User:Downtowndee/Roxi Dlite

Roxi Dlite is a Canadian burlesque performer, model and photographer from Windsor, Ontario. Her tagline is the Drinkin’, Strippin’, Smokin’ Machine. In June, 2010, she became the Reigning Queen of Burlesque and Miss Exotic World 2010 at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. Roxi Dlite regularly performs around the world and is considered the future star of burlesque.

Background
Roxi DLite was born (Dayna Renaud) in Windsor, Ontario to parents of Métis and French-Canadian descent. Unlike many burlesque performers, she never studied dance as a child. She instead studied gymnastics, which would later help her train as an aerial acrobat. She was trained in aerial acrobatics by a former Cirque Du Soleil performer.

Rise to stardom
She began dancing while finishing the graphic design program at St. Clair College. She began exploring burlesque by accident in 2004 while working as a feature dancer in the Wild Orchid, a couples-themed nightclub in Windsor. She drew her inspiration from both old Hollywood glamour and even Miss Piggy to develop striptease acts without actually knowing what burlesque meant. Her retro-inspired shows earned thanks from an audience member for “bringing back burlesque” and opened a new world previously unknown to Roxi. After she received praise, she studied the culture of burlesque and its history. The Windsor Star notes, "Ironically, Roxi would never have been able to immerse herself in old-time burlesque if it weren’t for modern technology." Mixing the old and the new has become the hallmark for Roxi, often mixing classic-burlesque themes with modern props, pole tricks and aerial acrobatics.

In 2009, Roxi DLite was the first Canadian in history to be invited to compete for the coveted Miss Exotic World title. She performed her most well-known act, the Runaway Bride, which culminates in an aerial act with a giant diamond mounted on top of an aerial hoop. The 2009 Miss Exotic World pageant was Roxi’s first competition. In 2009, she won the 1st Runner-up to Miss Exotic World and earned a return appearance at the 2010 Miss Exotic World Pageant.

In 2010, Roxi DLite won the Miss Exotic World Pageant, the most prestigious burlesque title in the world and became the first Canadian to do so. She performed her signature act, the Smoking Cigar, which features a 12-foot smoking cigar and ashtray. DLite says the act was inspired by an old photograph of film noir legend Marlene Dietrich.

DLite has received numerous accolades throughout her career. She was most recently crowned the Reigning Queen of Burlesque, Miss Exotic World 2010 at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. She was voted one of the top 5 burlesque performers in the world and she was named one the hottest modern burlesque performers in the world. She has been called a burlesque queen and stellar act.

Photography
Roxi DLite is an “accomplished” photographer specializing in pin-up and glamour photography. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star. Roxi has photographed the top stars of burlesque but is most known for her self-portraits. She styles, shoots and edits all her own photos that are said to “exude softness, warmth and strength all at once.”

Appearances
Roxi Dlite starred in the critically-acclaimed Wonderland, a burlesque inspired re-telling of the Lewis Carroll classic, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The stage show, described as a "dazzling visual display", featured notable Detroit-area performers as well as an original soundtrack scored by a 7-piece band.

Roxi Dllite was a spokesmodel for a Canadian lingerie company and has modelled for numerous publications including CK Deluxe and Java's Bachelor Pad Magazine.

She appeared in Issue 20 of the Dark Horse Comics book The Goon. The Eisner Award-winning author Eric Powell interviewed Roxi as part of his research for the burlesque-inspired issue.