Dita Von Teese American model Date of Birth: 28.09.1972 Country: USA

Biography of Dita Von Teese

Dita Von Teese, an American model, dancer, actress, and fashion icon, is widely regarded as one of the most fashionable and glamorous women of our time. She gained immense popularity through her theatrical burlesque shows and extraordinary appearance. Her affinity for long gloves, corsets, stockings, and distinctive makeup has made her not only a fan of retro style, but also a representative of fetish culture.

Born on September 28, 1972, in Rochester, New York, Dita Von Teese is of Armenian descent and grew up as the middle child among three daughters. Her father worked as a machinist while her mother worked at a nail salon. From a young age, Dita began studying ballet and dance, aspiring to become a ballerina. However, at the age of 15, she felt she had reached the peak of her ballet career.

As she grew older, Dita incorporated elements of ballet into her burlesque performances. When her father was transferred to a new job, the family moved to California. Dita attended high school in Irvine and later pursued costume history in college. She became passionate about costume design and dreamt of a career as a costume designer.

During her teenage years, Dita started working at a pizzeria and later at a lingerie store. However, she couldn't imagine her life without dancing. Since she didn't succeed as a ballerina, she decided to pursue erotic dancing. At the age of 19, Dita got a job at the famous strip club 'Captain Cream Lake Forest,' where the foundation of her image was born. She saw erotic dance as an art form. According to Dita Von Teese, many women dream of becoming models or actresses, but no one aspires to be a famous stripper because it is not taken seriously and is considered merely entertainment for men. She wanted to break this stereotype.

Dita's ideas for enhancing erotic dance were not new. The theatrical show called "burlesque" emerged in the mid-19th century, consisting of erotic dance numbers and humorous dialogues with sexual undertones. By the 1960s, during the sexual revolution, burlesque had transformed into strip tease, where seduction and flirtation were no longer accepted, and the main motto became "less show, more body." In the 1990s, burlesque experienced a revival as a theatrical show, fueled by performers like Catherine D'Lish, Michelle L'Amour, Dirty Martini, Vicky Butterfly, and of course, Dita Von Teese, who brought her unique style to the dance. Dita stood out from other burlesque performers primarily due to her attire and appearance. Long gloves, corsets, and stockings became her signature accessories. Her porcelain-white complexion, black eyeliner, and bright red lipstick made her resemble the film heroines of the 1930s and 1940s. She not only revived interest in burlesque but also popularized the retro style.

Some of Dita's most famous performances include extravagant acts involving giant powder puffs, a carousel with horses, a bathtub, and a Chinese-themed boudoir. Her iconic act, "The Martini Glass," remains one of her most well-known performances. Throughout her career, Dita has had several notable appearances. In 2005, she performed at the New York Academy of Art, and in 2006, she appeared at the "Crazy Horse" club in Paris. She also participated in the 7th season of "America's Next Top Model" and performed at the "Erotica" festival in London.

In 2009, the burlesque diva performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow with the German group "Alex swings Oscar sings." Their act, "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang," only placed 20th. Dita claimed that the performance had been censored because it was deemed too revealing. Besides her dance numbers, Dita Von Teese is also known as a model. Her photos in bondage and corsets have been featured on the covers of fetish magazines, and she has been published in Playboy from 1999 to 2002. In the 2000s, Dita frequently appeared on the runway, representing brands such as Heatherette, Giambattista Valli, Vivienne Westwood, and Wheels and Dollbaby. She also collaborated with Wonderbra to release lingerie collections of her own design.

It is known that Dita is a big fan of 1930s and 1940s cinema, especially musicals, which inspire her in creating her burlesque acts. While acting in films is not her priority, Dita occasionally expresses a strong desire to appear on screen if a role fits her aesthetic perspective.

Early in her career, Dita Von Teese appeared in erotic and fetish films. For example, she starred in Andrew Blake's hardcore films "Decadence" and "Pin Ups 2." In recent years, the provocative dancer has primarily taken on mainstream film roles. In 2005, she received an award at the Beverly Hills Film Festival for her role in the short film "The Death of Salvador Dali."

Dita's personal life has always attracted public attention. Her marriage to provocative rock musician Marilyn Manson caused a significant stir in society. They seemed like a perfect match, but their marriage lasted only a short while. In 2007, a year and a half after their wedding, Dita and Marilyn announced their divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Before her marriage, Dita dated actor Peter Sarsgaard and musician Mike Ness. She has also stated that she had lesbian experiences in her youth and lived with a woman for a period of time.

Dita collects antique porcelain, corsets, and pointe shoes. She also adores veiled hats and long cigarette holders. She takes great care with every detail and loves it when people pay attention to them. After all, they have become part of her image, the image of the queen of burlesque who has become an icon of fetish culture.