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Jahna Steele
Jahna Steele, Entertainer
Jahna's bio:
Jahna first
made headlines in 1992, when she was outed by the press for being a
transsexual. At the time, she was starring in the “Crazy Girls Revue” at the
Riviera Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and had been named Las Vegas’ sexiest
showgirl the year before. Once her secret was out, she was immediately
dismissed from the show. With her dreams shattered, Jahna embarked on the
talk show circuit to tell her story and educate people. She created a
one-woman show and toured across the US, singing her way into the hearts of
thousands of supporters. Jahna also guest starred on NYPD Blue.
Jahna
eventually returned to the Riviera and resumed her showgirl status, however
the media intrusion was too much and six months later, she left the show for
good. Retreating from the spotlight, Jahna was able to reassess her life and
goals. Originally not wanting to be the “Poster Child” for the ts community,
Jahna realized that this was her opportunity to speak out for transgender
acceptance and embraced the role.
In 2004, Jahna
returned to the Riviera to host “The World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual
Pageant”. The experience has opened many new doors. A book of Jahna’s life
is in the works-and she promises a good read, a documentary film is soon to
be released and she is touring again. Anyone who has not heard Jahna sing
doesn’t know what they’re missing. She is extraordinarily gifted.
Jahna was
instrumental in paving the way for transgender entertainers to venture into
mainstream media and be accepted.
Jahna’s website
is at www.thejahnasteele.com
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From the "Goddess
Spotlight" archives, May 24, 2001:
A column about Jahna Steele, by Shellee
Renee
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Jahna Steele has turned away from the Las Vegas spotlight,
but not Las Vegas.
She performs in a more important setting to her, a place called
Weston Willows. Jahna helps recovering drug and alcohol addicts
get their life back on track. She's the first to admit that she's
been there…done that, but the addictions are in her past
and her future looks bright. She still indulges in her love of
singing and performing, with dates booked in Scottsdale and Denver
nightclubs.
I saw Jahna for the first time on the "Crazy Girls"
stage at the Riviera Hotel. This was in June of 1988, so they
were still in the zebra skin room that "La Cage" now
occupies. It was my first week in town and my brother, who had
been in Vegas a couple of weeks earlier, told me I MUST go to
"Crazy Girls" to see Jahna. He was impressed by her
beauty, talent and scathing comedic wit. I sat down in a racy
zebra chair and didn't blink for an hour! She was "all that"
and more! She was gorgeous. She interacted with the audience so
well, like they were guests at her private party. She was a dumb
blonde Barbie one minute and a sharp-tongued comedienne the next.
She had a beautiful singing voice and she danced. I started to
wonder if she had a twin backstage! One thing I was sure of by
the end of the show, Jahna was loaded with talent and "Crazy
Girls" was the show I wanted to be in.
I worked as a cocktail waitress while I learned the dance numbers
for "Crazy Girls". I started telling a bartender that
I was rehearsing for the show and how excited I was about working
with Jahna. He replied, "Did you know she used to be a he?"
I was dumbfounded. After rehearsal the next day, I stayed to watch
the show. I couldn't keep my eyes off Jahna now, trying to imagine
her as John. It was impossible. Still is.
Producer Norbert Aleman sent Jahna to open "Crazy Girls"
in Japan. As a "new kid on the block" I went along also.
Once in Japan, sitting in a dressing room the size of a mini-van,
the cast of ten girls bonded with each other. Jahna's unfaltering
sense of humor and friendship was the only thing that kept me
sane. I stayed for 3 months, she stayed a year! Once back in Vegas,
we were back together performing in "Crazy Girls". There
she was, back on the Riviera stage with her beauty, talent and
witty charm. Then the news leaked out that Jahna was a transsexual.
She exited the show and went on a whirlwind publicity tour to
share her story. She was on every talk show and tabloid. She showed
the world that transgender people were PEOPLE too! The sudden
national "outing" proved to be too much of a good thing.
There were those waiting to exploit her and those who took advantage
of her kindness. The most important, however, were those who gained
an understanding and appreciation for who she was and the hundreds
of other transgender people that lauded her as a representative
of the culturally diverse world they lived in.
Jahna's story is one of overcoming adversity and shining a
little light into the lives of others. I've been her friend for
10 years. I've watched her ups and downs (there were no in-betweens)
and I've learned from her. Jahna says it best, "I look forward
to the day that acceptance will mean a higher quality of life
for people making a transition in life. Respect and understanding
are the keys."
Touche’!
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Published in the "Goddess
Spotlight" on
The
Valley Explorer and The Las Vegas Entertainment Show Guide website
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