Professional beefcake Kevin Cornell tells Alice Chan about the strange and crazy life of a Chippendale

The Chippendales are known to drive women wild with their scantily clad and perfectly sculpted bodies. Call them slick, call them buff – just don’t call them strippers. “We’re exotic dancers,” says former body builder and construction worker Kevin Cornell of The Chippendales, “and style ourselves like Broadway shows.”

He insists that the Chippendales act is not a sleazy stripper show, but a classy production of choreographed dance routines. “A lot of people don’t know what the show is all about and think we’re just strippers,” says Cornell. “We’re very high class and professional; there are no g-strings or baby oil involved. The good thing about us is that the audience gets to hang out with us afterwards. We’re more accessible to them.”

When pressed for stories from the Flirt Lounge, however, he was less forthcoming: “There are always stories, but you know…”

Astonishingly, Cornell was encouraged to join the troupe by his mother. “My mother went to see the show and came back saying ‘You have to do the Chippendales!’” he laughs. “I thought she was crazy because I had reservations myself at the time.”

“It’s the best job in the world! It’s like a brotherhood; we hang out after the shows.” When asked if he checks out female strip shows himself, he gives an enthusiastic “absolutely!”

Cornell has been doing this for nine years and hopes there’s at least another four left in him. “I’ve just got to keep fit – when the girls scream boo instead of yay, it’s time to go.”

So what exactly does a professional tank-top-tearer do when he retires? Cornell says he hopes to own a bar in Vegas. “Lots of the guys are smart, they have degrees and want to start their own businesses. One of the guys went into real estate and another owns a GNC store. We make a lot of good contacts.”

With nine months on the road a year, Cornell says relationships are definitely the most difficult part of the job. “There are obviously always problems with jealousy – you’d have to find a very secure girl for her to be okay with what we do.”

Those worries are likely to come from the hardcore fans they pick up along the way. “We had a group of women following us through all the different cities when we were touring in Europe,” he says. “One climbed up a fire escape to reach a hotel room.” Unluckily for her, the boys always travel with security. Other ladies are known to get the boys’ attention by throwing their underwear on stage, and some even scrawl their phone numbers and “call me” on the intimate filigree. When asked if he ever calls, Cornell laughs “That would have to depend on the size of the underwear.”

Part of the lasting appeal of the Chippendales is that it’s all about harmless fun, but there is a seedier side. “Of course there are women who offer us money for sex, but we always keep it professional and say no.”

It’s the first time the Chippendales visit the region and the boys are excited to find out how the audience here compare with other countries. For a sneak preview, they are also in Hong Kong on Wednesday 17 at FINDS before the full show at Sands Macau on Friday 19 and Saturday 20. Get ready ladies, The Chippendales are on their way – and the organisers are confident you’ll leave with a smile on your face.

March 19 & 20. For tickets see: www.cotaiticketing.com.