Dita Von Teese proud of being burlesque dancer

Dita Von Teese's parents hoped she was going through ''a phase'' when she told them she wanted to be a burlesque dancer but says they weren't shocked by her career choice.

Dita Von Teese's parents hoped she was going through "a phase" when she told them she wanted to be a burlesque dancer.

The 39-year-old star embarked on her controversial career when she was 18, and while she wasn't worried about telling her mother and father, she knew it wouldn't be their ideal choice for her.

She told UK TV show 'OK!TV': "When I decided to become a burlesque dancer, I was 18 I had six credit cards and I was paying rent. What were my parents gonna tell me? But I've been a ballet dancer all my life so I've been performing so I don't think they were really shocked although they probably were hoping it was just a phase!"

Dita - who was once married to Marilyn Manson - is now famed for her glamorous look but she admits she is very strict when it comes to taking her make-up off at the end of the day.

She said: "I don't spend that much time in front of the mirror. I wear red lipstick every day. I have very strict rules about removing make-up before I go to bed. I've only ever slept in make-up twice in my whole life and I hated it. I throw make-up wipes on my friends and say, 'You're not going to sleep until you've taken off your make-up!' "