Tanqueray by Stephanie Johnson and Brandon Stanton is an electrifying dive into the vibrant, gritty world of 1970s Manhattan as seen through the eyes of a former burlesque dancer. Johnson, better known by her stage name Tanqueray, rose to fame when her story appeared on Stanton’s popular Humans of New York Instagram page in 2020. Now 76, she delivers a candid and unapologetic memoir that captures her extraordinary journey as a fiercely independent Black woman navigating the chaotic glamour of midtown New York’s adult theater scene.
Born in Albany, New York, Johnson grew up in a turbulent household in the 1940s. By her teenage years, she had endured an abusive upbringing, faced an unplanned pregnancy, and even served time in prison for robbery. But rather than allow her past to define her, she carved out a path that was as unconventional as it was captivating. Adopting the moniker Tanqueray, she became a burlesque star, celebrated for her bold performances and keen entrepreneurial spirit. “I was the only Black girl making white girl money,” she quips, and her stories brim with the humor and resilience of someone who’s seen it all.
Her memoir offers an unflinching look at the seedier side of Times Square during its heyday, populated by hardworking dancers, drag queens, and colorful hustlers. Johnson recounts sewing custom lingerie for plus-sized performers, selling rhinestone G-strings to sex workers, and finding herself in a whirlwind romance with a drug-addicted hustler. Each anecdote is filled with humor, heartbreak, and the unmistakable charm of a street-smart New Yorker.
With Brandon Stanton’s narrative guidance and accompanied by lush watercolor illustrations, Tanqueray balances vivid nostalgia with raw honesty. The book explores not just the allure of the burlesque stage but also the unvarnished reality of surviving in a world fueled by grit and glamour. It paints a portrait of Times Square as the unpolished, magnetic heart of New York City—a place as imperfect as it was unforgettable.
Through Johnson’s wit, warmth, and unyielding spirit, Tanqueray is a mesmerizing tribute to resilience and the beauty of a life lived unapologetically on one’s own terms.
