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Charli Renken on Muck Rack

Charli Renken

(They/Them)
Chicago
As seen in: Chicago Reader, EIN News, Built In Chicago, Built In, Secret London, Block Club Chicago, Secret NYC, Built in LA, Built In NYC, Built In Austin, Built In Boston and
Covers:  LGBTQ+, Things to Do in Chicago, Activism, Non-profits, Pop Culture, Politics, Local Businesses
Doesn't Cover: Sports
@Chicago_reader Social Media Engagement Associate. Occasional journalist. Bylines: @Builtin, @BlockClubChi, @mysecretchicago. (they/them) all thoughts = my own

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Charli Renken’s Biography

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Now residing in Chicago, IL, Charli Renken grew up in Denver, CO, and holds a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. They are a multimedia storyteller with experience in investigative journalism, beat reporting, social media management, and entertainment news. Their work revolves around the city of Chicago, queer studies, pop culture studies, and activism.

Renken is currently a freelance journalist for Block Club Chicago. They were the Editor of Se…

Charli Renken’s Journalist Portfolio

Block Club Chicago Clips

Block Club Chicago Clips

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Secret Chicago Clips

Secret Chicago Clips

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The Jackalope Clips

The Jackalope Clips

Santa Fe University of Art and Design's student magazine.

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Articles

'Fat' is not a dirty word

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By Charli Renken
| Chicago Reader Verified
“Everything about me is to scale,” says Femme de Violette, drag performer and producer of fat performer showcase Big Fat Fabulous. That’s part of what de Violette says she loves about being a fat performer. With New Year’s resolutions around the corner and weight loss often being an item on people’s lists, now feels like an important time to talk about fatphobia and size diversity in the drag and burlesque community. “The whole conceit of drag is and should be the larger-than-life aspects of it.
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The People Issue 2025

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By Charli Renken
| Chicago Reader Verified
Born in Cary, Illinois, Eva la Feva is a Chicago burlesque and belly dancer. She is also the founder and artistic director of the Newport Theater, a cornerstone of the city’s burlesque and fringe theater scene, and the founder of Feva Pitch Productions, a burlesque and nightlife entertainment company. Her work blends comedic neoburlesque and classic styles, and she is a prominent and sought-after performer in Chicago’s nightlife scene.
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The mythos of the traveling performer

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By Charli Renken
| Chicago Reader Verified
Next month, I travel to Saint Louis for my very first out-of-town gig. While I saw a few drag shows during college in Santa Fe and have been once to Denver’s Hamburger Mary’s, the bulk of my drag experiences and all of the burlesque shows I’ve seen have been in Chicago.
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See all 122 licensed articles (133 Total)

Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

Writing comic book reviews for Hush Comics.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes, but not for any actual writing.

How is social media changing news?

It requires seasoned journalists to strategize more and readers to be more critical of where they're getting their news.