BY: STEPHANIE DIANI
Photographer Stephanie Diani went to the Miss Exotic World Pageant, in Helendale, California ten years ago after hearing of the legendary veterans of burlesque. Having grown tired of anthropology, Diani was looking to shift her attention to her passion for photography. Although initially drawn to National Geographic, at the Miss Exotic World pageant Diani was impacted by the intense sassy self-assurance radiating from the elderly women and began a large-scale portrait project capturing the stories of these “Legends” of exotic dance.
These barely dressed “dames” in lace and nipple tassels have a confidence in their bodies and sex appeal that’s uncommon at bingo night. Many have more than 50 years exotic experience under their belt. These photos show that sexual prowess doesn’t always subside when wrinkles set in and might just convince you that sometimes sexuality matures like a fine wine.
