Beyond The Spotlight: A Day In The Life Of A Vegas Showgirl

Glitz, glamour, fabulous outfits, big headdresses, high heels, eyelashes, and more! These are just some of the things that come to mind when thinking about a Vegas showgirl.  

A day in the life of a showgirl is equal parts glamour, discipline, undeniable star power, and believe it or not, normal moments that remind you she’s just as human as she is iconic. From daily workouts and beauty prep to costume fittings, choreography tune-ups, and high-energy performances, these empowering women balance artistry and glamour with effortless grace, all while keeping the magic of being a showgirl alive. 

Behind the sequins and spotlight lies a world of hard work, sisterhood, and dedication as the cast of “FANTASY: The Strips Sexiest Tease” brings one of Las Vegas’ longest-running shows to life night after night. This inside look at a day in the life of a real Vegas showgirl reveals the passion, drive, and love of dance that defines what it truly means to be a modern performer on the Strip.

The Blast recently had the opportunity to spend some time with the dancers of “FANTASY” to see what a day in the life of a showgirl is really like.

They first gave a little tour of their fabulous dressing room where they do their hair and makeup and get dressed for their first number before the show. We then walked from the dressing room to the stage, which was a climb up about 20 steps (and remember, they are wearing heels, so this is a mini workout in itself). 

After a behind-the-scenes tour that revealed where the showgirls make quick costume changes in tight spaces, the dancers were ready to rehearse a new number that's debuting in the show this week.

The afternoon The Blast visited, the dancers were learning a new routine in their finale.

The dance was choreographed by Yesi Burgess, a former "FANTASY" cast member and current Resident Director at Voltaire. She was helping the dancers learn the routine and running through it with them until everyone was comfortable.

Also in attendance while The Blast was present was Emmy Award-winning creator, producer, director, and choreographer of "FANTASY," Anita Mann. If you know anything about Mann, you know she embodies the word "icon" in every way possible.

Before performing the full routine, the dancers broke it down into smaller sections, running each part multiple times to perfect timing, spacing, and precision. Once every detail was locked in, they put the entire choreography together and ran it from start to finish, ensuring a seamless, polished performance.

Getting a sneak peek of the new number almost felt criminal because it's so good! And seeing it as it comes to life was such a moment in time. Fans of the show are going to love the new addition to the finale. Whether you've seen the show once, five times, or 100, every show is unique and brings a new level of amazement.

Mariah Nieslanik, co-producer and featured dancer, and Ashton Bray, performance director and featured dancer, both sat down with The Blast to share what a typical day in the life of a showgirl looks like.

Mariah said since the show begins at 10:30 p.m. each night, she sleeps in a bit longer than most people.

"We don’t usually get home until 1 in the morning. I usually start my day around noon, and Ashton and I are both on the production side, so we have emails that we need to answer, ranging from personal schedules to show schedules," she told The Blast exclusively. "And calls with corporate to make sure we’re aligned with advertising and budgets, all the fun stuff. Then I normally go to the gym, take a nap and get ready for the show.”

Ashton added, "Mine’s pretty similar. I’m normally up at 10:30. I like to spend a little bit of time outside; I have two dogs. We’re pretty normal. Sometimes I feel like we’re living a double life during the day.”

Ashton teaches the show to new dancers and singers and tries to make sure the show stays clean, which sometimes entails watching videos of the show from the night before and taking notes. Both Mariah and Ashton handle the show's social media pages, too, which means the showgirl life can have many roles on and off the stage to keep the show running smoothly. 

Around 7:45 p.m., they begin heading over to the showroom to get ready for the show.

“What’s really fun is we have this fabulous dressing room, so most of us come partially ready and we take an hour to get ready, warm up together, catch up, have girl time,” said Ashton.

Mariah further explained that they all do their own makeup and hair, which oftentimes shocks people. But she said they’ve “streamlined what we need to do to make ourselves into ‘FANTASY.’”

Speaking of maintenance, that often takes up some of the dancers’ days - hair, nails, skin, makeup, all the self care, which can sometimes be like a full-time job in itself. 

“The show runs seven days a week. We’re six or five days each, mostly," Ashton said. "We all have different routines that we do whether that’s yoga, or stretching, or lifting, or running, to make sure we can stay on stage and healthy.”

They do double shows on Sunday, which means they have to be at the showroom by 7 p.m. All that work can take a toll on the body so the dancers make sure they take care of their physical health as well as their mental health.  Rest and recovery are also a priority for the dancers so they can keep going the speed that they are. 

"Our show is so unique, because it runs seven days a week, we have different ladies in each night and we do different tracks," Ashton shared. "We do different parts in the show. It's your responsibility as the dancer to make sure you know where you are on stage, what costumes you're wearing, it's a lot of prep."

Dancers who work five days a week or more are considered full time. Some dancers work four days a week and then there are other dancers who are on call in case there is an injury or illness, or someone is on vacation. This means each of the dancers need to know everyone's part in the show in case they have to fill in for anyone.

Being a showgirl often means side projects off the stage. Something new for the show was the release of "Lingerie by FANTASY: The Strip's Sexiest Tease" just a few weeks ago.

The lingerie line marks a bold new era for the show, with pieces in the collection named after the dancers. The dancers wore the new lingerie line in their 2026 calendar.

During a previous interview with the show's producer Anita Mann, she told The Blast she credited the fans for the idea to launch the lingerie line.

"We have a bustier and a corset that we've been wearing in the show in different numbers and after shows, we've always got people saying they want that corset. I said to myself one day, okay, we can do it and extend the brand and tell the customers, okay, you can get one," Mann told The Blast exclusively. "We wear lingerie in the show in a number, actually two, and I thought, let's do our own lingerie."

For 21 years, "FANTASY" has released an annual calendar, and it's super popular with fans. The 2026 calendar recently debuted during a special celebratory performance.

"Modeling is fun for them [the dancers] and they have a really great day [shooting the calendar]," Mann told The Blast. "They get their makeup done and they get to be glamorous. It's always a joy, and this year's calendar is very classy, it's romantic."

She said that the dancers are "empowering themselves" both on stage and with the calendar shoot.

A portion of the 2026 calendar sales will support Project Marilyn, a Nevada nonprofit working to end period poverty. The organization assembles and distributes period kits across the state, ensuring more women have access to essential supplies. Project Marilyn is dedicated to promoting dignity, compassion, and meaningful support within the community.

If you're in Vegas or planning to visit, this is a show you won't want to miss. For more information on "FANTASY," visit their website. And be sure to visit The Blast's TikTok page for a sneak peek at backstage and the dancers' recent rehearsal.