Comedian and social commentator Kate Smurthwaite celebrated Australia’s recent decision to legislate for marriage equality in a slightly different way to most, she’s dyed her armpit hair rainbow colours.

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Smurthwaite will be bringing her comedy show ForniKATEress to this year’s Fringe World where she’ll be sharing her observations about having a polyamous life.

In the UK she’s a well known political and social commentator appearing on news and current affairs programs. He armpit hair is also quite famous.

“In the UK my armpits have a bit of a life of their own. I was asked on This Morning, one of the most popular daytime TV shows, to discuss my decision not to shave them. You could argue they’re more famous than me.”

“I think everyone should be free to do what they want with their bodies. Alone or with the people they care about! I grew them for a laugh but now I’m really proud of my ‘pit kittens’ and if I can use them to make a point about equality – even better!” Smurthwaite said of her recent makeover.

Smurthwaite has written and toured twelve one-woman comedy shows around the UK and internationally. In 2013 she received a ThreeWeeks Editors’ Choice award declaring her one of the ten best things about the Edinburgh Fringe. She has appeared on over a thousand TV and radio shows including Question Time, The Morning, The Moral Maze and The Big Questions.

She is a writer for the UK’s best-known comedy panel show Have I Got News For You? And for BBC3’s BAFTA-winning The Revolution Will Be Televised. She has written humorous columns for magazines and newspapers from Cosmopolitan to New Internationalist. She is best known internationally for appearing in a viral video clip called Atheist b!tchslap. This will be her first time performing in Australia.

Check out the January edition of OUTinPerth magazine for our interview with Kate Smurthwaite, and book tickets ASAP to see her shows ForniKATEress and Late with Kate.

OIP Staff, Image: Mark Adri-Soejoko