Anastasia_Synn

Anastasia Synn

Anastasia Synn

Canadian entertainer and activist (born 1975)

Anastasia Synn is a Canadian sideshow stunt performer and magician, as well as a transhumanist and biohacker.[1][2] She is known for her cyborg rights activism.[3] She was married to magician and comedian the Amazing Johnathan, whom she also managed,[4] until his death on February 22, 2022.[5]

Quick Facts Born, Occupations ...

Transhumanism and biohacking

A frequent speaker at magic, transhumanist, and biohacking conferences,[6][7][8] Synn's implants include the largest magnet ever implanted into a person,[9][10] as well as a sound-transmitting magnet implanted into the tragus of her ear.[11] In 2023, Guinness World Records named her the record holder for most technological implants in the body (female), at 52.[12] All of her modifications were surgically performed by a nurse and an underground DIY surgeon.[13]

Synn has used her implants to perform magic tricks, appearing on the television show Penn & Teller: Fool Us.[14] This performance was named by BioHacking News as one of the top biohacking moments of 2018.[15]

Synn's biohacking is part of the DIYbio cyborg subculture called "grinding",[16] which developed out of the magnets being used in the body modification subculture instead being used as a hack to acquire an "electromagnetic sense".[17] Around half of Synn's implants are microchips, which she programs to give herself heightened senses and abilities, such as opening locks, turning on her computer, and the like.[18]

Synn has spoken before the Nevada State Senate[19] to oppose a 2019 proposal[20] for a microchip implant ban,[21] and her testimony influenced state senator Melanie Scheible to oppose the ban.[22]

Personal life

Synn met magician the Amazing Johnathan while he was doing a six-year run at the Harmon Theater.[23] The couple got married at A Special Memory Chapel in Las Vegas in June 2014,[24] in a ceremony attended by fellow magicians David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, and Jeff McBride, as well as comedian Gallagher.[25] Their wedding reception took place at Geisha House, Las Vegas.[26] Together, they hosted annual parties covered by the Las Vegas press.[27] Synn frequently performed shows with her husband,[28] often taking over for him halfway through when he became fatigued.[29]

Synn has a daughter from a previous relationship.[30]

Media appearances and performances

Synn has been featured widely in the media, including in a 2010 feature in Las Vegas Weekly[31] and in articles about biohacking, including a 2018 Gizmodo science feature.[32]

She has appeared in The Verge's 2012 web documentary on biohacking, entitled A Journey into Cyborg America,[33] as well as Zoomin Next's "Life of Cyborgs Episode Six: The Cybernetic Magician".[34]

A "widely regarded stage performer",[35] Synn has performed "shocking"[36] needle penetrations of her muscles and has appeared on national television in the United States during a 2018 episode of Masters of Illusion, with the Amazing Johnathan,[37] as well as in a solo performance during a September 2018[38] episode of Penn and Teller's Fool Us.[39] In Australia, she appeared on an episode of James Galea's Best Trick Ever on ABC2.[40] She has been featured at numerous live performance venues,[41] including Scot Nery's Boobie Trap[42] and Brookledge Follies.[43]

Synn was featured on the cover of the international magic magazine Vanish in September 2018.[44][45]

She is featured in the 2019 film The Amazing Johnathan Documentary directed by Benjamin Berman.[46]

References

  1. [1]
    Miranda Willson (March 28, 2019). "Meet the Las Vegas biohackers who are trying to supercharge their bodies – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Meet the people using biohacking to become real super humans". www.redbull.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  3. [3]
    "Cyborg-magician opposes microchip implants ban before Senate committee". Biohackinfo. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Murray SawChuck, Amazing Johnathan, Ricardo Laguna, Cast of Fantasy and Thunder from Down Under at The SCREAMont Experiment". www.vegasnews.com. October 16, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  5. [5]
    "Groundbreaking Vegas magician The Amazing Johnathan dies at 63". Las Vegas Review-Journal. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Anastasia Synn – U.S. Transhumanist Party / Transhuman Party – Official Website". May 27, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  7. [7]
    "0963 - MagicWeek UK Magic News". magicweek.co.uk. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  8. [8]
    "2019 Speakers". Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  9. [9]
    "Cyborg-magician opposes microchip implants ban before Senate committee". Biohackinfo. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  10. [10]
    "A cyborg magician explains why she implanted 26 microchips and magnets in her body". Stat News. September 6, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  11. [11]
    Hines, Alice; Wray, Arden (May 12, 2018). "Magnet Implants? Welcome to the World of Medical Punk". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  12. [12]
    "Most technological implants in the body (female)". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  13. [13]
    Miranda Willson (March 28, 2019). "Meet the Las Vegas biohackers who are trying to supercharge their bodies – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  14. [14]
    Female Magician shocks with her act 'THREADED' on Penn & Teller Fool Us s5 E11, retrieved August 20, 2019
  15. [15]
    "Top Biohacking Moments of the Year 2018". Biohackinfo. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  16. [16]
    Power, John-Paul (June 27, 2018). "More than Human: Six Body Hacks that Give You Superpowers, Kinda". Medium. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  17. [17]
    "Everything you need to know about biohacking". Dazed. September 26, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  18. [18]
    Miranda Willson (March 28, 2019). "Meet the Las Vegas biohackers who are trying to supercharge their bodies – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  19. [19]
    Dentzer, Bill (April 26, 2019). "Las Vegas magician weighs in on Nevada microchip ban bill". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  20. [20]
    "AB226 Overview". www.leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  21. [21]
    "Cyborg-magician opposes microchip implants ban before Senate committee". Biohackinfo. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  22. [22]
    Scheible, Melanie (April 26, 2019). "My jaw dropped in public listening to @SiaSynn testify on #ab226 at the #nvleg. She is an amazing artist and technological enthusiast who has influenced my position this piece of legislation. Thank you for educating us!". @MelanieScheible. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  23. [23]
    "Body failing and mind on fire, The Amazing Johnathan reflects on his gloriously unhinged legacy – Las Vegas Weekly". lasvegasweekly.com. January 15, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  24. [24]
    Amazing Johnathan and Anastasia Synn Wedding, retrieved August 25, 2019
  25. [25]
    "The Amazing Johnathan weds Anastasia Synn at A Special Memory Chapel in Las Vegas - Las Vegas Sun News". July 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  26. [26]
    "The Amazing Johnathan Weds Anastasia Synn". LasVegasSun.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  27. [27]
    Katsilometes, John (June 8, 2015). "The Amazing Johnathan hosts watery celebration; Burlesque Hall teases with new exhibit space - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  28. [28]
    Moe, Jackie (June 20, 2017). "The Amazing Johnathan keeps performing despite fatal diagnosis". Orange County Register. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  29. [29]
    Fraser, Trevor (April 27, 2017). "Amazing Johnathan heads to Orlando despite 'waiting to die'". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  30. [30]
    "Anastasia Synn Instagram Page". Instagram. November 19, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  31. [31]
    "Checklist: Anastasia Synn, needle impaler/light bulb eater/fire breather - Las Vegas Weekly". lasvegasweekly.com. October 20, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  32. [32]
    Brown, Kristen V. (April 29, 2018). "I Spent a Weekend With Cyborgs, and Now I Have an RFID Implant I Have No Idea What to Do With". Gizmodo. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  33. [33]
    Biohackers: A journey into cyborg America, retrieved August 20, 2019
  34. [34]
    Life of Cyborgs episode 6: The cybernetic magician, retrieved August 20, 2019
  35. [35]
    "The Amazing Johnathan refuses to disappear". Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 12, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  36. [36]
    Cortez, Jessica (September 30, 2018). "How to Genetically Engineer a Human in Your Garage". synapse.ucsf.edu. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  37. [37]
    Masters of Illusion Amazing Johnathan, retrieved August 20, 2019
  38. [38]
    "The CW Press | Penn & Teller: Fool Us". www.cbspressexpress.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  39. [39]
    "The Amazing Johnathan refuses to disappear". Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 12, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  40. [40]
    "Airdate: James Galea's Best Trick Ever". TV Tonight. September 14, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  41. [41]
    "Anastasia Synn at the Underground Sideshow, Las Vegas by Anastasia Synn". cyberspaceandtime.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  42. [42]
    Anastasia Synn at Scot Nery's BoobyTrap, retrieved August 25, 2019
  43. [43]
    "See Anastasia Synn at Beyond Brookledge". Boing Boing. February 25, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  44. [44]
    "VANISH MAGIC BACK ISSUES Vanish Magic Magazine 50". view.joomag.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  45. [45]
    "iTricks.com Magic News, Magic Videos and Podcasts » Blog Archive » Vanish, Anastasia Synn And Much More [Magic Bulletin]". Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  46. [46]
    "'Untitled Amazing Johnathan Documentary': Film Review | Sundance 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. January 25, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
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