Cougar for a Year was a yearlong, durational performance piece in which I dressed in nothing but animal print clothing 24/7 to investigate, live, and try on stereotypes of the cougar- a ‘sexually aggressive’ woman over-40- by wearing her uniform, which I named as animal print based on my research of popular culture and mainstream media texts. I chose animal print as the cougar’s uniform not only because she is often seen wearing it, but also because of its visibility, clarity, and literalization of representing the cougar, and for the sexual signification that animal print performs in western culture.

One of the rules that I set for myself for Cougar for a Year was to have at least 60% visible animal print showing to ensure a disruption to my wardrobe and daily dress. As the performance reached the halfway mark, I felt the most confident in project and body when I was dressed head-to-toe in 100% leopard print or snakeskin. I was diligent about documenting the project everyday through an online interactive database (CougarThis.com), which included daily photographs, diary entries, video, and a Cougar Sightings section where online users could contribute pictures of people wearing animal print. This website continues to serve as an archive of the performance.

Cougar for a Year bibliography

McLeod, Dayna. Spotting the Cougar: Performing Queer Middle-Aging in Cougar for A Year. Special Issue on Age and Performance, Guest editors: Benjamin Gillespie, Julia Henderson, Núria Casado-Gual, Theatre Research in Canada, Vol. 42, no. 2, Fall 2021.
McLeod, Dayna. Reflections on Performing Cougar. NOMOREPOTLUCKS, “Perform,” no. 32, Jan-Feb 2014 [via wayback machine].
Cowan, T.L.: Cabaret Performance and the Social Politics of Scene-Making. More Caught in the Act: An Anthology of Performance Art by Canadian Women. Householder, Johanna; Mars, Tanya, eds. Toronto: yyzbooks, 2016.
Vaughn, RM. Women Who Run (off to the side of) the Wolves. cmagazine, c123: “Wet” Fall 2014.
Olivier, Marie-Claude G.. Se suivre : une volonté artistique et féministe émancipée du mythe pédagogique. Inter: art actuel, n 116, 2014, p. 60-63.
Lussier, Judith. Dayna McLeod, artiste cougar, Urbania, 28 Juin, 2013.
Montgomery, Sue. Cougar life: 40-year-old goes on the prowl for a PhD, A7, The Montréal Gazette, June 1, 2013.
Rosen, Estelle. The Cat’s Meow, The Question. The Charlebois Post, charpo-canada.com, February 4, 2013.
Burnett, Richard. MTL artist Dayna McLeod’s Cougar For a Year fashion project raises more than just eyebrows. The Montréal Gazette, 14 Jan. 2013.
Slone, Abi. Welcome to the Jungle: Turning 40 was the beginning of a year-long project for Montréal performance artist Dayna McLeod, The Montréal Gazette, July 26, 2012.