Are there still authentic showgirls in Las Vegas? Burlesque sensation Dita Von Teese offers an intricate perspective.
“There’s a lot of debate about the definition of a showgirl, especially with the upcoming Taylor Swift album,” she shares during a morning call from her Los Angeles kitchen. Her own presence is perhaps at the heart of this dialogue: In 2023, Von Teese unveiled the glamorous, feather-filled, rhinestone-studded Dita Von Teese at Voltaire, a revue held at The Venetian in Las Vegas. However, she observes that “the authentic Las Vegas showgirl essentially disappeared with the closure of Jubilee! in 2016.”
That moment marked Von Teese—along with her residency—as the successor to the iconic Bob Mackie showgirl headdress, both literally and symbolically. Initially approached by Live Nation to launch a show in Las Vegas, Jubilee!—which graced the Strip since 1981—had already ceased performances for several years. It was during this time that Von Teese stumbled upon the show’s vintage costumes tucked away in a basement. “I was fortunate to select and incorporate a curated group of these retro showgirl costumes into my own production,” she recalls.
With deep respect for the art form, Von Teese embraces homage through her costumes and performances, yet does not classify herself as a showgirl. “There are certain standards that define a showgirl that I don’t meet,” she explains. “It’s about weight, height, and age. The history behind it is significant, and I have immense respect for it, but I’m not even tall enough!”
Nonetheless, Von Teese’s show stands out as distinctly its own. “Much like the rules of traditional showgirls, my performance has its codes as well,” she notes. “First, we eliminated age restrictions since I don’t fit the conventional showgirl age. Next, I dismissed height and weight criteria. I wanted body diversity and size representation. And gender norms? Forget that! I’m featuring muscular men in feathered headdresses. One dancer from Jubilee! even mentioned he was never allowed to wear the headdress. I looked him straight in the eye and asked, ‘Do you want to wear it?’”
