Former burlesque dancer's gritty life stories win over the Internet
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Despite the flashy persona, Stephanie Johnson has never smoked a cigarette, does not drink and prefers reading to going to parties.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
NEW YORK • Last November, the Internet fell in love with Tanqueray, a straight-shooting New Yorker who shared memories of her life as a burlesque dancer in the 1960s and 1970s with the millions of people who follow Humans of New York on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.
Her tales were full of underground glamour and gritty characters - "mob guys", "strippers and porn stars in Times Square" and a madam who "controlled all the high-dollar prostitutes" - as well as resilience and humour.

