Dita Von Teese Biography

Dita Von Teese (born September 28, 1972) is a popular American burlesque artist. She was born Heather Sweet in Rochester, Michigan. She is also the girlfriend of musician Marilyn Manson.

Biography

As early as 16 years old, Dita Von Teese was obsessed with fashion. While working at a lingerie store, she fell in love with all the fancy accoutrements a woman could wear. Then and there, an erotic entertainer

 was born. She knew right away that if fate would allow her to flourish as a model, she would do things her own way. This maxim has remained with her until the present day and still holds true.

After doing some modeling, over-the-top erotic shows and even a few movies that are probably not available at your local Blockbuster, Dita Von Teese -- as she was now officially known -- was ready to emerge. After audience members at certain shows noticed her unique taste and abilities, questions arose about her availability to do functions on her own. As a result, Von Teese's opportunity to make a name for herself finally arrived.

Dita Von Teese became a party entertainer by the time she was in her early 20s, and she was so good at it that Play..boy took notice of her talent. As early as 1997, the magazine began to publish Von Teese's photos, which, naturally, only increased the male public's desire for her. She became known as a burlesque and fetish queen -- a veritable pinup model. This allure filled a niche and helped spurn some 30 more Play..boy appearances, including her first cover in December 2002.

Dita Von Teese was featured prominently in videos that were released under Hugh Hefner's bunny rabbit logo, including Wet & Wild Live and Girlfriends 2. Her popularity spread to international fetish publications such as Marquis and Bizarre.

Still, it was her live shows that captured the most attention, with their extravagant sets, s--y music and beautifully raunchy costumes. Von Teese's gigs began to receive much more attention, especially after her performances with the famous Pussycat Dolls Live at The Roxy (along with performers like Charlize Theron, Christina Aguilera and Christina Applegate), as well as at a Louis Vuitton event at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and for the Osbournes (Ozzy included), at their 2002 New Year's Eve Gala, which was broadcast on MTV. She was also the center of more risqué erotic balls, dating back as early as 1999.

Fond of wearing elaborate lingerie such as corsets and stockings, she "puts the tease back into striptease" with long, complex dance shows complete with props and characters.

Dita Von Teese is also a leading fetish model. She also acts, in such movies as Romancing Sara and Matter of Trust, in which she is billed as Heather Sweet.