Dita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer, model, and costume designer. She is considered one of the most iconic performers of the modern burlesque movement. Born Heather Renée Sweet, she grew up in Michigan and began to explore striptease routines while still a teenager. Von Teese rose to fame in the late 1990's, largely due to her heavily tattooed, hourglass figure and a flair for extravagant performances with props like bubbles, giant jeweled eggs, and a giant martini glass, amongst other things. Her unique look and ability to pair couture with traditional burlesque performance elements led her to be quickly adopted as a muse by designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Louboutin, and Vivienne Westwood, amongst others. Now based in Los Angeles, Dita continues to tour internationally, performing with acts such as The Pussycat Dolls and Christina Aguilera, as well as launching her own lingerie