Not In Distress • Episode 1: Helter Skelter’s Sculpted Wing • 04-19-25

“Not in Distress” is a femme-horror radio series hosted by Leslie Hurtado that shines a light on women of color in horror cinema. Through analysis, interviews, and film critique, each episode unravels how horror empowers women to turn fear into power, rewriting their stories from the shadows.
Airs: Every 1st & 3rd Saturdays at 10am

The Beauty Under the Knife series opens, and Not in Distress makes its debut! Host Leslie Hurtado slices into Mika Ninagawa’s candy‑bright nightmare. Helter Skelter follows top model Lilico as she submits to extreme plastic surgery to stay on top — only to spiral into physical and mental collapse. The episode ties Lilico’s descent to the Slit‑Mouthed Woman legend, ORLAN’s protest art, and today’s digital‑beauty craze. From butterflies and mirrors to Virgin‑Mary statuettes, Leslie unpacks the film’s symbols to reveal how modern beauty culture can warp as much as it glamorizes.