Dita Von Teese

She is one of a kind. She is the biggest name in burlesque since Gypsy Rose Lee. She tops international best-dressed lists. She is a modern day fashion icon. She is credited for bringing back the glamour and allure of Old Hollywood stars. Self-created. Distinctive. Iconic. Often imitated, never duplicated. She is Dita Von Teese.

Born Heather Sweet in West Branch, Michigan, Dita grew up fascinated by Technicolor musicals, pin-up imagery, and vintage lingerie. This naturally blond, mid-western girl then transformed herself into one of the glamour girls she grew up adoring. The undisputed international queen of burlesque, Dita brings classic pin-up imagery to life.

She is in demand all over the world as a performer, and is well-known for her retro looks and style, as well as her ornate sets and elaborate performance costumes adorned in hundreds of thousands of Swarovski crystals.

Best known for her cocktail glass show in which she performs an old fashioned strip tease that culminates with her bathing herself in an oversized champagne or martini glass (complete with strawberry or olive sponge respectively), Dita is a permanent fixture at high profile events, including those for designers such as Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, Chopard, and Cartier. She was also the first guest star in history at Paris’ famed Crazy Horse (established in 1951), and returned to the legendary Parisian stage in February 2009. In fact, her two-week run was such a success that she returned to the cabaret in March for another two weeks. A DVD of the show was released in France in late 2009, and will be released in the UK, Germany and the US in early 2010. In addition, Dita will bring her shows to the MGM’s Crazy Horse Paris in Las Vegas in the Spring of 2010.

This "Burlesque Superheroine" (Vanity Fair) is also renowned for her other shows including her Bird of Paradise show, her Powder Compact show, and her latest creation, The Opium Den which she debuted in Los Angeles in July 2009, and performed at the prestigious Casino de Paris in Paris in September 2009. Dita also performed her "Be Cointreauversial" show there, a more extravagant version of her famous Martini glass show that she created especially for Cointreau as their global brand ambassador. She is also the face of Cointreau’s advertisements for Cointreau Noir, the Cointreaupolitan, and the Cointreau Margarita.

An advocate in the fight against HIV and AIDS, Dita was a MAC Viva Glam Spokesperson from 2006-2008 and in 2009, she participated in the H&M/Fashion Against Aids campaign, designing a glamorous cap-sleeved t-shirt with Fashion Illustrator David Downton. She has also performed and appeared at several events for Amfar, including their Cinema Against AIDS event in Cannes, their Dubai Film Festival event, and their Milan event during fashion week. In addition, Amfar honored her with their Award of Courage in 2008.

A self-styled fashion icon that has topped several international best dressed lists and walked in various high profile fashion shows, Dita has also brought her distinct style to the word of lingerie, with Wonderbra by Dita Von Teese. This vintage-inspired, limited edition lingerie collection for Wonderbra was a bestseller, and her 2nd season, the "Party Edition," was launched in 2009 all over Europe. Dita also has her own collection of full-fashioned seamed stockings with Secrets in Lace, which are available through their catalog and her website.

The latest from Dita... DITA STRIPTEESE, a box set of 3 retro- styled "flip-books" shot by photographer Sheryl Nields.