Dita Von Teese

Born Heather Sweet on September 28th, 1972 in Rochester, Michigan, Von Teese was a performer right from the start. She loved the old MGM Technicolor musicals and would emulate the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age as a child. It didn't take much prodding from her parents to take part in dancing lessons and other forms of performance art.

As early as 16 years old, 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.

She 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.