The Glitter and Glamour Never Fades: The Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition

By Isabel M. Castro

Las Vegas has long been defined by its neon skyline, legendary performers, and dazzling stage productions that set the city apart as the Entertainment Capital of the World. Among the most iconic symbols of this golden era was the Las Vegas showgirl—statuesque, glamorous, and larger than life in costumes crowned with exotic feathers, rhinestones, and sequins. But with the closing of Jubilee! in 2016—the last of the great stage spectaculars—many feared the showgirl would fade quietly into history.

A Bejeweled History

The Showgirl Art Competition, established in 2017, is proof that the sparkle endures. Designed as part of the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts’ curriculum, the competition invites students to study the history of the showgirl, learn about the stage spectaculars that once defined the Strip, and create original artwork inspired by these iconic performers.

The public is invited to meet the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts art students who use their amazing talents to represent the classic iconic Showgirl of Las Vegas at Blick Art Materials, 6300 W. Charleston Blvd., on Sept. 20

Each year, the program culminates in the Annual Showgirl Art and Costume Presentation. Former showgirls model authentic costumes sourced from legendary productions such as Hello Hollywood Hello, giving students a firsthand look at the artistry behind the feathers and rhinestones.

This year's presentation was significant. Students had the rare opportunity to work directly with classic showgirls dressed in authentic costumes, thanks to Karen Burns' Hello Hollywood Hello collection and Maria Battaglia's Always Entertaining. The result was not only a visual spectacle but also a living history lesson, where art and performance intersected.

Adding depth to the experience, a panel of entertainers shared personal stories from their time onstage, describing the discipline, beauty, and artistry that went into performing in shows on such a grand scale. Their recollections offered students a glimpse into the world of rehearsals, late-night performances, and lifelong friendships formed under the spotlight.

The 2025 competition accepted submissions through July, inviting young artists to pay tribute to Las Vegas’s most iconic performers. Students presented original paintings, sketches, and multimedia works, all reflecting their interpretation of the showgirl’s legacy. Winning pieces will soon be displayed at Blick Art Materials on 6300 W. Charleston Blvd., with additional exhibition locations to be announced. Cash prizes will be awarded across several categories—including Best in Show, 1st through 6th Place, and seven special mentions—ensuring that recognition extends broadly across this vibrant field of student creativity.

Lou Anne Chessik: From Dancer to Preservationist

At the heart of this project is Lou Anne Chessik, a former dancer turned preservationist who understood the urgency of keeping the showgirl’s legacy alive. As president and founder of the Showgirl Legacy Foundation, she launched the competition as a way to fuse history, education, and creativity.

“It hit me at a Stardust reunion,” Chessik recalls. “Everyone was dressed to the nines, and suddenly I realized—we were becoming history. How could I keep that history alive and relevant? That’s when I came up with the idea of a Showgirl Art Competition.”

For her, the competition was more than nostalgia; it was a commitment to ensuring that the showgirl story remained part of Las Vegas’s cultural DNA.

A Legacy That Defined Las Vegas

From the 1950s through the early 2000s, notable stage spectaculars included Folies Bergère at the Tropicana, Lido de Paris at the Stardust, Hello Hollywood Hello in Reno, and Jubilee! at Bally's defined the city's entertainment landscape. Produced by visionaries like Donn Arden and costumed by design icons including Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee, these productions blended European cabaret traditions with the scale and glamour only Las Vegas could deliver.

These shows didn’t merely entertain; they shaped the city’s global identity. Alongside the Rat Pack, Elvis Presley, and other A-list headliners, the showgirl became the emblem of Las Vegas glamour.

“Our shows launched Las Vegas into becoming the entertainment capital of the world,” Chessik says. “We were the best of the best, working with people from all over the world. The bonds we created dancing night after night together are like nothing else I’ve ever experienced.”

But as the Strip shifted toward Cirque du Soleil spectacles and headliner residencies, the classic revue slowly disappeared. By the time Jubilee! closed, a direct connection between new generations and the showgirl tradition was slipping away.

The Birth of the Showgirl Art Competition

Determined to bridge the past and present, Chessik sought partners who could help transform her vision into reality. A colleague recommended she contact Kelly Mabel, a visual arts instructor at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts.

“Mabel immediately understood,” Chessik explains. “She knew how unique our entertainment history was, and she saw the potential of combining the visual and performing arts together.”

Together, they built a program that not only preserves history but also gives students a chance to engage with it creatively. “The kids love it,” Chessik says. “It’s not just about making art—it’s about learning history, connecting with real people who lived it, and understanding how creativity can transform lives.”

Preserving the Showgirl Through Collaboration

The competition thrives thanks to the generosity of collectors, historians, and institutions dedicated to preserving Las Vegas’s entertainment heritage. Costumes from Karen Burns’ Hello Hollywood Hello collection, as well as pieces from Jubilee! and Folies Bergère, have been featured in student workshops and exhibits.

Institutions such as the University of Nevada Special Collections, curated by Su Kim Chung, and the Nevada State Museum, where Karan Feder has showcased showgirl history, also play pivotal roles. Chessik points out that collectors like Grant Philipo, whose Las Vegas Showgirl Museum houses rare costumes and ephemera, provide invaluable access to the physical remnants of a glittering past.

“There are places you can go and actually touch and see these things,” Chessik says. “From Grant Philipo’s museum to UNLV’s archives, the history is here—it just needs to be shared in new ways.”

The competition does precisely that: it transforms preservation into inspiration, connecting archival treasures with fresh creative perspectives.

Connecting with the Next Generation

For many students, the showgirl seems like a relic of another time. Few have personal connections to the grand spectacles that once defined the Strip.

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“This generation grew up without ever knowing that was there,” says Sheri Lewis, a collaborator and advocate for showgirl history. “When they learn about its beauty and class, they ask, ‘Why is this not still here?’”

Before Jubilee! Although the shows were closed, some students still had family ties to them. A handful even followed in their relatives’ footsteps—like one Academy graduate who went on to dance in Splash on the Strip before returning as a model for the competition.

Today, the influence extends beyond Nevada. Chessik recalls workshops with students preparing for Broadway careers or auditions at Paris’s Moulin Rouge. Even if they never witness a Donn Arden–style extravaganza firsthand, they still find inspiration in the artistry and elegance of the showgirl tradition.

“They eat it up,” Lewis adds. “They may never see a show like Jubilee! again, but they understand the artistry, the elegance, the essence of what the showgirl represented.”

A Spark That Still Glimmers

While the traditional revue may be absent from the Strip, nostalgia for the showgirl is growing. Designers such as Bob Mackie have hinted at new projects that could revive the glamour in updated form.

"It's gone away, not so far that it's forgotten," Lewis reflects. “Sometimes it takes distance to really appreciate the legacy. And now, people are hungry for that kind of elegance again.”

Through education, collaboration, and celebration, the Showgirl Art Competition ensures that appreciation doesn’t fade.

“I don’t want people to forget these shows,” Chessik says. “I don’t want them to forget the people who were in them, and how talented and creative we all were. This competition keeps that excitement alive.”

Looking Ahead

The Showgirl Art Competition has grown into more than just a classroom exercise—it is a movement to preserve Las Vegas history while sparking new creativity. With each class of students who sketch feathers, paint rhinestones, or interview showgirls about their experiences, the legacy is passed forward. In doing so, the showgirl remains what she has always been: a symbol of artistry, resilience, and show-stopping glamour.

Timeline: From Folies to the Future

1959 – Folies Bergère opens at the Tropicana

Imported from Paris, this lavish revue sets the stage for Las Vegas spectaculars, introducing American audiences to the artistry of the showgirl.

1960s–1970s – The Golden Age of Stage Spectaculars

Shows such as Lido de Paris at the Stardust and Hello Hollywood Hello in Reno push the scale of productions, featuring hundreds of dancers, singers, and costumes by legends like Bob Mackie.

1981 – Jubilee! premieres at Bally’s

Produced by Donn Arden, this show became the longest-running and most iconic Las Vegas stage spectacular, famed for its grand sets, stunning costumes, and show-stopping choreography.

1990s – Entertainment Shifts, the rise of Cirque du Soleil, and headliner residencies begin changing the Strip's identity, and traditional showgirl revues slowly vanish.

2016 – Jubilee! Closes, the curtain falls on the last great Las Vegas stage spectacular.

2017 – Lou Ane Chessik founded the Showgirl Legacy Foundation to create an initiative to preserve the showgirl legacy through education.

2018 – First Showgirl Art Competition

Students study showgirl history, attend live modeling sessions, and create original works inspired by the performers.

2020s – Passing the Torch

The Annual Showgirl Art and Costume Exhibit expands, showcasing student submissions at community venues and keeping the legacy alive.

2024 – Broadway meets Vegas

Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Tony Award–winning Follies, staged at the Aliante Casino and Hotel, brings echoes of revue tradition back to the stage.

Today – A Living Legacy

The competition has been exhibited at venues such as Barnes and Noble, the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas, the Nevada Historical Society in Reno, the Water Street Art Gallery in Henderson, and at Cast and Crew Reunions for the Orleans and Bally’s. The program has also appeared in the Vegas PBS ArtScene series and a documentary by the Read to Me Foundation.

With costume collections, museum archives, and the Showgirl Art Competition, the Las Vegas showgirl continues to inspire a new generation—proving that while the Strip may change, the glitter of the showgirl will never fade.

Links of Interest

Artists and history buffs can explore costume sketches, archival photos, and performance memorabilia through the Showgirl Legacy Foundation Facebook page, UNLV Special Collections, and other museum archives. The Showgirl Art Competition is proudly sponsored by the Showgirl Legacy Foundation, Founder and President Lou Anne Chessik, Art Instructor Kelly Mabel, and the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts.

For more information, check out:

Facebook @The Showgirl Legacy Foundation

YouTube @The Showgirl Connection

WWDBTV: https://wwdbtv.com/

Email: info@showgirllegacy.org