Blaze Starr is an iconic redhead, with a sultry voluptuous figure and charisma that has stood the test of time. Born on April 10, 1932 in Wayne County, West Virginia, Starr was raised in a large family and was the second oldest out of 11 brothers and sisters.

Starr left home for Washington D.C. as a young teenager. She was discovered by a promoter while working at the Mayflower Donut Shop. The promoter convinced a young Starr to wear a red and white cowgirl outfit and perform a striptease while playing the guitar. According to her 1974 autobiography Blaze Starr: My Life as Told to Huey Perry, Starr was so embarrassed that she covered herself with her hat and threw up when she got offstage!

After a few rough years in Washington, D.C...

We are pleased to announce that Camille 2000 has been selected to receive the 2019 Living Legend, to be awarded during this year’s BHoF Weekender. The Living Legend Award is given each year in recognition of both a performer’s active career and their continued achievements as a mentor, teacher, and icon in the burlesque community.

Camille 2000, “The Girl for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” has been a continuous inspiration for today’s neo-burlesque movement. She originally performed in a “traditional burlesque” style, but once established as a performer, she stepped out of that box to perform more shocking acts.  She is probably best remembered for her Black Widow act, which was an ode to the Marquis de Sade.

In the 1980s, Camille joined the Screen Actor’s Guild and performed p...

In honor of Women’s History Month, and inspired by the #5WomenArtists project led by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, we are asking burlesque artists to share with us their thoughts on their art form. We’re closing out the series with an interview with burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese. Since starting burlesque in the early 1990s, Dita has gone on to be easily the most recognizable burlesque performer in the world. She has appeared on CSI, America’s Next Top Model, and Project: Runway; published two books, Burlesque and the Art of the Teese and Your Beauty Mark; appeared in videos for Green Day, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and Marilyn Manson; modeled for Jean Paul Gauthier, Vivienne Westwood, and Moschino; released an album; and launched her own fashion lines – all while tourin...

In honor of Women’s History Month, and inspired by the #5WomenArtists project led by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, we are asking burlesque artists to share with us their thoughts on their art form. Today, we hear from 2004 Miss Exotic World and BHoF Board Member, Dirty Martini. Dirty has toured around the world, been the subject of two documentaries (and appeared in many more), and been voted in the top 10 in 21^st Century Magazine’s annual worldwide poll every year since it began in 2009 (including 4 years as No. 1).

 If you missed them, be sure to check out our previous interviews with burlesque legend Judith Stein and 2006 Miss Exotic World Julie Atlas Muz.

BHoF: Why did you choose burlesque as your art form?

When I moved to New York City to be a contemporary dancer, I...

In honor of Women’s History Month, and inspired by the #5WomenArtists project led by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, we are asking burlesque artists to share with us their thoughts on their art form. This week, we are talking with 2006 Miss Exotic World, Julie Atlas Muz. Based in New York, Muz has performed on stage and television, appeared in numerous documentaries, and was featured in art exhibits at the Whitney Biennial and Deitch Projects.  

Photo by Karl Giant

If you missed it, be sure to check out our previous interview with burlesque legend Judith Stein.

BHoF: Why did you choose burlesque as your art form?

I moved to New York City to be a dancer and a theater maker.  In experimental theater/dance making, there is so much rehearsal for so few performances...