Dumb Blonde - TBT: Dita Von Teese

Episode Date: May 22, 2025

Bunnie welcomes the gorgeous and classy burlesque legend Dita Von Teese to the show this week. Dita talks about her journey from burlesque performer in the 1990s to her record-breaking Vegas ...residency show at the historic Jubilee Theatre, where she's using iconic costumes from the venue's heyday. She opens up about her childhood fascination with vintage style, the Playboy story that led to her iconic stage name, and how her approach to relationships has evolved over the years in the spotlight.Dita: Website | IGWatch Full Episodes & More:www.dumbblondeunrated.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Starting point is 00:03:33 We have the BunnyXO show, we have Meet the Deforts, we have propaganda, we have more shows that we're adding, and not to mention we have the visuals of the podcast. Not only that, we have four tiers that caters to everybody's budget and everybody gets the podcast. There's no more excuses. Head over to www.patreon.com backslash dumb blonde podcast and sign up. Stop missing out. We have built a huge community over there guys. I'm talking about hundreds of thousands of people over there. We even have live chats, live chats that I actually am talking in every single night.
Starting point is 00:04:09 Last but not least, we give away gifts every freaking month. I'm talking like signed stuff from JNI, lives. You just never know what kind of surprise you're going to get. It's like a Cracker Jack box. I love the community that we've built over there at Patreon. If you are already a Patreon member, I freaking love you dude. Thank you so much. You guys are my babies for life, my writers. If I could, I would literally make out with each and every one of you. I love you guys so much and that's a lot of kisses actually. Gotta go bye. Is this thing on? Bonnie, who used to be a former sex worker, now hosts the podcast Dun Blonde.
Starting point is 00:04:43 Most little girls grow up wanting to be doctors and lawyers and shit. And I was like, I want to be super hot, make a lot of fucking money and be a rock star's wife. That was my goal as a child. And here we are. What's up, you sexy motherfuckers? Welcome to another episode of Dumb Blonde. Today, we have the burlesque queen.
Starting point is 00:05:02 Our burlesque mother is in the house, baby, Dita Vontis. How are you? I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm so excited to have you here. Like I just growing up in Vegas, the whole, you know, showgirls burlesque, all that. I've always admired you because you have always been in your own lane and nobody can fuck with you man. Like it's crazy. You have just you've literally made a lifetime of just iconicness. Thank you. You're welcome. It's it's just really good to have you here. Thank you. Thank you for sure. So what are you doing in Vegas? Well, I have a show here on the strip. very exciting. It's kind of like a dream manifestation. I was on tour with my Glaminatrix show about a year ago,
Starting point is 00:05:52 like from 2020. I was on tour, one of the people that had to reschedule tours like crazy. And I'd gotten lots of offers about doing shows in Vegas, but the offers would come and it would be like, yeah, we have this lounge. And I'm like, but that's not what I do. Have you seen my show?
Starting point is 00:06:11 Like, I don't, it's not, what I do is not a typical burlesque show. I play really big stages, like my last tour, when finally Caesars and Live Nation came out to see my show, I had sold out the Chicago Theatre, which is like 3,800 people. And they're like, oh, I this is different than we thought it was. I said, yeah, I decided to take burlesque to another level. So I finally got the offer I wanted about doing Vegas. And they came to me and said, we think we have like the perfect stage for you it's called the Jubilee Theater and I was like okay Jubilee was my favorite
Starting point is 00:06:49 and the only thing I did when I'd come to Vegas. At Valley's. Yes. Yes. And the show girls was my favorite show yeah and it was always like Liberace Museum and Jubilee show so I flew out to look at the theater and it's a big, big theater. Like the stage is half the size of a football field. And I kind of had a moment where I was like, oh, it's really big. I don't even know if I can like fill this stage. And so I said, Hey, what happened to all the Jubilee costumes, all that Bob Mackie stuff. And they're like, oh, it's just locked up downstairs. We don't know what we're going to do with it. And I said downstairs. We don't know what we're gonna do with it. And I said, I have an idea of what we're gonna do with it.
Starting point is 00:07:27 Yes. And I basically said, if I can use all the costumes from Jubilee, I'll do the show here. If I can't, I won't. That is amazing. And so we're using all of that. And it is interesting because when I came in there, they had already started like destroying the sets
Starting point is 00:07:47 and everything, because they have to, they're huge. And like every show, you know, I love reusing things and preservation. I collect vintage clothes, vintage car, vintage things from flea markets. And I love that, but like, you know, every theater has to at one point, you know, get rid of stuff. So they had started chopping the staircase up and all of this and I said, stop, stop doing that.
Starting point is 00:08:13 And I repurposed a lot of the sets and use them in the show now. So we're using all that beautiful Bob Mackie and all the showgirl costumes in a new way with just as many guys in the show as girls and obviously using like, you know, putting my spin on things and it's, you know, the best of all of my my shows all my burlesque shows brought into like emerging with the the spirit of the show girl. I love that. I love that. Not only are you just this beautiful, glamorous woman, you are literally just a boss.
Starting point is 00:08:46 Like you are a great business woman. You have somehow managed to keep yourself relevant for like over a decade now, right? 20 years. Yeah, like 20 years now. Like it's been wild to watch and just see it all unfold. And to be able to get a residency here in Vegas is not easy to sell 38, you know,
Starting point is 00:09:08 even 4,000 tickets just alone anywhere by yourself is not an easy feat. And I don't think people realize that. So that's just a testament to the fan base that you have. Yeah. I think, you know, I've, I started in the early nineties. I just always like, I grew up watching old movies and I loved glamour from another time and I didn't feel like I had role models of beauty growing up in the 80s that
Starting point is 00:09:32 I could be like so I looked to the past and in the early 90s I had the first ever pinup website and so there was a lot of things you know I was like kind of the modern Betty Page from like 1992. I was obsessed with Betty Page. Yeah, me too. And so, yeah, I just kind of kept on my path and, you know, I've never had really any interests in anything else except for what I do. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong, like, era?
Starting point is 00:10:03 No, because, you know, we say vintage style, not vintage values. There's a lot of really great things about now that I think there's a lot of, all you have to do is turn on a 1940s movie and you'll see all kinds of problematic things that you're like, I'm glad that's not around anymore. So you do have to like, I'm always like recommending movies that I love because people ask me and I say, but when you watch this, you just have to remember, there's going to be some things in it that gratefully are put to bed now and don't happen anymore, but you're still going to have to watch it or fast forward it. So,
Starting point is 00:10:39 yeah, there's, I think it's a great time to live in now. And also, I've always liked doing something that's different and being a burlesque star in the 90s. And now, you know, watching it become like some people say the Golden Age of Burlesque was in the 1940s. But I would argue that it's now because we've you know, there's there's such a it's become a place for inclusion and diversity and celebrating all types of bodies. I just think it's much more meaningful for people to see a burlesque show or to engage in performing a burlesque act, whether it's on stage or at home. I think it's just like there's a different kind of
Starting point is 00:11:23 importance because people forget that like the burlesque show of the 30s and 40s was kind of like Going to a strip club, you know, it was your normal working-class guys entertainment the stars of the shower strippers know they were in theaters, okay, but you know, it was like comedy with a lot of like jokes about sex and innuendo and dancing girls and even singers. But the stars became striptease stars. So it was, you know, but you were retired by the time you were, you know, 30. Right. Right. Doesn't ageism plays and burlesque a lot now,
Starting point is 00:12:06 or do you feel like it's a little bit better? I think that it was definitely worse before, and I've watched it unfold in a way that I feel like it's coming around. I mean, you know, ageism is going to be everywhere, and everything, and then there's gonna be places where, you know, listen, I'm still the most known burlesque star that fills the most seats and I'm 51.
Starting point is 00:12:31 And you're flawless. I just go like, okay. I mean, what I love is, of course, someone can feel free to come take away my crown whenever they want. Keep working, keep trying. But I love having a platform and a show where I can hire dancers of all ages and genders and skin colors and people that I think can
Starting point is 00:12:55 change people's minds about what a stereotypical burlesque performer is, which I guess is I'm probably pretty stereotypical at this point, you know, cause it's like, I'm just me, you know, but I can't be, yeah, so I like to have a platform where I can present a show that makes people accepting, more accepting of lots of different types of people and seeing sensuality and beauty in all forms and all. And all stages of life. I love that, because I'm 44. So, and I'm always fighting against ageism online.
Starting point is 00:13:31 You know, people think that you have to hang it up as soon as you turn 40. And I'm like, I am just getting started, baby. And if I could look like Deidavon T. So, 51, I'll be even happier. It's also like the ultimate insult for people. It's like the last like thing they try to insult you with. So I think that's what people have to remember.
Starting point is 00:13:48 Of course, there's there's ageism in the workforce, like in all, like not just entertainment, I think. But I do think people use age because it's like the final, like a great, like an insult. Right. Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Yeah. It's like a easy, a cheap shot. Exactly. So let's take it back because, you know, I'm sure some people know your story, but I'm also sure that some people don't. And I want to know like, you know, your childhood, where you came from, you grew up in Michigan and how you got into Burlesque and just take me on that journey. Okay, oh boy. Yeah, I was born in, it's so weird to like talk about like as well, I was born, I was born in Rochester, Michigan, but then I grew up in a town called West Branch, which I like to say it now because sometimes people go, oh wow, I know where that is. It really is a small town,
Starting point is 00:14:41 like I recently visited it again for a documentary and I was like, wow, there really is a small town. Like I recently visited it again for a documentary. And I was like, wow, there really is one stoplight and like a few thousand people. That's why I was small. So I had this like picturesque childhood and my my my mother's best friend had an antique shop, which is kind of where my love of like old things comes from. And my mother loved to watch old movies. So that really had an imprint on me.
Starting point is 00:15:11 I moved from, well, I should say, because sometimes I read in the press, like she comes from the ballet world and I'm like, girl, I took a ballet class in a rinky dink ballet studio in a farming town in Michigan. And I cleaned toilets in exchange for ballet classes. You know, like I remember my parents wouldn't pay for it. So I remember going to the, you know, must have been like 10 years old saying, can I clean in exchange for ballet?
Starting point is 00:15:39 And they kindly let me. That's a strong work ethic even at 10 years old though. Oh yeah, I've always been very like independent and I think because my parents were very young parents they fought a lot they were like you know like typical. What do you do when you're 22 years old and you already have three children it's pretty complicated right. And my dad was out of work a lot, so I always had this kind of like fear of, you know, or conscientiousness about money, especially. So I was always like trying to find jobs and like, my parents fought about money all the time. And that's literally driven me my entire life to never
Starting point is 00:16:20 have to ever have those arguments. Right? Yeah. Yeah, I remember my mom being very like buying something and hiding the purchases from my dad, and I was like, that's never happening to me. Right. I'm gonna earn my own money and buy whatever I want. Yeah, they gave you examples of what you don't wanna be. Yes, absolutely. So then when I was like 12, my parents moved us all out.
Starting point is 00:16:44 I'm one of three girls. We moved out to Orange County, California, to a place called Irvine. Some people know that. But people think of the OC. I know there's like some connotations. But for me, growing up in Orange County was like growing up, you know, in the heart of the rockabilly swing dance scene. Like after, in the early 90s, it was really like happening there. I went to school with a bunch of rockabillies in Vegas. It was very like happening there in the early 90s.
Starting point is 00:17:16 So yeah, I went to high school in Orange County and lived there until about 2000, and then moved to LA. When did your love for Burlesque start? Because I know you said you loved vintage things, but how did the vintage love transfer over to Burlesque? Summer is just around the corner, and folks at Mint Mobile have a hot take.
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Starting point is 00:20:01 grabbed a few summer pieces from Quince, especially because I'm about to go out on tour with daddy roll. Like a super comfy organic cotton tee and cozy gym wear, that's my fricking outfit every day. The quality is top notch and the price, totally worth it for how luxe they feel. When I compare them to other brands, these pieces hold their own in terms of style and quality without the crazy price tag.
Starting point is 00:20:22 I'm planning to wear them for everything this summer, casual hangs, gym sessions, or even running errands. They're perfect for keeping things cool and comfy while still looking put together. Treat your closet to a little summer glow up with Quince. Go to quince. u n n i e to get free shipping and 365 day returns quince.com slash bunny yeah Well, I worked in a lingerie store when I was in high school Yeah, which one it was called lady rubies, and it was in Irvine. It was very fancy It was around the corner from the nail salon that my mother worked in, because my mom was a manicurist.
Starting point is 00:21:07 So I loved lingerie. And there was something about lingerie that was very symbolic of womanhood and femininity. And I was very intrigued with lingerie from a young age. Not like, oh, that's sexy, but what is this thing my mom has in her drawers that my, you know, you have to be a certain age. What is this frilly thing?
Starting point is 00:21:28 I was really like strangely fascinated when I was little. And so I, you know, I obviously couldn't wait till I was old enough to wear a bra and all that stuff. But I started working in this lingerie store, first like, you know, cleaning and like cleaning and putting tags on things and stuff. And then I worked as a sales girl. And that kind of like set the tone for a lot of what I did because I loved lingerie.
Starting point is 00:21:55 I started learning about vintage lingerie, bullet bras, corsets, and how women wore different types of lingerie over the years. And so when I graduated from high school, I went to my first rave party in 1990, and I met all these drag queens and club kids, and it was like this whole other world for me. Let's rewind it back, I'm gonna stop you right there
Starting point is 00:22:23 before we get into that story. Your dad did not take a liking to you liking lingerie though. for me. Let's rewind it back. I'm gonna stop you right there before we get into that story. Your dad did not take a liking to you liking lingerie though. Can we talk about that? And would you like a pillow behind you or another pillow? Are you good? Are you comfortable? Okay, I think okay, we can put a pillow behind you too if you need. Okay. Okay. Yes. Okay. Yeah. So I'm working. I'm parents are, I'm like 16 years old. My parents are getting a divorce. I'm going back and forth, like staying with my mom,
Starting point is 00:22:52 then staying with my dad, and at the time, I'm staying with my dad and his new girlfriend, right? And I'm working my little job in the lingerie store, like just minding my own business, but washing my little things in the sink, hanging them up to dry as you should instead of putting them in the dryer. And my dad got really disturbed by that.
Starting point is 00:23:14 And he kicked me out of the house. And you know, I'm 16 and I'm just like, first of all, I've had a job, you know, I have my own credit cards, I have my own car, I'm like, whatever. You've always just been so responsible, really responsible, like, and just fiercely independent. Where do you think that stems from?
Starting point is 00:23:33 Just growing up in a Yeah, I really think it's kind of like. My, the, the feeling of never having like enough or being worried about what, what I ask my parents for. I don't know, but that's what I think it probably is. So yeah, my dad kicks me out of the house and it was really interesting. I just revisited this a few years ago. I have a lingerie collection now
Starting point is 00:24:02 that I've had for like 14 years. And a few years ago, this company called Destination Maternity asked me to make pretty maternity bras like to adapt my designs. And I was like, Okay, well, I don't know anything about maternity bras, but let's adapt the designs. It sounds great. And there was like such a, there was a huge conversation around it, like some women that were like, why are you telling me to be sexy after I have a baby?
Starting point is 00:24:30 And I went, oh, interesting. So you think that lingerie is about being sexy for your man. And then there's other people that think they like it for them. They enjoy having something pretty. Like I've always had that relationship with it. And then there was like a lot of people that came to my defense, of course,
Starting point is 00:24:52 like new mothers that were like, well, listen, you know, you wear the nursing bra and then at one point you want to wear something beautiful like, you know, months in or whatever. So anyway, I thought about this so much like about my dad and like his thoughts about lingerie being symbolic of like sex or sluttiness, you know, like all of these things. And I thought, wow, it's so weird how like that,
Starting point is 00:25:16 but I remember going that, you know, that's his problem. Right. And I still feel that way. Like if I- To be able to decipher that at such a young age is awesome though too. Yeah, it just was very like a weird thing. And especially because I did have this,
Starting point is 00:25:29 I do have this relationship with lingerie where it's not for me about putting it on for someone. It's something that I do because I enjoy it. Yeah. It's crazy how there's such a sexual stigma to lingerie because when you think about it, you think about like playboy or like, you know, just nudity in general, but really,
Starting point is 00:25:48 it's just like if you wake up in the morning and you want to feel good and you want to be pretty and you know you have it on, nobody has to see what you have on. Yeah, it's like a secret or it's like you can have any personality you want under your clothes and I love opening a drawer and having all these colors and matching my things.
Starting point is 00:26:06 It's just like fun. Like why not have a little moment of pleasure and beauty that doesn't take extra time? That's the way I think of it. And that doesn't have a sexual connotation. Right, certainly I know the power of it. Right. As a grown woman.
Starting point is 00:26:22 But yeah. So moving on from dad kicking you out, where does this put you? Do you move back in with mom? I believe I moved back in with mom. It's this hazy timeline because I was like, yeah, I think I moved back in with my mom. And then as soon as I was like 18, I was out of there. Tell me about Captain Creams.
Starting point is 00:26:49 Yes. Okay. I love that you studied. So do you know anything about Captain Creams? I don't. I heard what you have said about it though, and it sounds pretty iconic. It was like this, it had the terrible name. That's not even the full name. The full name is Captain Cream's Tussling Tootsies, by the way. That was the full name. Now, when I went to work there underage, I with my fake ID, you know, I think I was, I think we all had fake IDs back then. Yeah, totally. They were like rampant. If you didn't have when you weren't one of
Starting point is 00:27:23 the cool kids. Yeah, yeah. I didn't even have a fake one. I had a real one. Right. Me too. I was like Maria and I was like 31 but I was really like 17. No, I can I'll tell you what I went to the DMV with my sister's like social security cards and I got my picture on her ID. So I had a real ID. Yeah. That I had more than once handed over to a police officer that was like, sorry to bother you miss. So I had a real ID that I had more than once handed over to a police officer that was like, sorry to bother you miss. And I was like, that's amazing. I was like 19. Just like, oh God. Yeah, I think 18. So this club was in Lake Forest, which is in Orange County. And it was legendary. It was like legendary for having like all the Playboy playmates and penthouse girls working there.
Starting point is 00:28:08 It was really hard to get a job there. And it was kind of like a hole in the wall place. But when I tell you, it was really like a legendary strip club. And there was tons of money flowing. It was so much fun. And you- That was kind of how Crazy Horse used to be out here.
Starting point is 00:28:24 It was like a hole in the wall, but like everybody that was iconic ever worked there. And this place you, you, you were hired like as an employee. So you got a paycheck, like a minimum wage paycheck, which didn't mean much to me anyway, cause I had my other job working in the lingerie store and then in a department store working, selling cosmetics. So I had all these, I always had lots of jobs. A lot of energy, a lot of jobs.
Starting point is 00:28:50 So it was really like this great, this wonderful time, I think, in strip clubs, like before, when they used to pay you to work there instead of taking your money. Instead of you having to pay a house fee. Yes, I lived through that shift and I was not into it. So yeah, I had a lot of fun working there. And at that same time was when I started like, well,
Starting point is 00:29:14 so I should rewind a little bit. So I'm working, I'm in this LA rave scene, right? And my boyfriend is one of the big raver, like rave promoters. Um, and I'm go-go dancing, of course, like, you know, so, uh, he takes me to this strip club. He takes me to captain creams. And I'm like, it's always a man who introduces us to strip clubs. And I was like, wow, these, and it was a bikini club. It was not even topless or anything.
Starting point is 00:29:42 You had to wear like full underwear and you had to wear a full bra. So I was very like, these girls are wearing like more clothes than what I wear when I'm go-go dancing. So I thought I'd try working there as an experiment. And that's kind of when I started like, you know, I already dressed in vintage style. So I was like, well, I'm gonna strip in vintage style. And I remember they were like,
Starting point is 00:30:03 there was nobody like me there at that time. Yeah, at all. With the black, you already had your look back then. So you're a natural blonde for everybody who's wondering. I did see some pictures and so you color your hair black. So when did you start doing that? When was the first time you looked in the mirror
Starting point is 00:30:19 and you were like, okay, I don't wanna be a blonde. Well, first it was red. Like I had red hair. You would be beautiful. I mean, you're beautiful now, but red would be gorgeous on you too. I went from blonde to red, it was like the natural thing to do. And then I kept, like a lot of people
Starting point is 00:30:32 that play with red hair color for the first time, you start adding more and more red, and you're like, it's not red enough, it's not red enough. And then it was suddenly like burgundy. And then one day I was like, you know what? I'm gonna dye it black. And I wore it like in a black like Louise Brooks 20s hairstyle for a little while So it kind of started there. That's awesome. How old are you?
Starting point is 00:30:54 um, I Must have been like 22 okay gotcha did you ever just set out to like change your look to look like somebody or did you know you just wanted to kind of like have a signature style? I just always liked feeling different like I had like little obsessions like I liked you know there I'd go through different periods like I'd see a vintage film and I'd be like oh I love that hair I'm gonna do that hair for a while or I'd always wear the cat eye because it was like a 50s thing.
Starting point is 00:31:25 And there was like a famous photo on the cover of a Vogue with a cat eye and just the red lips and nothing else. And that image like was the thing that made me do the cat eye. Yeah. So I kind of mixed all these things together like 1940s style hair with the 50s 50s cat eye so it kind of just
Starting point is 00:31:46 became like a thing where it was a mixture but I went through periods over the years where I you know everything was 30s then everything was 40s like then it was 50s I liked studying the eras and dressing exactly like those eras. Which era is your favorite? The 40s. The 40s. The 40s. What is it about the 40s? Just the...
Starting point is 00:32:07 The bouffant hairdos. Yeah, the bouffant hairdos. The clothes are really chic from that time. Like, it was a great time for like hats, like whimsical hats with a sense of humor. And yeah, and I love the films of that era. I got a lot of inspiration. Like if you look closely at my show,
Starting point is 00:32:28 you'll see like the inspirations were from 1940s films. And I was like, what if that was like a strip tease? So yeah, I love that. We'll have to go see Dio's show. Yeah, I think it'll be amazing. So moving on, back to Krispy Kremes. Sorry, I was gonna say crispy creams. What was it like the first time that you danced?
Starting point is 00:32:51 Were you shy or were you already just so in tune with your body that you were like, here I am, which is, I feel like, well, again, it was just a bikini bar and you know, I was already like go-go dancing in the rave scene. So I don't know, I don't remember ever having a problem. And I think also growing up like in like dancing in ballet or used to like, you know, wearing not much and being, you know, checking out your body in the mirror. So I think, I don't remember ever,
Starting point is 00:33:22 I remember there was one day I came into the club and they're like, we're gonna be a topless club now. And I remember going like, hmm. And they said, now the rule is you're either a topless girl or not topless girl. You can't negotiate for money for your top to come off. You make the decision now that you're gonna be a topless girl or you're gonna be a non-topless girl.
Starting point is 00:33:43 Like they gave girls that were working there a long time the choice. And I was like, I don't care, I'm taking my top off. It's fun to me. It was like a, just boobs, you know? I feel like money back then too was different. Like strip clubs were so different back then. Like when I first started dancing too,
Starting point is 00:34:01 I started dancing in 2001. It was like, I don't wanna say this like in a derogatory way, but it was more selective and like it was more taboo and like, you know, not just anybody could dance and the clubs were filled with like gorgeous women and it was just like, I don't know, it was a different time. It wasn't like how dancing is now.
Starting point is 00:34:24 Yeah, I mean, imagine what it was like in the 90s. Yeah, it was amazing. Oh, I bet. And think too, like also please remember that like, all of that, you know, the iconic like Sunset Boulevard, strip clubs in the 80s, Flash Dance, that was real. There's a great documentary, if you've never seen it, you have to watch it, it's called Stripper.
Starting point is 00:34:46 And it's about this big competition where the strippers from all over Canada and the US come to Las Vegas to compete for a $25,000 prize, which by the way, $25,000 in the 80s is a lot of money. And it's a documentary and it's amazing. And you really go, oh, the body shop on Sunset was amazing. Like girls that were Playboy models doing like back flips naked on stage, like really like, they put on a show.
Starting point is 00:35:15 Yeah, and Seventh Veil, right? Or was it called Seventh Veil? I mean, I never, I don't know as much about the history of Seventh Veil, but the body shop was really famous and had like, you know, all the video vixen girls. So it definitely, you know, strip clubs evolved. I just feel like it's, I didn't like when it evolved to where they were taking advantage of girls
Starting point is 00:35:36 and you couldn't, like I had health insurance in the 90s working in a strip club and a paycheck. They need to bring that back. They will never bring it back. Bring it back, strippers need insurance too. That's crazy. I never knew that. Yeah, that's awesome though.
Starting point is 00:35:51 What a little tidbit of history. So moving forward from dancing, when did it start turning into like more of like a burlesque show for you or was it always like that? So like, I'd say like around 94, I was kind of like already known as being a pinup girl. And it was pretty famous like amongst like the fetish crowd like all over the world, like in London and Germany.
Starting point is 00:36:19 And I was the most famous fetish model in the world in the early 90s. Okay, so and then I then I turn on horn, baby I know it's just weird to say because it's like it's no but you've built that and so then I posed for Playboy for this book of lingerie they had these newsstand specials and I became a newsstand special girl and then I got I was the only one that looked like me and they're wearing corsets and like styling myself like a pinup girl and
Starting point is 00:36:45 look like me and they're wearing corsets and like styling myself like a pinup girl. And so I started headlining strip clubs all over the country. So I would travel to different clubs that would pay me like to be there for the week and be on their marquee or whatever. So kind of started then I think when I left the Captain Creams, which probably left there in like 94, I remember kind of like dipping out and in and just like not really liking the vibe anymore and headlining strip clubs. And so I had to make more of a show.
Starting point is 00:37:12 So it started really there. Yeah. Where did the name Dita Von Teese come from? That came from Captain Cream sitting on a bar stool one night when I got the call that I was going to be in Playboy. And they said, and I was already going by Dita, like I don't know, I think I'd seen like a movie with an actress called Dita Parla, like a 20s movie,
Starting point is 00:37:32 and remember I had this like 20s haircut. And anyway, I knew, I got the like, that I had been accepted to shoot for Playboy and they said, well, you needed a last name. And I was like, why? Like Madonna, Dita, Cher, like why do I have to have a last name. And I was like, why? Like Madonna, Adidas, Cher, like, why do I have to have a last name? And they're like, you just do.
Starting point is 00:37:48 And so I had, I always remember sitting there with my friend, Cisco on the bar. Oh, not the Cisco, the red one. I puked it up so many times. I think it was purple, like grape or something. Anyway, it's gross. Yeah, just. But I loved it.
Starting point is 00:38:06 Or it could have been a Goldschlager. I can't do a Goldschlager. So I pulled out the phone book. For those of you who don't know, there's things called the phone book. It was really big. And I'm sitting there drinking, going, I'm gonna look up Vons.
Starting point is 00:38:21 People with like a Von in their name are very cool. And people already like where I worked, like I would pretend I didn't speak English a lot of times because I had this look and the corsets and the long black gloves and boots. And I just liked to pretend I couldn't talk to anybody because I didn't wanna talk to anyone. So I'd just be like, dance.
Starting point is 00:38:40 I just wanna be beautiful. So yeah, I just didn't wanna do the hustle with like I was never good at like hustling people. Work smarter, not harder. Yeah. So I looked up Vons and I found this name, Vontrice. And I was like, I'm gonna be Dieta Vontrice, sounds good. So I called up Playboy and told them what I was going to be.
Starting point is 00:38:58 And they're like, yeah, fine. And then like a month later, I go to the, get the magazine, I open it up and it says, Deedavon Tees. And I was like, that's not it. So I called them and like, I'm not thinking at all, like strip Tees, Tees, like I'm not thinking that at all. Didn't even register in my brain that it was a good idea. I called them again and said it was wrong.
Starting point is 00:39:22 And they're like, we'll correct it. And then they just never did. And I was like, whatever. To me, I'll correct it, and then they just never did, and I was like, whatever. To me, I was never like, it was a moment in time, I'm like 20-something years old, I think I'm at the pinnacle of my career, by the way. I think that that's it, I'm on a truck stop in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin for the strip club
Starting point is 00:39:42 I'm performing at, and I'm in Playboy, and I'm on the cover of Skin 2 and Fetish Magazine. To me that was like, that's it. I'm gonna be 30 in a few years and that's gonna be a wrap on my career so I better enjoy it. So there was no like planning a career.
Starting point is 00:40:00 It was just like that was it. I think that's how it happens too is when you don't plan something, it just organically grows. It's almost like the universe grabs it and just rolls with it. Totally. I'm don't get me started on manifesting things. And because I really believe that I really think like, you know, a lot of people will ask me like, what does it take to get where you are? And I'm like, well, first of all, stop thinking of where you wanna go
Starting point is 00:40:27 and start enjoying where you are. Because if you can't appreciate the now and what's happening right now, forget it. Like, and when people ask me like, what my goal is right now, I'm like, I don't have a goal. I never had a goal. I just was like quietly delighted at all the little milestones and enjoying that moment
Starting point is 00:40:48 and working with integrity and gratitude and like that's the key. Like I don't think if you're always looking for the next best thing or like the thing that's gonna make you, I don't think it works like that. That's so real and I think a lot of people, including myself, need to hear something like that, because I'm always like onto the next goal.
Starting point is 00:41:09 And sometimes I forget that this is a journey, not a destination. So that was very beautifully said. I heard you say that you love Insight Timer. I'm not sponsored by them at all, but I am a huge Insight Timer person. I love meditating. I love all that stuff. So when
Starting point is 00:41:26 I heard you say that in a podcast, I was like, this is my girl. Do you have your favorite people? Like I have my, my insight timer crushes, like voices. I'm like, I love the women I have. I'm still, I'm trying to get into the men, but I love the women that have accents, like the Australian accents or like, you know know just something like fluid and just like so pretty and whimsical. You know I love that it just helps me to meditate. What are your favorites? My two favorites, I guess I have a few. One is this guy named David Gandleman. I totally have a crush on him and he's like tells stupid jokes. Do you know who I'm talking about over there? You do? I totally love him. I got her turned on. He has something called the grounded sleep podcast
Starting point is 00:42:06 and I swear that puts me to sleep. Not because he's boring, but just because it's like having my friend on there, you know? And then there's this gal named Sarah Blondin, who I can just listen to all day. Like she's kind of more of like a poetess, you know? Like, so I really like her.
Starting point is 00:42:21 And then there's a couple other people, like there's this guy with a Scottish accent that sounds like he's got this really deep, like Scottish, what's that guy's name? Do you know who I'm talking about? Oh, he just really gets me. She said he gets, yeah. Yeah. Like he'll be like, okay, I can't imitate, but he's like, there's nowhere else to be right now. Like that, like deep low. And I was like, yeah, there's nowhere else to be right now. Like that, like deep low. And I was like, yeah, there's nowhere else to be. Do their voices match their faces when you see them?
Starting point is 00:42:50 Sometimes I always go and like, try to look at their profile picture because I'm like, their voice is like, so, you know, like you try to visualize what they look like and they don't look like the person that you would visualize. You know, I think they do. It's also a really funny journey when you're looking for somebody new and you put it on, you're like, okay, okay. And then you listen to it and you're like, their voice comes on to this poor sound quality and you're like, oh no, no, I do that too. Like, it's so like, I'm picky about looking for man, like, uh, um, meditations that I am for looking for porn, like literally, like I don't even know where to look for porn.
Starting point is 00:43:25 I'm just like. What kind of porn are you into? I mean, I don't know. I mean, I like to see what's going on in the world. I like to, I don't have anything particular. Is it like vintage porn or anything like that? Oh, I mean, you know I was a huge Andrew Blake fan, of course, and if you're around in the 90s,
Starting point is 00:43:42 like the highest, glossiest porn ever made. But that's not what I really go looking for. I was just like a fan that somebody was doing this like beautiful shot on film porn. You know, pretty cool. Yeah, just something that's pretty, like pretty porn. Yeah, but I like to see like great feats of sexual excellence.
Starting point is 00:44:03 Like how is she doing that? You know? Like she's an acrobat. What's really going on? Yeah. I've always had a complicated relationship with push-up bras. Either they dug in, gapped weirdly,
Starting point is 00:44:14 or gave that way too obvious boost that didn't feel like me. The support was never quite right. It felt like I was either sacrificing comfort or shape, and honestly, I was over it. Then I tried the Skims Ultimate Push-Up Bra Raw and I was actually surprised. The first time I put it on it didn't feel like a typical push-up. It hugged my body so smoothly and gave a lift that looked natural, not over-the-top. The support? Unreal. It
Starting point is 00:44:36 actually held me in place all day without feeling like a harness. The Ultimate Teardrop Push-Up Raw is my favorite from the line. I love that it doesn't just do one thing well. It gives shape, lifts, comfort, and feels seamless under the clothes. It's flattering in a way that still feels like me, confident, but not trying too hard. Honestly, wearing it makes me feel put together,
Starting point is 00:44:56 even if I'm just in leggings and an oversized tee. It's the first push-up bra I reach for because I don't feel like I'm wearing a push-up bra. It just feels right. Shop the Skims Ultimate Bra Collection and more at skims.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know that we sent you.
Starting point is 00:45:10 Select Podcast in the survey, pick Dumbwon Podcast in the drop-down menu that follows. Big dreams start small. Like, check your Chime account small. Every peak, every penny saved, every tiny move adds up. Your future self, already doing a happy dance. When you open a Chime checking account, you're one step closer to a better financial future
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Starting point is 00:47:02 Credit limits range $20 to $500. $2 fee applies to get funds instantly. Chime checking account required. Go to chime.com slash disclosures for details. So let's, can we dive into a couple of your relationships? How did you meet Marilyn Manson? Gosh, when I think about it, it was in 2000. So I know like some people, they always go,
Starting point is 00:47:29 you were only married for a year. And I'm like, I know, but this is a seven year long relationship, and even longer if you consider the fallout of what it's like to be married and divorced to someone and how long you're connected to them after the fact. Especially on the public eye. Yeah, so it was a very inspiring time. connected to them after the fact. Especially in the public eye. Yeah. So, you know, it was a very like inspiring time. Like when we met, he was very like different person,
Starting point is 00:47:57 I think, like then what I, what he was when I left. Yeah, it was like a very interesting evolution of a person to see. What can I say? Yeah, yeah, it was like, he went to rehab once when we were together with the like, I wanna be a better man for you. And that was just like a little bit of like cocaine and booze right and then he came out of rehab way worse with
Starting point is 00:48:30 all these pills like everyone was doing everyone in Hollywood was doing all this Oxycontin and stuff like snorting it and I was just he came out worse and that was kind of like the turn was like first like three years were great and then four years were just like oh gosh. So when you met him was he he wasn't sober when you met him? No but definitely like um was it more of like very like more reeled in like I remember him being like you know not you know like sleeping every night you know like sleeping every night right that's the only way to put it into like not sleeping Right. Gotcha. Oh, um, you have said something about your guys's wedding day that I found interesting
Starting point is 00:49:11 He was sober on your wedding day or he wasn't mean who knows I think so He slept most of the wedding day. So How did that work for you? Did that hurt your feelings that he slept most of the day or were you just kind of happy that he was? Listen, I shouldn't have been getting married and I think I knew it but there was so much pressure at that time. Like we'd been together for all of that time. You know, Vogue was covering the wedding, like US Vogue is there with a journalist, I felt like an immense amount of pressure. And I just felt like, okay, like,
Starting point is 00:49:50 I'm not calling this off, right? You know, it just was- And you guys had already been through six years of- We've been together for a long time, so it just like made sense and- To happen. Yeah, yeah. But it was like, yeah, it was even more pressure than ever.
Starting point is 00:50:06 You know, like more, being married was hard. I had read, I'm not sure if I read or I heard you say that you are kind of privy to the idea of open relationships. Can you elaborate on that a little bit? I think like, I've never been an open relationships type person, but I also feel like there's a point and I know some people don't like want to hear this, but I feel like when you become like an adult and enough experience with relationships, you need to kind of like grow up and think about what is a relationship about.
Starting point is 00:50:37 Like it's not a fairy tale. And I love that you said fairy tales don't exist in this life. Yeah, it's really struck me, cause I believe the same thing. And I believe in freedom in a relationship of, everybody has their own terms of monogamy. And I just think that sometimes monogamy can be a jail.
Starting point is 00:50:58 And I just think that some people deserve freedom. Not saying that go fuck everybody, but open communication with your partner. I think it's one of the, when I look at, I love all these young, cool therapists and people communicating in a different way than when I was growing up. And I think it's interesting people
Starting point is 00:51:24 that have like, open relationships, or they have ways of, you know, understanding that like, people are people and they make mistakes and it's like, it's, it's more complicated than just like, oh, that person like, cheated or whatever. It's like you have if you get reasons, like why, if you didn't want it, if you are not trying to be in an open relationship. I don't know, I just think it's, people are complicated, and if you're in like a long-term relationship,
Starting point is 00:51:53 like you have to like. And each situation is different. Yeah, totally. Like I feel like I've, all of my relationships from when I was, I had like the perfect long-term boyfriend in high school, like this great romance, but like after that, it got real. Like every long-term boyfriend I had
Starting point is 00:52:12 or every boyfriend I had cheated on me. And I was kind of like going, why don't you see what's happening? You know, like what can I do and what am I not doing? And yeah, it's just kind of like, but you know, I don't know. I don't think like cheating is everything, but you grow up thinking that you're supposed to be faithful
Starting point is 00:52:34 and you fall in love and that's what like falling love is, is being faithful to each other. And it's kind of more complicated than that. It's so much more than that. Yeah, when I heard you say that, I was like, yes. I got what you were saying. And I just really wanted to talk about that with you because not too many people, especially of your stature,
Starting point is 00:52:54 really bring that to the forefront. And I talk about it all the time. And people think I'm crazy. They're like, marriage is a sacred union. And you're like, yeah, it can still be sacred. It just seems like a lot of pressure to put on yourself. Like the communication is what's most important. And a lot of people like fall in love and they never really you fall in love
Starting point is 00:53:13 and you never really talk about what the rules of your relationship are. And I think even people that are non-monogamous talk about what the rules are. And the problem, though, is like people like to break the rules no matter what. So like like I know people who are like Polyamorous and they're they're still like you'll still break the rule if you if somebody says your rule is like You're not gonna have sex with somebody else in our bed guess what the first thing they're gonna Do is is like it's just like people's nature to like if you tell them not to do something they'll do it totally
Starting point is 00:53:42 so yeah, I don't know I think it's just more complicated than like loyalty and faithful, there's different kinds of loyalty, I don't know. We just went to the church of Dita. No, I'm just like rambling, I'm not a relationship expert by any means. But it's failed many, many times and continue to fail in relationships.
Starting point is 00:54:04 Well, you're not failing now, though. Aren't you in a long-term relationship? I am, but I'm not great all the time. I know what my downfalls are. I'm always like, I'm not easy. I know I'm not easy woman to be with. I know that. What does it take to make Dita Von Teese happy
Starting point is 00:54:20 in a relationship? Well, I am a bit of a size queen. Yeah, I love that. Admittedly, I'm a bit of a size queen. Yeah, I love that. Admittedly, I feel like I can say that here. Yeah, of course. No, I mean, joking aside, I guess I just, I love doing what I do. I love working.
Starting point is 00:54:38 I love, you know, I always have so many projects. I think what I, I love being independent. I don't like being like, I'm somebody's woman. I keep my relationships like now after like experiencing that like, I'm still talking about my ex-husband that I met in 2000. That's 24 years ago. I'm still talking about that. So I think like after that, I was very like, I don't wanna date any more famous men. Yeah, it's rough. Because I don't, I get very uncomfortable
Starting point is 00:55:10 talking about my relationships, you know, like it's just. So I don't know, I just love my work. I love my animals, I love my friends, I love my animals. I love my friends. I love my relationships, but I just, to me, it's all spread across the board. When I was younger, it was like, I put so much importance on romance. And I just, I'm like, okay.
Starting point is 00:55:36 Yeah, as you get older, you're just like, no. It's like, I always tell my husband, I'm like, we've been together almost a decade. I'm like, if this does not work out, which it will, I could never just get into another relationship again, especially with a public person. And also just having to get to know somebody on those, that level again of intimacy and just being joined at the hip with somebody is just, it's a lot. It's a lot to, yeah, to have to try to work through again.
Starting point is 00:56:06 Do you ever have a down day, like where you wear sweats and a t-shirt? Yeah, I mean, I'll go to my Pilates and live in my athleisure for the day. How do we never have a picture of you in like active wear? Okay, well, there are, there are. If you like Google images, De'Ivanti's Pilates, I'm definitely coming out of Pilates studios.
Starting point is 00:56:28 But I have my little tricks I do. It's like sunglasses, red lipstick. It's not hard. It takes like a few seconds to put on red lipstick. I don't know, I just have my like codes, you know? I put on my, what are they called? Lululemon pants? I put on my, you know, and put on my, my what do they call lululemon pant? I put on my, you know, and I'll put a jacket over it,
Starting point is 00:56:48 or a 50s skirt over it. I kind of just, I don't really like, I'm pretty aware, like aware. But I like, it's not even to do with somebody taking a picture of me, or I think, oh, I don't wanna run into that person and seeing me not looking put together. But I also just feel like I like what,
Starting point is 00:57:08 I think about confidence a lot and what are the things I can do to control my confidence levels. And one of those things is like feeling like I took a few minutes to put myself together. Yeah, I love that. I used to always be dolled up. You wouldn't catch me in sandals ever.
Starting point is 00:57:23 I used to always have heels on. I hated being flat-footed. And I think when I moved to always be dolled up. I wouldn't, you wouldn't catch me in sandals ever. I used to always have heels on. I hated being flat footed. And I think when I moved to Nashville is when I finally just kind of like took it all off and was just like, I just need a break from all this. And now I can't come back from it. I get dressed up for like concerts and like appearances and stuff like that. But like, I just, I love, there's nothing, no better feeling at night than ripping these eyelashes off and putting on sweats.
Starting point is 00:57:44 There's nothing no better feeling at night than ripping these eyelashes off and putting on sweats So you're 51 your skin is flawless. What is your skincare routine? sunscreen Sunscreen just tons of sleeping on your back. Okay, if I wish I know no one wants to hear this But I'm sorry I wish somebody would have told me when I was young like how good it is for you to sleep on your back. And I, the last like four years, I taught myself to sleep on my back and it has worked miracles.
Starting point is 00:58:15 Like if you think about it, when you look on, if you're a side sleeper, I know where my like one wrinkle came from. Cause if I go like this, where the pillow is like, oh, there's that line. That's where that came from. From sleeping with your face on the pillow. So I taught myself insight timer, help me with that.
Starting point is 00:58:31 Put on that meditation, I lay there like a zombie and like, just like close my eyes, sleep with my palms up. So it puts my shoulders back and like, okay, everything's fine. So yeah. How do you not move throughout the night though? Sometimes I do, but I catch myself. Yeah. I'm like a okay, everything's fine. So yeah. I do not move throughout the night though. Sometimes I do, but I catch myself. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:58:47 I'm like a light sleeper. I can totally catch myself when I'm in a like, don't do that. And I've actually gotten good. If I feel like I have to sleep on my side, I've gotten good at like putting the pillow kind of up here. So my face is still not being squished by the pillow. Like, listen, you know, it's all fun and games
Starting point is 00:59:02 until you're like, you start realizing the collagen is really going until you're like, you start realizing the collagen's really going and you're like, oh, those marks on my face from my sunglasses, which I know are on my face now, they'll stay all day. They'll stay all day. Have you had any work done at all? I've only had Botox.
Starting point is 00:59:19 In fact, all of my Botox is currently worn off because I like to let it wear off because the last time I got Botox, they were like, what do you think, you know, because it was like, someone just somebody knew it and he was like, what do you think we put some in your chin? Because you know, your chin's wrinkling up a little bit. And my first thought was like,
Starting point is 00:59:36 I gotta worry about my chin now? But I let him do it. And then one day I was like sitting there and my boyfriend's like, your smile is different. Like, what are sitting there and my boyfriend's like, your smile's different. Like what are you talking about? He's like, your smile's different. And I was like, are you serious? And I started noticing and I was like, it really is.
Starting point is 00:59:54 So then I was like, I'm letting all of the Botox go away before, I mean you need to hit the reset button because I'm all for it. It's like, you know, like, but you do have to be careful with the Botox. Did it freeze like your bottom lip? Is that what happened? Yeah, kind of. And I, you know, like, but you do have to be careful with the bowtie. Did it freeze like your bottom lip? Is that what happened? Yeah, kind of. And I felt like it, like, I don't know.
Starting point is 01:00:09 It made my smile different. And you just felt that it was off. Yeah, and I was like, that's not okay. Oh my goodness. Yeah. Do you, do you waist train still or no? No, I never did. The thing is I always liked the aesthetics of corsets and I've always used them in my
Starting point is 01:00:28 show even when I was working in the strip clubs. I was the girl with the corset on and people used to pool their money together to see what I looked like underneath it, which I love. It was my favorite game. I was like, no, not enough yet. I'd come back around and be like, all right. Then I'd take it off because I thought there was rumors I had like a birthmark or something or something I was hiding.
Starting point is 01:00:48 And I'm like, no, I just love the look of it. So I never like deliberately waist trained. I would say the closest I ever came to that was like, a few times when I walked for Jean Paul Gaultier under the Mr. Pearl making the corsetry, I remember he would write me a note and be like, on this, at this hour you can eat half of an apple. In this hour you can eat the other half.
Starting point is 01:01:17 Like, he was very strict, and that's the only time I've ever been like, okay, I'm gonna pay attention to what he's saying, just because we have this runway moment, and yeah, you're like, you can't like haul off and eat a cheeseburger before you're about to like wear the ultimate corset, you know? But he's very, he's a very strict person. Jean-Paul Gaultier didn't care what I ate or what I, he was, you know, but Mr. Pearl is a very like particular person, the greatest corset maker of the world.
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Starting point is 01:03:17 like burlesque is like, and I see the things that are exactly like from the things that I did a long time ago. And it's kind of cool, because I just think like, oh, it's so great that there's this space, which is oftentimes celebratory of bodies. And like I was saying before, it it is a place of like inclusion and diversity and beauty and I think it's important like I think it's important for people to come to my show and see me or people of different ages and
Starting point is 01:03:57 different sizes and skin colors like being beautiful and not just like the the showgirl mystique of like you had to be five foot 10 to be a showgirl and weigh like, you know, a certain amount. I think I'm proud that this has become a thing and I can even see even in Vegas because it's becoming the thing. And I'm going, oh, people are now taking a look at how they're casting and that's meaningful.
Starting point is 01:04:22 I love that. Do you feel like you don't get your flowers as much as you should? Like people give their nod to you? I don't know. I mean, I kind of think about some of the people around me that like my friend, Catherine Delish, who she and I created all these things together,
Starting point is 01:04:41 like she did things for me in costuming that had never been done in burlesque before that is now taken for, people don't even know that it was invented by her, or the first made for her by her for me. And so I mostly think of her in her genius and her getting her recognition. I can roll my eyes all the time
Starting point is 01:05:07 at things that I'm like, well, you know. It's like, you know, people, Burlesque dancers in the 1930s and 40s didn't wear corsets to strip out of. Like that comes from me working for a corset company in the 90s and being like, I'm gonna wear a corset and do a strip tease. Like, but you're not gonna find like a famous Burlesque star from the 30s anywhere, and do a strip tease, but you're not gonna find a famous burlesque star from the 30s anywhere doing a strip tease on stage.
Starting point is 01:05:28 So there's things like that that I'm like, oh yeah. I did that. I made it a thing that it is. But mostly I'm just like, I'm glad I get to do this still and that people wanna come see me still. Because if burlesque weren't so popular and so big, I wouldn't be doing this big Vegas show. Yeah, which how long is this Vegas show running for?
Starting point is 01:05:54 We have dates until June 15th. It's a big show. It's definitely the biggest project I've ever done. It's definitely the biggest burlesque show that's ever been made in the history of ever. Yeah. Okay. Like the only thing that I could say is bigger
Starting point is 01:06:09 was like as far as burlesque shows, well there wouldn't be anything. It would be like if you said Zig Filled Follies was, but that would be kind of like a show girl review. But as far as strip tease and burlesque, it's definitely the biggest one. What can people expect when they come see your show? Like what is your show all about?
Starting point is 01:06:26 Are you allowed to talk about it? Yeah, yeah. Well, it's in the historic Jubilee Theater, which again, it's this incredible room that like the Rat Pack played in. It's amazing. It's like a time capsule. And these incredible costumes combined with my shows,
Starting point is 01:06:43 like all of my things, like I don't just have my one martini glass on stage I've got five of them you know there's things that come up out of the ceilings out of the floor it's extravagant it's opulence and striptease and there's again like you know just as many hot guys in the show as there are women So it's like an hour and 20 minutes long. What else can I say about it? The costumes. Yeah, the costumes. Okay. So Jubilee's costumes were incredible with the costume budget in the late seventies when they made these things with Bob Mackie and Pete Menafee. The costume budget was like $4 million. So if you think about how much that would be now,
Starting point is 01:07:24 nobody would ever spend $4 million on that's like $4 million. So if you think about how much that would be now, nobody would ever spend $4 million on, that's like $12 million today. Can you imagine? There's 3,200 tons of feathers that were brought over from Paris for this show. So it's really like, you can only see things like this in museums now. This is the very last showgirl review.
Starting point is 01:07:45 The only other showgirl review in the whole world would be Moulin Rouge in Paris, but there's no other showgirl review in Vegas. And even the shows that are kind of like showgirl-ish, none of them is using the authentic costumes. And that's what we have in this show. And the only other place you could see these costumes is like on display at the UNLV Museum, I believe.
Starting point is 01:08:11 And I would venture to say this is going to be the last time you'll see them on stage and they're really something. It's really- So you guys have to get out to see the show. Yeah, it's really special. I'm very proud of this show. How hands-on were you with the show? Like as far as like set designing, of course, the costumes and then like just even like the entire show.
Starting point is 01:08:34 Yeah, I'm a bit of a micromanager because I've always been hard to believe do it yourself. But yeah, I mean, I curated all the costumes and decided what was going to go in the show and with each dancer picked what their look was. We chose props that we refurbished for the show. Like you'll see some original Jubilee props that have gotten a makeover because they were going to the trash, so I saved them.
Starting point is 01:09:02 But yeah, I worked with a team. I worked with a great choreography team and director and they basically looked at my life's work and we put it as much as we could into one show. Yeah. I keep hearing you refer to a documentary. What is this about? We started filming a documentary in 2019.
Starting point is 01:09:22 So it's like really like long game, which is great because we, you know, got like my two, my big tours before the pandemic, then we got to film the pandemic. And then when things finally opened after the pandemic, which was very exciting. I was one of the first shows to like go up in big theaters. Yeah, it was very exciting. And then, you know, Vegas is the cherry on the cake. I have another show that I'm working on though in London that opens up in October as well. Amazing. So you'll finish here and then you'll go to London and do a run out there.
Starting point is 01:09:55 I think so. I'm, I'm, I might, I'm not sure what, you know, how I'm, I'm still like working on if I'm going to add any dates or, you know, I'm not sure yet. I'm still trying to on if I'm gonna add any dates or I'm not sure yet. I'm still trying to make all those decisions, trying to figure out how I can be everywhere all at once. When do you think the documentary will drop? I still have more that I wanna film. I didn't get to film here in Vegas yet.
Starting point is 01:10:18 And so that's like my last hurdle. I'm in like a very like the most like, like the oldest, hardest union room in the city. So it's really hard to like film things like that. So I'm trying to wrestle up that last money to like film it here, but we have a great director from New York and look at their slow and steady wins the race.
Starting point is 01:10:43 I love that. And then what can we expect from you for the rest of 2024? Like, do you have other projects besides Vegas and London that you're gonna be doing that we can look forward to? Well, besides Vegas, I have my London show that I'm working on with a gal named Tosca. It's a really cool concept show for the West End in London. So I'm excited about that.
Starting point is 01:11:06 I have a lingerie line. I'm still working on that. Gosh. I always later go, oh yeah, you have this project. I always forget. I always forget those are like the most important things. Show business is always the top of my list. I kind of want to do my annual New Year's Eve gala
Starting point is 01:11:23 that I do in Los Angeles. You know, I kind of want to do that annual New Year's Eve gala that I do in Los Angeles. You know, I kind of want to do that again because I skipped last year. So what do you do for fun? Besides work, because you sound like me. Like everybody asks me all the time. They're like, what do you do for fun? I'm like, I work. That's what I do.
Starting point is 01:11:38 Well, I've been, you know, I go home between the shows, like for two days and I cook, I hang out with my animals, I organize my stuff, I wear no makeup. Are you a good cook? Yeah. Yay, what's your favorite dish to make? I make this like vegetarian pot pie everyone talks about. I love that.
Starting point is 01:12:04 Are you vegan, vegetarian? No, I'm kind of like flexitarian. Especially being in Vegas, it's kind of hard. Yeah, for sure, it's definitely hard. They have such good food out here. Why have you never came to Nashville? Oh, hold on, I have to take, I have to get my throat ready for this one.
Starting point is 01:12:25 Oh, hold on. I have to take, I have to get my throat ready for this one. So I've done several world tours and several US tours and every time I, every time I plan a tour, which I'm already like, plotting planning for this conversation. I try to go to Nashville and Memphis but actually like just Tennessee in general like I know I have a big fan base there. Yeah and They I get told no because of the blue laws there I think they're called blue laws when there's alcohol there's a lot of policing over women's bodies Which I understand but like I have performed in China, okay. Right. I've performed in places where it's like really, you know,
Starting point is 01:13:12 very conservative. So, you know, I know how to like, you know, I can wear tights, I can wear like a 50s brief and you know, a full bra and not take it off. Like I've been performing at like private events for brands all over the world and like Kazakhstan, okay? Like crazy places where it's like very conservative. So anyway, I get on the phone, this is not my last tour
Starting point is 01:13:39 but even the tour before that. And we're like talking about bringing the show to Nashville and I get on the phone with like the only big theater that's suitable and we get on the phone to have like this conference call about about how we can do it and I say okay just tell me what the rules are like what do we have to wear because there is a burlesque scene there you know and they said well okay you know obviously you have to cover up you can only have like an inch of cleavage. And I'm like, okay, you can't show any side boob.
Starting point is 01:14:07 I was like, okay, so got it, got it. Okay, you can't show your butt at all. And I was like, okay, can you wear like tights, like a couple pairs of tights and like a 50s, like a full brief, like a bathing suit. And they're like, no, you can't show like where your butt cheek and your thigh meets, like that line, you cannot show that ever. So they said, well, you have to wear kind of like a bike shorts to cover up that line
Starting point is 01:14:37 where your, you know, but it's your right thighs, right? And I'm like, okay, and then so I'm going through all of this, taking notes. And then I say, okay, we have just as many guys in the show as girls, so what about the guys? Oh, there's no rules for them. There's nothing on the books. They can't show their penis, you know, but like everything else is okay.
Starting point is 01:15:00 I was like, you mean they can even wear a G string? They're like, yeah, this is real life? I wish I'd been recording the conversation. Nashville we have to get it together because we need the queen to grace our city. This is crazy. Fast forward to then my last tour I was like let's ask again and they actually told me to stand down and don't ask again. And meanwhile, don't forget that like, now they have their own like set of problems and they started looking to them too. But at that time, I had lent my martini glass
Starting point is 01:15:33 to Violet Tchotchke to do like, you know, tribute to me. And like that was okay. Cause it's like, it's not a woman's body. But how do they have a strip club that serves alcohol? Yeah, the rules are all about the alcohol. You can be totally naked and you can be 18 year old and you can spread your legs wide for your audience with no alcohol.
Starting point is 01:15:54 But as soon as there's alcohol, that's where everything gets. Don't we have strip clubs that have, oh, it's BYOB? What is this fucking? And then the thing is, you know, none of these big theaters that can actually house my show want to house the show because if they can't serve booze,
Starting point is 01:16:11 because I said, well, what if we do a dry show? Yeah. And they're like, they don't, won't make money. So they don't want to do it. That is insane to me. We have got to figure out a loophole to get you into Nashville because I feel like it would be a moneymaker for them.
Starting point is 01:16:24 I know, I really want to do it. I wanted to wear the bike, because I feel like it would be a moneymaker for them. I know, I really wanna do it. I wanted to wear the bike shorts, because I thought for my documentary, wouldn't it be great me making the rhinestone bike shorts, and I got my bike shorts on so no one gets hurt. That's hilarious. Yeah, it's just funny. And since then, I remember at the time being really upset,
Starting point is 01:16:41 because I thought, why can Drag Race, Work the World, go to that theater and I can't, but then now they have been forbidden as well, I think since. Yeah, hopefully this podcast dropping will kind of bring some attention to that. I don't think so. Man, that's crazy.
Starting point is 01:16:56 I don't think so. Nashville, we gotta get us together, baby. It's not like the people that are, you know, the fans will come, it's just. The rules. I mean, maybe I should just make the bike shorts outfit and be like, this is what I'm prepared to wear. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:17:12 Don't give up. If they told you to stand down, keep going. The first time I said, no, I'm not wearing a rhinestone bike shorts. And then after that, I was like, oh, actually I want to try this because it's funny. You know. Now it's like a challenge.
Starting point is 01:17:25 You're like, challenge accepted. Dita, thank you so much for coming on the pod. Baby, it's been such a great hour sitting here with you. Asking me about what I think is a boring life. Thanks for taking an interest. I think your life is amazing. And I think it's great. You bring class back.
Starting point is 01:17:44 And just everything about you, the way you present yourself, you're so eloquent. And I feel like that's great, you bring class back, you know, and it just everything about you, the way you present yourself, you're so eloquent. And I feel like that's what the world is missing and that's what we need more of. And I'm glad that women have somebody like you that they can look up to and, you know, to be doing what you're doing at your age still is amazing. And that gives me hope and like, I don't wanna quit,
Starting point is 01:18:01 you know, you don't wanna quit. So let's just keep being trailblazers. We don't have to, we don't have to. No, thanks for a great interview. I'll say the same for you. It's great that you're, I've been interviewed by a lot of journalists that didn't study up or didn't ask interesting questions
Starting point is 01:18:18 like you did, so. I appreciate you so much. Do you wanna shout out where people can find you, where they can see your show, your socials? My socials are the best place. It's just at Dedevon Tees, but remember the T's is spelled T-E-E-S-E, thank you Playboy for the misspelling.
Starting point is 01:18:35 The iconic moniker. Thank you. Yeah, but I met the Horseshoe, which is on the strip. It used to be Bally's's and it's a big beautiful theater and we have dates on and off. I have shows through the weekend, but this is probably not playing on right now. Yeah, the shows are kind of just like, it's a residency.
Starting point is 01:18:56 So there's, we pick and choose our weeks. Absolutely. I can't wait. We're gonna go. We're gonna pick a date to come and see you before June. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. And thank you guys for tuning in in to another episode of Dunblonde. I will see you guys next week. Bye

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