Published on: May 8, 2026, 07:21h.
Updated on: May 7, 2026, 01:02h.
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Vegas Myths Busted” delivers new insights every Monday, along with a special Flashback Friday feature.The entry today in our ongoing series was initially published on May 6, 2024. Since then, the “Crazy Girls” statue has been relocated to Circa Las Vegas, where it now welcomes guests at the rooftop Legacy Club of the downtown resort.
When the Riviera closed its doors nine years ago this past Saturday, its iconic topless revue, “Crazy Girls,” found a new home at Planet Hollywood. The famous statue, which had greeted visitors at the Riviera entrance since 1997, also made the transition—an important moment for fans.
The “Crazy Girls” statue garnered the title of the most photographed landmark in Las Vegas, often rubbed for good fortune, resulting in the polished shine of the figures’ exposed bottoms.
As is customary with Las Vegas landmarks, the statue has an accompanying myth we aim to clarify.
“Performers of Crazy Girls, including transgender showgirl Jahna Steele, are immortalized with a bronze sculpture,” claims a stock photo site.
Before we delve deeper, we extend our appreciation to Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben for his insightful debunking of this myth in 2021. Unfortunately, it persists. As Mark Twain allegedly remarked, “Never let the truth interfere with a captivating narrative.”
That quote is a myth, too; Twain never said that, and his actual name was Samuel Clemens.
A Wild Tale
“Crazy Girls” debuted in 1987 at the Riviera, captivating audiences for 28 years. Initially, singer/dancer Steele emerged as its standout star. In a 1991 newspaper contest, readers voted her as Las Vegas’ “Sexiest Showgirl on the Strip,” unaware of her birth name, John Matheny.
In her early twenties, Steele underwent gender reassignment surgery in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas—a significant event in 1992. When the tabloid show “A Current Affair” uncovered her story and aired it nationwide, it sparked a national scandal.
“She was incredibly kind, radiant, and exceptionally talented,” recalled her former co-star, Angela Sampras-Stabile, in an interview with Casino.org.
Despite her charm, “Crazy Girls” producer Norbert Aleman succumbed to the backlash from some fans, who considered the show, as The Advocate described it then, “uber-straight.”
He terminated her contract.
But No, She Isn’t Featured in the Statue
The concept for the statue originated during a photoshoot for an advertising campaign in 1994, two years after Steele’s departure.
During the shoot with photographer Greg Rider, dancers Sampras-Stabile and Shellee Renee proposed that they pose with their backs to the camera.
“No Ifs, Ands, or …,” read the tagline displayed on billboards and taxi tops.
It could have been conceivable for the statue to derive from an earlier photograph that included Steele, right?
Bonus Myth-Busting
That’s a no, because the statue—crafted by New Mexico artist Michael Conine to celebrate the show’s tenth anniversary—was not modeled after the photograph. In fact, it wasn’t sculpted in the traditional sense. It was created from body molds.
“They applied baby oil on us, followed by cotton, and then the material for the mold,” Sampras-Stabile recounted. “We had to stand completely still until it hardened. One of the girls fainted and damaged the mold, so we had to redo the entire process.”
The Conclusion
If you’re curious about Jahna Steele’s fate and prefer to maintain a cheerful demeanor, now would be a good time to stop reading.
After her dismissal and struggle to find work as a showgirl, Steele chose to return to education, pursuing computer studies and earning a certification in nonprofit management. She briefly worked with United Blood Services, yet felt drawn back to the spotlight.
In 2004, Steele returned to the Riviera to host the World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest, which featured 35 competitors. Her involvement led to a prominent role in the Showtime documentary “Trantasia.”
In 2008, she took over hosting duties for Aleman’s “An Evening at La Cage” drag show at the Riviera, following the exit of Frank Marino, who launched “Divas Las Vegas” at the Imperial Palace.
Unfortunately, Steele passed away at the age of 49 that same year. The Clark County Coroner’s office indicated it was due to an unintentional overdose involving drugs like cocaine and morphine.
“I don’t believe she was finished with life,” Marino reflected in an interview with The Advocate at the time. “Rather, she seemed to have reached her limit with the struggles of life.”
Consider yourself warned about potential feelings of sadness.
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