BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS

What Do These Celebrities All Have in Common?

Before the glitz, glamour, fame and fortune, these celebrities made ends meet by participating in one of the oldest professions..."Stripping!" While some are well publicized, others have managed to keep their former "naughty" occupation under wraps.

Lady Gaga

Prior to taking the nation by storm, Lady Gaga, moonlighted as a stripper, at the barely legal age of 18.

While Gaga doesn't speak about her days as a stripper often, she has spoken candidly about these times in interview excerpts such as:

“I was working in strip clubs when I was 18. My act was pretty wild. I’d wear black leather and dance to Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses and Faith No More. Very rock ’n’ roll. I don’t like to talk about it too much but there were drugs, serious drugs. I wouldn’t want to inspire other people to do the same,” Lady GaGa said. “I discovered a real personal freedom through it … I was drawing huge crowds, setting hairspray alight on stage and dancing madly … I have a strong sense of my own sexuality. I love the naked human body and I have huge body confidence.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Who would have thunk it?? Ms. Catherine Zeta-Jones was a stripper before jump-starting her career as an actress. It's rumored that she once confessed to using all the money she earned as a stripper to pay for rhinoplasty surgery and then quit cold turkey to focus entirely on her acting career.

Carmen Electra

Before her big time debut on "Baywatch" Carmen Electra used her God given "ass"ets to make a living. She hasn't strayed far from these beginning as she has performed in popular burlesque shows and now has a signature brand stripper pole. Way to go Carmen!!

Dita Von Teese

As an 18 year old stripper, Dita Von Teese, had no way of knowing that the journey she had embarked on would make her famous around the world. She is now a world renowned fetish model, burlesque performer, costume designer and actress.

Amber Rose

Prior to Wiz and before Kanye, Amber Rose worked as a stripper in New York and Philadelphia. Since being "discovered" Amber has gone on to become a model, entreprenuer, artist and most recently, a mother.

Courtney Love

Long before achieving rock star status, Courtney Love, started as a young stripper. Love has gone on to become a famous musician and actress, in addition to being the widow of Nirvana's lead singer, Kurt Cobain.

Eve

Eve is best known as a rapper and actress, but started off as stripper before hitting it big. She reflects on these days in the following interview excerpt:

"Rappers talk about drug dealing before they made it and it's not a big thing, but me stripping is?" she told Rolling Stone. "Come on. That was a hustle, too; there's a song about it on my album, 'Heaven Only Knows.' But I don't regret it - I was 18 and confused, going through personal problems. I did it for about a month, and I was glad I did it. It helped me find Eve, helped me get serious. It was depressing - a lot of those girls have three or four kids. I'd sit there and be like, 'Eve, you don't belong here, this is not your world."

Nene Leakes

Nene Leakes openly admits that prior to meeting her husband Greg, she was a single mom supporting her family as a stripper. Not only did Nene marry rich and put her stripping days behind her, but she has since gone on to become a popular tv personality, actress, entreprenuer, "Glam Mom" and this is only the beginning!

Channing Tatum

In the late 90's, Tatum did some "dirty dancing" in an all male revue called "Male Encounter" in Florida under the alias "Chan Crawford" Now were fortunate enough to see his chiseled physique on the big screen. ;)

Brad Pitt

During his college days, Brad Pitt, was a part of a nude dance group called, Dancing Bares, as stated in the following interview excerpt:

"When a girl from one of our sister sororities turned 21, the Bares - there were seven of them - would put her in a chair and come out butt-naked with pillowcases on their heads and do a choreographed dance for her. The girls would be laughing so hard. It was great!" Brad Pitt said.

So for all the strippers out there with aspirations for more, let this be a testament to the fact that it's not where you start, but where you can envision yourself going. THE SKY'S THE LIMIT! You are the determining factor.