My sister-in-law Sharon, aka Venus De Mille, was just named the 2005 Legend in the Making at Miss Exotic World, the premiere burlesque competition! Congratulations, Sharon! As far as we're concerned, you're a legend already!

Sharon dances with Velvet Hammer Burlesque, which is a cool company in so many ways. They are a very woman-friendly troupe; the director doesn't allow dancers who have had plastic surgery, so their shows end up being real celebrations of women's bodies, in all shapes and sizes. It's always a very exuberant, tongue-in-cheek, vintage-tinged revue. And Sharon, who works in the costume shop for the LA Opera, makes the most amazing costumes (check out the Venus DeMille link for some of her creations); she puts on quite a theatrical extravanganza. Legendary, to be sure!