Rise to viral fame in 2019
Some people are born to shine, no matter how difficult their childhood or how many challenges life puts in their path. Stephanie Johnson was one of those people—but now her light has gone out forever.
Known to millions as Tanqueray, the iconic burlesque dancer of 1960s and ’70s New York passed away at the age of 81. She died on October 11 at her Manhattan home after suffering a severe stroke, according to Humans of New York. Her death was also confirmed by her son, Mitchell Springle.
Stephanie’s rise to viral fame came in 2019 when Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton met her in Chelsea. At first, he noticed her striking style —Stephanie was dressed in a red patchwork coat with fur accents — but it was her stories that captivated him. She regaled Stanton and the world with tales of mob-run clubs, X-rated nightlife, and the tough streets of Manhattan and Harlem.
“My stripper name was Tanqueray,” she told Humans of New York. “Back in the seventies, I was the only Black girl making white girl money. I danced in so many mob clubs that I learned Italian.”
Her recollections of mobsters in custom suits, of Madame Blanche controlling the city’s high-dollar escorts, and of friends hired for secret assignments with visiting American presidents sounded like they belonged in a Scorsese movie — but they were her real life.
Stephanie’s life was not just glamour and neon lights. She was born Aquila Stephanie Springle in Albany, New York, in 1944, raised in poverty under a strict, often cruel household. Expelled from home after becoming pregnant as a teenager, she briefly served time in prison before fleeing to New York City to start anew.
In the city, she embraced burlesque under the name Tanqueray, working Manhattan clubs and making her mark. She designed her own costumes, decorated with rhinestones and beads, and even worked with drag performers and fetish communities, building a life of creativity and survival.
Raised over $2.5 million
Her stories, however, went viral not just for their boldness, but for their honesty.
Through Humans of New York, her 33-part serialized story reached millions, and a GoFundMe campaign launched by Stanton raised over $2.5 million to support her medical care. In 2022, she published her memoir, Tanqueray, recounting her years in the X-rated world, her love of fashion, and the hardships of her personal life.
The book went on to become a bestseller.
Stephanie’s close friend and collaborator, Brandon Stanton, reflected on her complex character after her death:
“Despite her X-rated stories and her sharp edges,” he wrote, she “was capable of such innocence. Stephanie slept with a teddy bear until the day she died.”
In her own words, Stephanie summed up the philosophy that carried her through decades of struggle and reinvention:
”I hope when I get to heaven God shows me a movie of my life. But just the funny parts. Not the in-between parts, ‘cause then we’d both start crying. Underneath all the laughs and gags, it was always about one thing: survival.”
Wonderful anecdotes
Following the news of Stephanie Johnson’s passing, hundreds of people have shared memories of the burlesque star on Humans of New York’s Facebook page, showing just how much she was a part of the Chelsea neighborhood where she lived.
“One person wrote, ‘Saw her so many times in our neighborhood. We live in Chelsea, thank you for sharing her story. So many Stephanies in NYC. Were it not for storytellers like you we would never know these amazing stories. May she rest in power. Long live Tanqueray! ♥️’”
Another shared a personal encounter: “‘I met her once at Eataly. I helped her order and she gave me a hilarious gift. I loved interacting with her. What a gem,’” they recalled.
A third fan reflected on seeing her regularly: “‘I was just thinking about how I get to walk past her on my way to the shuttle every day with the new Dear New York installation in Grand Central. What a life she lived!!! What a woman she was. We are still waiting for a movie or Netflix series based on her life! Hint hint!!!’”
Stephanie Johnson, Tanqueray, was many things: a survivor, a storyteller, a burlesque legend, and a woman who reminded the world how to find joy even in the hardest circumstances. She will be remembered for holding audiences in thrall with her unfiltered tales and her undeniable charisma. RIP beautiful lady!