Striptease Superstar, Dita Von Teese Pics and Vids

She is arguably the world's most fashionable woman, said to be ushering in an aesthetic that many believe will see off tacky fashion and even the so-called "skinny model" phenomenon.

The slender - albeit curvy - farm girl from Michigan, born Heather Sweet, grew into a burlesque queen fond of vintage knickers and waist-shrinking corsets (hers can cinch to a breathless 16 inches - or 40 centimetres).

She performs with giant powder puffs and martini glasses. Off-stage, she is a classic glamour queen with an armoury of stockings and suspenders, proper frocks, high heels and hair lacquer.

Her stylised version of femininity rivals any Hollywood siren of the 1940s, but fashion doesn't love her only for her looks. She's also passionate about HIV/AIDS education.

Dita von Teese is one of the instigators of the burlesque and striptease revival and has been a considerable factor in bringing burlesque to mainstream attention. Her fame increased during her relationship with Marilyn Manson, to whom she was married from 2005 to 2007. She has specialised in pushing the fantasy element of striptease with elaborate outfits, erotic retro lingerie such as corsets and baques, hip-swaying dance numbers and nude pictorials that show off her ivory skin and large bust. Has always been fond of wearing elaborate lingerie such as corsets and stockings from a very young age, and, in her words, puts the tease back into striptease with long, complex, elaborate dance shows complete with props and characters, often inspired by 1930s and 1940s musicals and films, of which she is a fan.

Some famous dances of hers include a feather fan dance, and numbers involving a carousel horse, a giant powder compact, a filigree heart and a claw-toe bathtub with a working showerhead. Her signature show features a giant martini glass.

Dita Von Teese was born as Heather Renee Sweet in Rochester, Michigan on September 28, 1972. Her mother was a manicurist and her father a machinist.

She was a performer right from the start and was classically trained as a ballet dancer, dancing solo at age thirteen for a local ballet company. She has incorporated elements of this into her act , often going en pointe. She loved the old MGM Technicolor musicals, particularly Betty Grable, 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.

In college Von Teese studied historic costuming and aspired to work as a stylist for period films. She is a trained costume designer. She worked in a lingerie store as a salesgirl when she was fifteen, and eventually as a buyer. She has been fond of wearing elaborate lingerie such as corsets and basques with fully fashioned stockings ever since and has become famous for doing so.

Von Teese began her career in a local strip club when she was nineteen.

She became a private party entertainer by the time she was in her early 20s, and she was so good at it that Playboy took notice of her talent. As early as 1997, the magazine began to publish Dita's photos, which naturally only increased the male public's desire for her. She became known as a burlesque and fetish queen -- a genuine pinup model. She filled a niche and helped spawn some 30 Playboy 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, sexy music and beautifully raunchy costumes. Dita 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 risque erotic balls, dating back as early as 1999.

Dita Von Teese's romantic relationship with highly controversial and oft-vilified rocker Marilyn Manson increased her time in the spotlight. They could be seen going to movie premieres together, which never hurt Dita's exposure. Their divorce, however, shortly ensued and was finalized in January 2007.

Says her greatest beauty secret is to stay away from sunshine.

Has been photographed by photographer Ed Fox for a new foot fetish book. (April 2008)

Her divorce to rock star Marilyn Manson has been finalized. (December 30, 2007)

Was a featured guest on the October 25, 2006 edition of America's Next Top Model.

Confessed she is a natural blonde, and uses dye to achieve her trademark gothic look. (July 06, 2006)

Once sacked a stylist after she recommended the burlesque star wore jeans.

At her wedding with Marilyn Manson, she wore a royal purple silk taffeta Vivienne Westwood gown complete with train and petticoats worn over a Mr. Pearl couture corset. Her outfit was accessorized with a tri-corn hat by Stephen Jones and shoes by Christian Louboutin.

Her engagement ring from Marilyn Manson was a 7-carat, antique, European round-cut diamond.

Named herself Dita after Dita Parlo.

Often compared to Burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, not only for their work in burlesque, but also for their shared love of haute couture fashions.

Thanked at the end of CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE (2003) because she helped train them for their dance routine.