @miathemvp and through my website, CatCult.com. I will be releasing my first audio book and ebook, Manifest Like a Showgirl, Think Like a Stoic. It combines my experience as a performer with the philosophy and spiritual practices that have helped me create resilience and confidence. My goal is to inspire others to embrace both glamour and spirituality, and to use performance as a tool for empowerment and transformation.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Creativity
Studying theater at CCNY and later building acts in burlesque taught me how to take risks, tell stories, and create something original. When we were children we created without inhibitions. It’s important to keep that part of yourself alive. Pay attention to what lights you up and inspires you. That is where your gifts are. My advice is to try things even before you feel ready. Creation builds confidence. The Law of Assumption reminds me that if I see myself as an artist and act from that belief, I am already becoming it.

Education and Training
My graduate work in early childhood education at Sarah Lawrence gave me a foundation in development and teaching. That knowledge shapes how I approach act development and how I share skills like feather fan technique. My advice is to stay curious and keep learning. Every bit of training adds to your craft. Stoicism helps me here because it reminds me to focus on what is in my control, which makes the process of learning and teaching stronger.

Resilience
Life tested me in ways I did not expect, including surviving breast cancer. I learned how to pause, rebuild, and continue forward. My advice is to practice listening to yourself. Challenges will come, but the ability to recover and keep moving is what carries you long term. My blend of meditation, Law of Assumption and Stoicism remind me that I can always return to myself, and trust that I am aligned with the future I am choosing.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was nurture my art at an early age. They called me an artist when I was three years old, saved my work, and put it up. They took me to museums and to broadway shows when they could afford to. My father taught me how to draw and would take me to buy supplies. My mother influenced my love for theater, dance, fashion, and music. That foundation shaped everything I do today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://catcult.com
• Instagram: miavpart
• Other: Substack MiaTheMVP

Image Credits

Photo (black hat). House Indulgence
Photo (Isis Queen of The Gods). The Burlesque Show at The Borgata
Photo (Red bustle skirt at Duane Park NYC) Emma Story
Photo (Silver Costume) Theik Smith
Photo (feather fans) House Indulgence