Showgirls are known for their dazzling blend of beauty, confidence, and theatrical glamour. Their elaborate costumes, precision choreography, and magnetic stage presence create a spectacle that celebrates femininity, fantasy, and performance art. Often associated with Las Vegas or classic cabarets, showgirls evoke nostalgia for a bygone era of entertainment while continuing to evolve with modern flair. Visually appealing, they also possess a charisma and skill which they bring to the stage. Audiences are drawn to the magic, energy, and escape showgirls offer—a vibrant celebration of artistry, elegance, and the enduring power of performance.
If you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to be a showgirl, consider the new memoir by Diane Christiansen. “The Last Real Showgirl: My Sequined ‘70s Onstage” gives readers an insight into the reality of being a showgirl in the ’70s — in the heyday of star-studded productions from Paris to Las Vegas. It’s a true story, by a real showgirl, that’s filled with surprises. (CS Lewis Publicity, 2025)
Diane Christiansen‘s career has spanned five decades as an actress, dancer, author, director, producer, writer, costume designer, and studio owner. She is an acting coach to many acclaimed actors on television shows like Euphoria, This is Us, Dickinson, Stranger Things, Sandman, Quantum Leap and countless other well-known and popular TV shows and movies.
“The Last Real Showgirl: My Sequined ‘70s Onstage” by Diane Christiansen – During the 1970s, showgirls represented the pinnacle of club and resort entertainment. In the modern age, very few shows left in Las Vegas, the resorts, or Paris feature showgirls at all. This memoir presents in her own words the life of Diane Christiansen, the last real showgirl.
As a teenager, desperate to get out of Illinois and into the glittering world of professional dance, Diane visits Montreal and discovers the electrifying world of French Cabaret. This kicks off a chain of events which finds her, before long, in Paris, dancing with a giant seahorse on her head at the world-renowned Lido de Paris. From opium dens in Paris to comedy clubs in the Bahamas, the arc of Diane’s dazzling career spans the globe, all before she is 28. This insider perspective on the industry presents the singular life of the last real showgirl, while also capturing the swansong of a thrilling era in stage entertainment.
Showgirls were powerful women in charge of their own careers — and well-paid, valued players in the flashy world of sequins, feathers, step-kicks, and lavish productions. Most were classically trained dancers who traveled the globe and planned their post-showgirl futures well in advance. They were nothing like the forlorn characters in recent movies.
In her candid, rollicking memoir, Diane Christiansen recounts her years as a showgirl — an iconic symbol of sexy, top-shelf entertainment rarely seen today. She offers an insider’s view to the alluring world of elaborate costumes, dance routines, the meaning of “Semi-Nude” and “Nude,” and life backstage, onstage and offstage. She delves into loves, losses, and her high-flying life.
This is the last weekend to enjoy the local production of ‘Cabaret’ at 
Opening this weekend at 
SA Examiner 