Dita Von Teese

Dita Von Teese, born Heather Renée Sweet on September 28, 1972, is an American vedette, burlesque dancer, model, actress, and businesswoman. Often referred to as the "Queen of Burlesque," she is widely credited with re-popularizing burlesque performance and pioneering the revival of neo-burlesque through elaborate dance routines inspired by 1930s and 1940s cinema and musicals.

Born in Rochester, Michigan, Von Teese grew up in West Branch, Michigan, before relocating with her family to Orange County, California, where she attended University High School in Irvine. Raised by a machinist father and a manicurist mother, she developed an early fascination with Golden Age Hollywood cinema, vintage fashion, and lingerie. She was classically trained as a ballet dancer from a young age, performing solo for a local company at age 13. In college, she studied historic costuming with aspirations of becoming a film stylist, eventually becoming a trained costume designer.

At age 18, Von Teese had her signature beauty mark tattooed on her left cheek, and at age 19, she began working in performance. She adopted her stage name as a tribute to silent film actress Dita Parlo, while her surname was created when Playboy accidentally misspelled "Von Treese" during her December 2002 cover appearance. Known for her distinct aesthetic featuring styled blue-black hair, crimson lipstick, and retro apparel, she handles her own hair, makeup, and styling.

Von Teese began performing burlesque in 1992, incorporating vintage style, props, and classical ballet techniques into her acts. Her notable signature routines include performances involving a giant martini glass, a champagne glass, and large feather fans. Over her career, she has toured extensively with revues such as "Strip, Strip Hooray," "The Art of the Teese," "Dita Von Teese and the Copper Coupe," and "Glamonatrix." In 2006, she became the first guest star at the Parisian cabaret venue Crazy Horse, and in 2009, she participated in the Eurovision Song Contest as part of Germany's stage entry.

In addition to her live stage work, Von Teese has appeared in film, television, and music videos. She starred in film projects including the short film The Death of Salvador Dali and the feature Saint Francis, and appeared in music videos for artists such as Marilyn Manson, Green Day, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and Taylor Swift. Her television credits include guest appearances and competition shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Masked Dancer, Danse avec les stars, RuPaul's Drag Race, and The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell.

As a businesswoman and fashion figure, Von Teese has walked the runway for designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Moschino, and Giambattista Valli. She has served as an ambassador for MAC Cosmetics' Viva Glam campaign, Cointreau, and Perrier. She has also authored books on burlesque history and beauty, released her own fragrance line under Dita Von Teese Perfumes, and created branded lines of lingerie, stockings, and clothing.