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Following a 31-year tenure on the iconic Vegas strip, the showgirls from the production Jubilee! executed their last choreographed kick in 2016. The extravaganza, known for its elaborate costumes designed by American fashion designer Bob Mackie, came to an end due to dwindling audience numbers and unimpressed critics who described it as a spectacle “trapped in time”.

Now, roughly eight years later, the showgirl persona, or at least the glamorous showgirl look, is experiencing a revival.

The Sultan of Glitz

Known as the “sultan of sequins”, Mackie has made dramatic stage sparkle his defining aesthetic, clothing everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Madonna. Recently, a “barely-there” bodysuit he made for Cher in 1978 commanded $57,600, far exceeding its estimated price, while a metallic tasseled bodysuit with shiny wings that Mackie created for Tina Turner for a 1977 performance sold for $19,200.

“I believe it looks more appealing for the younger performer who is seeking something other than what they knew from childhood”, he told a media outlet. “Today's artists are striving for a theatrical, more theatrical, attention-grabbing, grand statement.”

A Mainstream Resurgence

It’s a look that made its way all the way to the heart of mainstream fashion in 2025 thanks to a global pop icon. In the past few months, the music phenomenon wore one of Mackie’s vintage Jubilee! costumes on the cover of her new musical project. The crystal-covered bra and thong, feathered armbands and glittering headpiece were perfect for a record called The Life of a Showgirl.

The singer isn't alone. This year, showgirl inspirations have been embraced by singers including Miley Cyrus as they danced across world tours in glitter, cut-outs and plumes, spotlighted against theatrical sets. Lipa’s stylist a fashion expert told a fashion magazine he wanted to bring “a showgirl attitude” to her Radical Optimism tour – inspired by pictures from the 50s, the backup dancers fluttered giant ostrich feather fans.

Pulling from Tradition

Modern stars and other chart toppers also draw on classic entertainment forms, including burlesque and ensemble references. The final look are vastly different from the 1990s era teen pop of revealing tops and utilitarian trousers, and street-style dance moves that preceded this trend.

But certain observers are convinced with this showgirl revival. Nancy Hardy, a one-time Jubilee! showgirl who performed in the early 2000s says the trend is “confusing”. She thinks the word showgirl title is being “employed as an broad label covering everything from The Radio City Rockettes to Broadway performers and now seemingly modern pop stars.”

The Highly Sought-After Vintage Style

For younger and modern stars, Mackie’s classic designs have become extremely desirable. In 2024, Zendaya paid tribute to one of Mackie’s earliest clients, Cher, when the star wore a semi-sheer sequined dress designed by the designer in 2001, which was inspired by one he created for Cher to wear in 1967. Months after, another pop star paid an undisclosed sum to buy the Mackie fringed mini dress she had worn earlier in the year to perform at the Grammys. In September, Carpenter wore a trio of retro Mackie designs at the MTV Video Music Awards. They are also a popular item among fashion collectors.

“Showgirls inspire fond memories for a historical elegance,” says an archivist, an expert at the University of Nevada, who documents the history of showgirls. “Now it is considered a sort of ‘acceptable’ sexy because it has been modified. It has got all the elegance, the crystals and the sparkle but without the bare skin.”

More Than Simply Style: An Symbol of Vegas

The expert says the showgirl image are central to the imagery of Sin City. She points to one-time leader Oscar Goodman who, during official events, was flanked by two showgirls. Even though Las Vegas does not host any showgirl-centric productions, Jung says they are still featured as an emblem of the city, showing up at corporate events and in promotional material. “The showgirl is still a lasting icon of Las Vegas glitz and glamour,” Chung says.

An Allure of Illusion

Hardy says the magical transformation of a showgirl is part of the attraction. This idea Swift hints at in a new behind-the-scenes film that shows the backstage action from her massive 2023 Eras tour, which included intense preparations, workouts and numerous shows across 21 countries, each going on for 3.5 hours.

She recalls her own stage routines as “comparable to extreme physical exertion in stilettos every night”. Her feathered headdress tipped the scales at 34lbs. “I had to carry it all the way up the steps to the platform from the green rooms three floors below in the lower level. I had to start early for my moment so I could rest before I performed. You are perspiring the whole time but creating this image that it’s effortless and beautiful and ethereal.”

It could be this is where the fascination of the showgirl really is found. In the busyness of 2025 there is a desire for escapism. Who better to turn to than these performers, who have always embodied make-believe, idealism and a world where nobody makes a mistake.