Frankie Fictitious: Rhinestone Showgirl

I discovered Frankie Fictitious when I saw a photo of her taken by a photographer I adore- Shannon Brooke. Eventually I found out the stunning girl in the image was Frankie herself and when she came to NYC for the Asian Burlesque Festival in 2024 I bought tickets immediately. Fast forward to 2025 when she was performing in NYC again I reached out to photograph and interview her about how she’s created her own life as a traveling rhinestone showgirl who is an absolute delight to encounter.

I photographed Frankie at the exquisite performance venue The Red Pavillion in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

You can check out her website here and follow her on instagram immediately here.

Leo Brooklyn: Can you tell me where you’re originally from and how you first got into burlesque? How did you discover your love for it?

Frankie Fictitious:
I was born in San Francisco and have moved around the Bay Area my whole life. I got into burlesque around 2013. I’ve always loved vintage style and music, and I spent a lot of time on Pinterest making little mood boards. I kept coming across Dita Von Teese, but at the time I didn’t really know who she was—I just thought she was this incredibly cool pin-up model.

When I found out she was coming to San Francisco, I went to see her perform live. When she came out with all the rhinestones, the props, the costumes—I was completely blown away. I remember thinking, this is it. This is what I want to do.

I went home and booked a class immediately. 

Leo Brooklyn: I’m still pretty new to the burlesque world. I love photographing powerful women and I’ve been loving shooting some burlesque girls recently.

Frankie Fictitious: You’re in the perfect place for it. New York has some of the most incredible performers. There’s something about the energy of the New York

Leo Brooklyn: I’m here to enjoy it. I want to photograph all of them!

Leo Brooklyn: I’m so curious about your gorgeous costumes- you mentioned making them —how did you learn how to do that?

Frankie Fictitious:
Honestly, it was all trial and error. My first costume started with a pair of panties from Marshalls. I bought some gold fringe from Joann’s and some stretchy sequin fabric. There weren’t even rhinestones on it.

I just started gluing and sewing things together to see what would happen. Then I kept doing it. Repetition and practice.

Leo Brooklyn: That sounds like a good approach to life in general.

Frankie Fictitious:
Exactly. I’ve made so many mistakes—and I still do. I’m constantly redoing things. It’s really just about figuring out what works.

Leo Brooklyn: Are there role models in the burlesque community?

Frankie Fictitious:
Honestly, the burlesque community as a whole inspires me. I love artists who push boundaries and aren’t afraid to take up space—people who are fully themselves.

A lot of my inspiration now comes from artwork and fashion. I studied art in college, so paintings or visuals will often spark ideas for new acts or costumes.

Leo Brooklyn: How did your family feel when you started pursuing burlesque seriously?

Frankie Fictitious:
I kept it a secret for a while because I was nervous. I was the artistic one who wanted to be in a rock band and take her clothes off onstage.

When I finally told them I invited them to a show at the Great Star Theater in Chinatown—an old opera house. It felt perfect. It was a variety show with singing, circus, drag, and burlesque, so it wasn’t just striptease. It eased them in.

My mom loved it. She became my biggest fan.

Leo Brooklyn: I saw that video where you styled her.

Frankie Fictitious:
Yes! I did her hair! She joined a troupe called the Grant Avenue Follies. The women who started the Grant Avenue Follies were burlesque dancers in the 1940s and ’50s. And they’re still dancing to this day!

She was always a dancer. She did hula and Tahitian dance, and that’s how I started dancing too. I grew up in it—from the time I could stand through high school. I even did competitions.

Leo Brooklyn: You’re also incredibly good at marketing yourself online. Live performance is one skill—but translating that to the internet is another. What business skills have been most important in your growth?

Frankie Fictitious:
I just do what makes me happy and make it work.

A skill that has helped me grow is confidence and trusting my instincts.

Leo Brooklyn: I would love to hear about your Glamarati dance party that you host regularly. Is that event created entirely by you?

Frankie Fictitious:
It’s my passion project. It’s a high-glam, queer, lesbian-forward dance party. My partner DJs, we have guest DJs, and at midnight we do a big burlesque performance throughout the bar. It becomes this theatrical takeover before the dance floor opens up again.

It happens monthly—every second Saturday.

Leo Brooklyn: I need to come! I would love for you to bring it to New York!

Frankie Fictitious: I would love that.

Leo Brooklyn:
 I absolutely love your triple boob costume - where did you get the inspiration from?

Frankie Fictitious: Total Recall. There’s a brief scene with a woman who has three breasts. That was it.

Leo Brooklyn: Okay, I’m watching that immediately. What about the red rhinestone cowgirl?

Frankie Fictitious:

I’d done cowgirl group acts before but never a solo. I’m always drawn to red—it feels powerful and it’s connected to my Asian heritage. I’ve been performing that act for about five years now.

Leo Brooklyn:

 What do you like about being a part of the burlesque community?

Frankie Fictitious:

Burlesque attracts people who are bold, and rebellious, so you end up surrounded by artists who really push each other to be big and unapologetic.

Leo Brooklyn: What would you say is one of your biggest career highlights?

Frankie Fictitious: Winning Miss Exotic World at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas and creating Glamarati

Leo Brooklyn: Do you stop working at a certain time of the day as a self employed person?

Frankie Fictitious:
 I love what I do so much—it doesn’t feel like work.

Leo Brooklyn: Your work also feels incredibly empowering for women. Where do you think that sense of power comes from for you?

Frankie Fictitious: Burlesque gave it to me. I’ve always been shy, and I was raised to be quiet and follow the rules.  Burlesque let unleash someone powerful, confident, and unapologetic. Over time, that confidence stopped being a persona—it just became me.

Leo Brooklyn: Especially growing up in a more traditional household?

Frankie Fictitious: Yes. In an Asian household, you’re taught to keep your head down and do what you’re supposed to do. So choosing this path felt very different—but burlesque helped me find my voice.