The Timeless Star of Burlesque
At 52, Dita Von Teese is still stepping onto stages around the world in full rhinestone regalia, spinning inside a giant martini glass, and proving that sensuality doesn’t have a shelf life. To call her the queen of burlesque feels almost insufficient—Dita is its most devoted custodian, most glamorous ambassador, and perhaps its most powerful symbol of age-defying confidence.
And if you ask her whether she plans on slowing down or covering up any time soon, her answer is as bold as her signature red lip: absolutely not.
“It doesn’t all end when we hit 30, 40, or 50,” Von Teese says, seated gracefully in a plush vintage chair inside her Los Angeles home, surrounded by art deco furniture, curated bookshelves, and racks of couture. “In fact, for me, it’s gotten better. More fun, more freeing, more meaningful.”
From Michigan Girl to Burlesque Royalty
Born Heather Renée Sweet in small-town Michigan, Von Teese transformed herself into a cultural icon through decades of reinvention, creativity, and fierce independence. She didn’t follow the path laid out by Hollywood or fashion norms. She created her own: a glamorous, theatrical, erotic journey that turned retro striptease into high art.
What began in the underground cabaret clubs of the ‘90s grew into a global phenomenon. Von Teese now performs to sold-out crowds on international tours, stars in fashion campaigns, and continues to influence beauty, style, and sex-positivity in ways most mainstream celebrities can only dream of.
Her signature routines—emerging from a powder compact, lounging in a crystal clawfoot tub, or famously splashing around in a giant martini glass—have become the stuff of burlesque legend. But beyond the spectacle is a woman whose devotion to self-expression and female empowerment is the beating heart of her legacy.
Stripping in Your 50s: A Radical Act of Confidence
There’s something undeniably radical about Von Teese’s continued presence in burlesque past 50, especially in an entertainment landscape that often erases women as they age.
“In showbiz, especially as a woman, you’re often told there’s an expiration date,” she says. “But I don’t believe in that. Confidence doesn’t have a time limit. Sensuality doesn’t vanish with age. If anything, I feel more in control, more self-aware, and more powerful on stage than ever before.”
Von Teese rejects the idea that stripping—or any form of erotic performance—is only the domain of the young. Her shows are filled with glamour and fantasy, yes, but also maturity, mastery, and a kind of seductive elegance that only comes with experience.
“There’s a different kind of energy when you’ve been doing this for decades,” she explains. “It’s not about being the youngest or the most conventionally perfect. It’s about presence. Style. Command. That’s what people respond to.”
The Power of Costume and Ritual
For Von Teese, fashion and performance are inseparable. Every corset, glove, and headdress is more than an accessory—it’s a tool of transformation.
“Costume is magic,” she says with a gleam in her eye. “You put on a pair of seamed stockings or a silk robe or a velvet corset, and suddenly you’re a different version of yourself. You’re telling a story. You’re stepping into a fantasy.”
She sees dressing up as a form of empowerment, not just adornment. “People think of glamour as superficial. But it’s anything but. Glamour is intentional. It’s armor. It’s how we declare who we are, how we want to be seen, and how we want to feel.”
Her devotion to style isn’t just for the stage. Von Teese surrounds herself with beauty, collecting vintage fashion, antiques, and rare books with the same passion that fuels her performances. “Creating a beautiful world for myself is how I stay inspired,” she says. “It’s not about perfection. It’s about pleasure.”
Living Life on Her Own Terms
In many ways, Von Teese has become a symbol of autonomy. She runs her own shows, oversees her brand, and carefully curates her image without the interference of a PR machine or management team.
“I’ve never waited for anyone to hand me opportunities,” she says. “If I wanted to do something, I created it. If I wanted to wear something, I designed it. That’s always been my approach. And it’s incredibly liberating.”
That independence has been crucial, especially in navigating a culture that constantly tries to put women in boxes—whether as sex symbols, fashion figures, or aging stars.
“I think we’re finally starting to understand that there’s no one way to be a woman,” she says. “You can be sensual and smart. Glamorous and grounded. You can be over 50 and still strip for a living—if that’s what lights you up. The key is choice. Owning it.”
The Fans Who Fuel Her Flame
While Von Teese has legions of admirers across genders and generations, she says her most meaningful feedback comes from women.
“Women come up to me after shows and say, ‘You made me feel beautiful again.’ Or, ‘You helped me rediscover a side of myself I thought I had to let go of when I got older,’” she shares. “That makes all of this worthwhile.”
Her audience is growing more diverse with each year—young women drawn to vintage aesthetics, older women rediscovering their sensuality, and those exploring gender and identity through the lens of performance and costume.
“I think people are tired of the one-dimensional narratives,” she says. “We’re craving complexity. And I try to bring that to my work. Burlesque is playful, but it’s also powerful. It lets us be whoever we want to be—even if just for a few minutes under the lights.”
Refusing to Retire, Embracing the Future
Though many performers her age might be considering slowing down, Von Teese is accelerating. She’s planning new tours, developing a beauty line, and collaborating with young designers and artists who share her love of theatricality and elegance.
“I don’t think in terms of ‘How much longer can I do this?’” she says. “I think in terms of, ‘What else can I create?’ That’s the mindset that keeps me going.”
She scoffs at the idea of retirement. “Why would I stop doing something I love? I’m not doing this for approval. I’m doing it because it brings me joy. And as long as I feel that way, I’ll keep going.”
A New Narrative for Aging
At the heart of Von Teese’s message is a powerful reframe of aging—not as decline, but as evolution.
“There’s this myth that our value peaks in our twenties, and then we’re supposed to slowly disappear,” she says. “But life doesn’t end at 30, or 40, or 50. That’s just when it starts to get interesting. That’s when we know who we are.”
And if anyone embodies that philosophy, it’s Dita Von Teese—a woman who turned stripping into art, glamour into rebellion, and age into her most dazzling accessory.
“I feel more beautiful now than I ever did at 25,” she says. “And I’ll feel beautiful at 60 too. Because beauty isn’t something you chase. It’s something you create.”
In the world of Dita Von Teese, life gets richer, bolder, and more sparkly with every year. And she’s inviting all of us to join the show.