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Home-grown strippers have struck back at Teazers owner Lolly Jackson after he heaped infamy on them, accusing them of being "too sleazy" and recruiting Russian and Bulgarian replacements.
Gigi - a working showgirl, owner of the Lollipop Lounge in Randburg and theatre entrepreneur - says "we already have such a high unemployment rate in this country and our own girls do this for a living".
Her confirmed view is that "most of these girls have lives when they leave the club, some even have kids they support. They pay tax."
Jackson said earlier this month that local strippers had brought the sex business into disrepute with their "wild ways and unacceptable drug habits".
This, he said, had forced him to bring in exotic dancers from Russia and Bulgaria.
But Gigi maintain that Jackson's assertions about local strippers are more indicative of a management problem.
"There is so much competition in this industry and if [Lolly] thought that some of his local girls were misbehaving he should have just got rid of the bad apples. It seems to me that Lolly is running a high school over there.
"He does not own them when they are not working. It is like any other job. When they leave, they should be allowed to do what they wish."
Gigi said she had known Jackson for almost 14 years, before she became a showgirl.
Now a well-known strip-tease dancer, Gigi has also starred in two theatre shows at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Whore and Nipple Caps and G-strings were produced by acclaimed playwright Deon Opperman.
She said her biggest aim had always been to change the public perception of strippers and strip clubs.
"Previously this was an unlawful career, but now it is recognised and there are many girls who have chosen to do this for a living," she said. "Lolly must never forget it was us, the local girls, who took him to where he is now."
Two former Teazers dancers, Tisha and Recell (who now work for Gigi), said they had left Jackson because his Russian girls were getting "the royal treatment" while locals "were in boot camp".
"We worked our butts off. We were always respectful and loyal towards Lolly. But then everything changed."
Tisha, who had worked for Teazers for eight years, said she had noticed how "arrogant" the Russian girls were with customers. She alleged: "They used to almost force the guys to allow them to give him a lap dance. We could never do that: we had to entice them... "
Jackson retaliated on Friday: "I am not into sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Just look at the name, the Lollipop Lounge.
"That is my name that was used - Lolly."
- This article was originally published on page 6 of Saturday Star on February 19, 2005
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