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Tanqueray
1970s New York City: Go-go dancers, The Peppermint Lounge, gangsters, Billy’s Topless, and Stephanie Johnson…
In 2019, Humans of New York featured a photo of a woman in an outrageous fur coat and hat she made herself. She instantly captured the attention of millions. Her name is Stephanie Johnson, but she’s better known to HONY followers as “Tanqueray,” the indefatigable woman who was once one of the best-known burlesque dancers in New York City.
Brandon Stanton chronicled her life in the longest series he had yet posted on HONY, but, now, Stephanie Johnson—a woman as fabulous, unbowed, and irresistible as the city she lives in—tells all in Tanqueray, a book filled with never-before-told stories, personal photos from her own collection, and glimpses of New York City back in the day when the name “Tanqueray” was on everyone’s lips.
In 2019, Humans of New York featured a photo of a woman in an outrageous fur coat and hat she made herself. She instantly captured the attention of millions. Her name is Stephanie Johnson, but she’s better known to HONY followers as “Tanqueray,” the indefatigable woman who was once one of the best-known burlesque dancers in New York City.
Brandon Stanton chronicled her life in the longest series he had yet posted on HONY, but, now, Stephanie Johnson—a woman as fabulous, unbowed, and irresistible as the city she lives in—tells all in Tanqueray, a book filled with never-before-told stories, personal photos from her own collection, and glimpses of New York City back in the day when the name “Tanqueray” was on everyone’s lips.
4 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 12, 2022
231 people are currently reading
7851 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Stanton
11 books785 followersBrandon Stanton graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in History. He traded bonds in Chicago for three years, before losing his job and moving to New York. In November of 2010, he started the photography blog Humans of New York. Today HONY is followed by nearly one million people, and is the fastest growing Arts and Humanities page on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 983 reviews
July 4, 2022
Tanqueray was a bit of a rambling read, like the author had so much to say and wanted to get it all out no matter what direction it came from. I wanted more depth and detail but still loved this story for it’s raw honesty and warmth and read it quite quickly and easily in one sitting. “Occasionally there would be some connective tissue between the stories, but most of the time there wasn’t. It was like a jukebox of stories set on random. But all of the stories did share one common trait: they were all captivating” says co-author Brandon Stanton in the books forward, who did a very good job of creating a cohesive, chronological flow.
I was so fascinated to hear about a younger, grittier NYC and the journey of a completely self-made icon, that I had never known about before, who overcame barriers of abuse, race and poverty.
As “a black girl making white girl money”, Tanqueray describes her early days in the city like this,
“At night I’d lie in bed and listen to the sounds of the street. I never wanted to fall asleep, because I didn’t want to dream about my mother screaming at me. So I’d listen to all the noise outside and I’d start to feel like I was missing out on something. That’s how New York sounds late at night, when you’re lying in bed and you’re scared of going back to where you came from. It sounds like you’re going to lose your place in line. And if you don’t get out of bed -the thing that was supposed to happen to you is going to happen to someone else. I’d make myself nervous thinking like that. I’d put on my shoes and hop an uptown bus to Times Square. I’d walk down Broadway past all the theatres and dream about dancing there one day. Then I’d walk a little bit further, past the adult theatres -where I’d actually end up dancing.”
Parts of this story made me laugh out loud and other parts made me well up and at the end I was cheering for Tanqueray. Definitely a fun summer read if you can handle the raunch.
I was so fascinated to hear about a younger, grittier NYC and the journey of a completely self-made icon, that I had never known about before, who overcame barriers of abuse, race and poverty.
As “a black girl making white girl money”, Tanqueray describes her early days in the city like this,
“At night I’d lie in bed and listen to the sounds of the street. I never wanted to fall asleep, because I didn’t want to dream about my mother screaming at me. So I’d listen to all the noise outside and I’d start to feel like I was missing out on something. That’s how New York sounds late at night, when you’re lying in bed and you’re scared of going back to where you came from. It sounds like you’re going to lose your place in line. And if you don’t get out of bed -the thing that was supposed to happen to you is going to happen to someone else. I’d make myself nervous thinking like that. I’d put on my shoes and hop an uptown bus to Times Square. I’d walk down Broadway past all the theatres and dream about dancing there one day. Then I’d walk a little bit further, past the adult theatres -where I’d actually end up dancing.”
Parts of this story made me laugh out loud and other parts made me well up and at the end I was cheering for Tanqueray. Definitely a fun summer read if you can handle the raunch.
December 14, 2022
I am trying to put into words how I feel about this book. So here it goes. I love the fact that the author ran into Stephanie just standing on the street and she was just so forthcoming about her life. So much so that they became friends and he wrote a book on her life. Her life was definitely interesting but this book just seems like such a rambling of her life, like she told the story without stopping to take a breath. I would have loved for it to go deeper, but where the book lacks depth it makes up for in color! So many crazy stories and events.
I really did enjoy this book and am so glad that the profits are going to Ms. Johnson’s healthcare and living expenses. If you are up for a quick read that will make you laugh out loud and drop your jaw, this one is definitely worth it.
I really did enjoy this book and am so glad that the profits are going to Ms. Johnson’s healthcare and living expenses. If you are up for a quick read that will make you laugh out loud and drop your jaw, this one is definitely worth it.
July 13, 2022
I both loved and was a little let down by Tanqueray.
First, the love. The story is so .... Just, captivating and full of drama and a real look at how a random person's life can be. Stephanie has had a LIFE and it has been a joy to share some of it.
Last, the disappointment. Honestly, I just expected a little more. The diminutive size coupled with a large font and wide margins really emphasized that this memoir is SHORT. I know, there's more here than was told in the original HONY series ... But not much. I was really hoping with the book release, Stephanie would really let the stories and details of her wild ride through life fly. But some things are best kept as memories, I suppose.
Will I still recommend this to friends? Absolutely.
First, the love. The story is so .... Just, captivating and full of drama and a real look at how a random person's life can be. Stephanie has had a LIFE and it has been a joy to share some of it.
Last, the disappointment. Honestly, I just expected a little more. The diminutive size coupled with a large font and wide margins really emphasized that this memoir is SHORT. I know, there's more here than was told in the original HONY series ... But not much. I was really hoping with the book release, Stephanie would really let the stories and details of her wild ride through life fly. But some things are best kept as memories, I suppose.
Will I still recommend this to friends? Absolutely.
November 24, 2023
I'm not an avid follower of Humans of New York, so I missed out when the stories of Ms. Stephanie Johnson, better known as Tanqueray during her burlesque performing days, were posted, causing a sensation with readers. People wanted more, so Brandon helped broker a book deal for her.
And here's that book - Stephanie's story of leaving an unhappy home and becoming a star dancer in New York City, even when the odds were stacked against her.
I picked this up because of the title - I just adopted a cat named Tanqueray and stumbled upon this book. I was too curious to not read it! I'm glad I found my way to it, though, because her story is heartfelt, sensational, and takes you back to 1970s New York City.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book (and meet my new cat 😻) over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
And here's that book - Stephanie's story of leaving an unhappy home and becoming a star dancer in New York City, even when the odds were stacked against her.
I picked this up because of the title - I just adopted a cat named Tanqueray and stumbled upon this book. I was too curious to not read it! I'm glad I found my way to it, though, because her story is heartfelt, sensational, and takes you back to 1970s New York City.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book (and meet my new cat 😻) over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
December 9, 2022
This is Stephanie Johnson's memoir written by Stephanie herself and Brandon Stanton. She’s better known to those who know her as “Tanqueray”, once one of the best-known burlesque dancers in New York City.
I'm not sure where I first came across this title but I was intrigued and thought it'd be nice filler being less than 200 pages. Bonus ... the library got copies! I had never heard of Tanqueray but this woman's memory is phenomenal and she sure led an interesting life. I loved looking at the old pictures some of which I understand are from her personal collection. The book itself is quite attractive, small and covered with purple feathers and even the page headers and numbers are in colour. There isn't really a lot of substance to the story but it was entertaining. Warning: Bad Language and sexual innuendo!
Thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
I'm not sure where I first came across this title but I was intrigued and thought it'd be nice filler being less than 200 pages. Bonus ... the library got copies! I had never heard of Tanqueray but this woman's memory is phenomenal and she sure led an interesting life. I loved looking at the old pictures some of which I understand are from her personal collection. The book itself is quite attractive, small and covered with purple feathers and even the page headers and numbers are in colour. There isn't really a lot of substance to the story but it was entertaining. Warning: Bad Language and sexual innuendo!
Thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
August 13, 2022
When this photo was taken, ten thousand men in New York City knew that name. My signature meant something to them...
I've been captivated by Tanqueray's story ever since I saw it on HONY. Her grit, tenacity and resilience has always inspired and amazed me, so when the book was released I knew I had to buy it. The book tends to ramble a little because Stephanie has so much to say; it's almost as if you're listening to Stephanie talk to you herself. Through her eyes, I was able to picture 1970s New York City and Times Square with all its burlesque theatres, hotels, and mafia hideouts.
"At night I’d lie in bed and listen to the sounds of the street. I never wanted to fall asleep, because I didn’t want to dream about my mother screaming at me. So I’d listen to all the noise outside and I’d start to feel like I was missing out on something. That’s how New York sounds late at night, when you’re lying in bed and you’re scared of going back to where you came from. It sounds like you’re going to lose your place in line. And if you don’t get out of bed—the thing that was supposed to happen to you is gonna happen to someone else."
Her dark moments resonated with me too. Deep down, we're all lonely sometimes – and Stephanie captured it in a way that was particularly poignant.
And I told him that when I’m all alone, sometimes I feel like I don’t even exist. When I was finished talking, I looked over, and I kinda expected him to not be there anymore. But he was still right there.
But for what it's worth, here is a woman who is courageous and unashamed to be herself, who defies societal standards, and who has led a life more colorful than I probably ever will. Please give her story a read and donate to support her medical fees if you have a chance!
Underneath all the laughs and the gags, it was always about one thing: survival. Tanqueray was a lot of fun. But Tanqueray was Stephanie. And Stephanie was a teenage runaway from Albany: doing what she needed to do, and being who she needed to be, to get what she needed to get.
June 19, 2022
I remember the day I saw Stephanie Johnson on my Instagram feed. Her presence was enough to make me stop in my tracks, take a pause from the mindless scrolling that I had become accustomed to, and read her story. I wasn't the only one.
Stephanie, known to her fans as Tanqueray, went viral in 2019. The world fell in love with her. Almost a year later, in an effort to raise money for her medical care, Brandon shared an additional thirty-two quotes from Johnson, and global followers raised over $2.5M for her through an online fundraiser.
Those quotes by Johnson went on to become part of this book. A story that Stephanie had always wanted to tell.
We hear of Stephanie’s hopes and dreams. Growing up in Albany with her mother and father. She had a fraught relationship with her mother who abused her. Johnson talks of her hopes and dreams, one of which was to become a costume designer. She did go on to make many wonderful costumes, which you'll read about in the book.
Her tenacity as a performer in the 70s is awe-inspiring. There had never been a black performer with a feature show in a burlesque club, but Stephanie did it. “Make room for Tanqueray, because here I come,” she says.
There are so many layers to Stephanie's stories. I enjoyed the writing style, which felt like an intimate conversation, and was quite beautiful. There's a new and unexpected adventure waiting at every turn of the page.
A heartwarming, dazzling, and moving memoir from a woman who has captivated the souls of humans everywhere. Hilarious at times, heartbreaking at others, Johnson's story is rich with humanity and is a stunning portrait of a life lived to the fullest.
Avocado Diaries
Stephanie, known to her fans as Tanqueray, went viral in 2019. The world fell in love with her. Almost a year later, in an effort to raise money for her medical care, Brandon shared an additional thirty-two quotes from Johnson, and global followers raised over $2.5M for her through an online fundraiser.
Those quotes by Johnson went on to become part of this book. A story that Stephanie had always wanted to tell.
We hear of Stephanie’s hopes and dreams. Growing up in Albany with her mother and father. She had a fraught relationship with her mother who abused her. Johnson talks of her hopes and dreams, one of which was to become a costume designer. She did go on to make many wonderful costumes, which you'll read about in the book.
Her tenacity as a performer in the 70s is awe-inspiring. There had never been a black performer with a feature show in a burlesque club, but Stephanie did it. “Make room for Tanqueray, because here I come,” she says.
There are so many layers to Stephanie's stories. I enjoyed the writing style, which felt like an intimate conversation, and was quite beautiful. There's a new and unexpected adventure waiting at every turn of the page.
A heartwarming, dazzling, and moving memoir from a woman who has captivated the souls of humans everywhere. Hilarious at times, heartbreaking at others, Johnson's story is rich with humanity and is a stunning portrait of a life lived to the fullest.
Avocado Diaries
July 14, 2022
Tanqueray's Instagram story was one of the very few that caught my attention and I was actually looking forward to reading the rest of it every week. Experiencing the past through Stephanie's detailed and vivid memories was a true delight. I wish the book was longer though.
July 19, 2022
(Review for the Audible version)
TLDR: The review is not for Brandon or Stephanie, they seem like lovely people, but the book is quite bad in terms of content (80% or more recycled content already free on HONY) and audio editing.
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Don't get me wrong, I love Tanqueray and was a HONY donor when her story was published, but the book was ... rushed? Short? Reptitive? 80% of the content was just recycled from the HONY posts, so nothing new. I even think I recongnized some of the paragraphs word for word.
I loved that Brandon and Stephanie narrated the book (Brandon's voice is so different from what I had imagined), but maybe some voice acting was needed before recording. Stephanie sounds eternally sad or like she would cry or monotonous(?), even in passages which are supposed to be funny or happy, which does not make it a good listen.
Also, what on Earth was that audio editing? It was bad. Really bad. Like taking free stock music and putting it there to fill empty spaces even though it didn't fit at all bad. I never notice the music on Audible books because the sound selection usually fits so well to create the atmosphere, but this stood out from the beginning and did not get better.
The last chapter, podcast style, was probably the best. I would love to listen to a Tanqueray podcast - she would be a perfect fit for that.
TLDR: The review is not for Brandon or Stephanie, they seem like lovely people, but the book is quite bad in terms of content (80% or more recycled content already free on HONY) and audio editing.
---------------------
Don't get me wrong, I love Tanqueray and was a HONY donor when her story was published, but the book was ... rushed? Short? Reptitive? 80% of the content was just recycled from the HONY posts, so nothing new. I even think I recongnized some of the paragraphs word for word.
I loved that Brandon and Stephanie narrated the book (Brandon's voice is so different from what I had imagined), but maybe some voice acting was needed before recording. Stephanie sounds eternally sad or like she would cry or monotonous(?), even in passages which are supposed to be funny or happy, which does not make it a good listen.
Also, what on Earth was that audio editing? It was bad. Really bad. Like taking free stock music and putting it there to fill empty spaces even though it didn't fit at all bad. I never notice the music on Audible books because the sound selection usually fits so well to create the atmosphere, but this stood out from the beginning and did not get better.
The last chapter, podcast style, was probably the best. I would love to listen to a Tanqueray podcast - she would be a perfect fit for that.
September 4, 2022
I read book in one day. It is was very different type of biography. I liked it because it was a tell all from the heart.
July 24, 2022
It feels like Brandon (Humans of New York) and Stephanie (Tanqueray) were meant to run into each other on that cold New York winter because I don't think anyone else could've given Stephanie the platform to share her story like Brandon did. And what a story it is!
A once famous Burlesque dancer, Stephanie's life was filled with all the things you see in old NY gangster movies; the mob, the girls, the drug pushers, the shady cops.
Some readers said that the book felt like Stephanie was going off, jumping from one story to the other, rushing through all of them, in no particular order, and I actually liked that part because this didn't feel like a book but more like I was sitting down with her and she was telling me her life story over a cup of tea.
If you loved her story as it was being shared on HONY, then you will definitely love this book!
A once famous Burlesque dancer, Stephanie's life was filled with all the things you see in old NY gangster movies; the mob, the girls, the drug pushers, the shady cops.
Some readers said that the book felt like Stephanie was going off, jumping from one story to the other, rushing through all of them, in no particular order, and I actually liked that part because this didn't feel like a book but more like I was sitting down with her and she was telling me her life story over a cup of tea.
If you loved her story as it was being shared on HONY, then you will definitely love this book!
July 21, 2022
I was really excited for this book. I read it in one morning. It was very short and vague. I was hoping for more detailed stories from how she grew up to specific times and memories of her life in nyc. I feel like you get the whole story from just reading the Instagram posts about her. Was still an entertaining read but I was hoping for more to last me a little longer than a few hours.
August 17, 2022
Bawdy & delightful. It’s a short book, but this memoir is exactly what I needed after a few disappointing reads. Stephanie aka Tanqueray is an absolute gem & I’m so glad I got to learn about her remarkable life.
November 19, 2022
Reflections and lessons learned:
“I don't remember much else about him. I just remember that he told me he loved me--which I believed 'cause I was stupid. I didn't know what the fuck love was. I was all alone”
I didn’t know much about the larger project when I chose this, but I don’t think that you need to in order to feel this life story. Hard and gritty - not the most flowing writing, but it’s not about the prose - it’s about the character. An amazing story of the city girl who knew what she needed to do at each stage - so interesting…
“I don't remember much else about him. I just remember that he told me he loved me--which I believed 'cause I was stupid. I didn't know what the fuck love was. I was all alone”
I didn’t know much about the larger project when I chose this, but I don’t think that you need to in order to feel this life story. Hard and gritty - not the most flowing writing, but it’s not about the prose - it’s about the character. An amazing story of the city girl who knew what she needed to do at each stage - so interesting…
January 10, 2023
"Make room for Tanqueray, because here I come."
I remember the first Tanqueray post, shared by HONY in 2019—it featured an arresting picture of an elderly black woman in an outrageous, self-sewn fur coat and hat, and an even more outrageous story to go with it. She was an instant favorite, her three posts went viral, and people demanded more quotes, because it was clear that she had so much more to tell.
A year later, Brandon began sharing Stephanie's story in a 32-part series, his longest yet, in an effort to raise money to provide for her medical care—and that's when Tanqueray truly took the internet by storm. One story was crazier than the next, and I remember the group chat lighting up whenever a new installment would drop. For that one week in September of 2020, it felt like the entirety of the internet was waiting with bated breath for the next of her raunchy, gritty, and candid stories of 70's New York, when she used to be one of the best-known burlesque dancers in the city—"the only black girl making white girl money".
This book collects the sligthly expanded 32-part series, with some extra material that was too R-rated for HONY's public page, but if you followed along two years ago, you know most of it already—all that matters, anyway. It's a rambling read (Brandon said that interviewing Stephanie was "like a jukebox of stories set on random"), but it was as captivating as the first time I followed the abridged version on Instagram—the only detractor is that for some reason, only very few of the pictures shared in the course of the series were included in the book, replaced instead by rather unnecessary minimalist drawings. What I liked about the original posts was the juxtaposition of these crazy, dazzling stories about mobsters and strippers and hustlers and pornstars told in unfiltered language by this fashionable, wheelchair-bound black woman approaching 80 years of age, and I wish more of Stephanie had been in the book.
Still, this is a quick, wildly entertaining, but also poignant read, with all proceeds going toward Stephanie's medical expenses and cost of living, to provide her with some security and comfort at the end of her life. And what a life she's had.
July 30, 2022
After reading her story on HONY and then knowing a book was coming, I was excited. It reads like the posts and follows her vivacious life as a burlesque dancer.
October 3, 2022
Bawdy and entertaining!
I follow Brandon on Humans of New York Facebook page and remember his multiple episodes of Stephanie aka (Tanqueray)!
The way that Brandon and Stephanie met in New York is truly fate, kismet, or God’s hand. In a city of 9 million, for them to have met, and draw a friend connection is truly wonderful.
Every person has a story. Everyone. Each of us experience high and lows and bring our own morals and rules. This is what makes Tanqueray unique, as she has a story unlike most people. She is a survivor, a mom, an entertainer and a wonderful story teller. She doesn’t hold back which had me closing my eyes in places. 🫣
This was a short read but I savoured it. What a life she had in the 70s in New York. I wish the story had dug a little deeper but I still enjoyed my time with this book. And I am glad Brandon didn’t sleep with her. #iykyk
I follow Brandon on Humans of New York Facebook page and remember his multiple episodes of Stephanie aka (Tanqueray)!
The way that Brandon and Stephanie met in New York is truly fate, kismet, or God’s hand. In a city of 9 million, for them to have met, and draw a friend connection is truly wonderful.
Every person has a story. Everyone. Each of us experience high and lows and bring our own morals and rules. This is what makes Tanqueray unique, as she has a story unlike most people. She is a survivor, a mom, an entertainer and a wonderful story teller. She doesn’t hold back which had me closing my eyes in places. 🫣
This was a short read but I savoured it. What a life she had in the 70s in New York. I wish the story had dug a little deeper but I still enjoyed my time with this book. And I am glad Brandon didn’t sleep with her. #iykyk
June 30, 2024
A chance meeting between the author and Stephanie Johnson on the streets of NYC and his fascination with her blossomed into the story of her life. Stephanie was a burlesque dancer mostly in the 1970's who went by the name Tanqueray. The author started posting articles about her on his website 'Humans of New York'. Apparently, people were eating the information and photos of her up. They started meeting more often with plans to write a book of her stories.
Then she fell and was unable to walk anymore, with no savings and no health insurance. With the book deal not yet complete they had to post a condensed version of it on the website to help pay for her living and health expenses raising almost $2.7 million dollars - amazing.
Eventually they got around to publishing this book with some pretty amazing stories and pictures. A very entertaining and quick read. A sometimes-heartbreaking story about a tough black woman who never gave up going forward with life. Worth picking up if you can get it for the right price.
Then she fell and was unable to walk anymore, with no savings and no health insurance. With the book deal not yet complete they had to post a condensed version of it on the website to help pay for her living and health expenses raising almost $2.7 million dollars - amazing.
Eventually they got around to publishing this book with some pretty amazing stories and pictures. A very entertaining and quick read. A sometimes-heartbreaking story about a tough black woman who never gave up going forward with life. Worth picking up if you can get it for the right price.
December 12, 2025
I didn't know anything about Stephanie Johnson and her career as a burlesque dancer named Tanqueray prior to reading this--nor the fact that she was featured on Humans of New York. Honestly I mostly picked this up just because it was short.
Little did I know that I was about to listen to a life-story filled with so much adventure, glamor, and drama that you honestly have to read it to believe it. Despite the short run-time, this book is utterly captivating and one of the most insane memoirs I've ever read.
If y'all need something short for your reading goal, or just want something new and a little different, I highly recommend this book.
Little did I know that I was about to listen to a life-story filled with so much adventure, glamor, and drama that you honestly have to read it to believe it. Despite the short run-time, this book is utterly captivating and one of the most insane memoirs I've ever read.
If y'all need something short for your reading goal, or just want something new and a little different, I highly recommend this book.
September 4, 2022
I enjoyed this fun memoir and am in awe of Tanqueray. Stephanie has so many short stories about her life being the first black girl to be a burlesque dancer and more.
She tells the stories like one would tell a friend.
The honesty is real and it’s appreciated that this book was written to help cover medical expenses for Stephanie.
Thank you to SMP for the gifted copy for my honest opinion.
She tells the stories like one would tell a friend.
The honesty is real and it’s appreciated that this book was written to help cover medical expenses for Stephanie.
Thank you to SMP for the gifted copy for my honest opinion.
January 10, 2023
Highly recommend the audiobook. I loved the candid conversation at the end. My only complaint is that I wish the book was longer. I'm sure she has many more fascinating stories to tell.
August 17, 2022
Tanqueray is written by Brandon Stanton (Humans of New York) and Stephanie Johnson (AKA Tanqueray). It was a really quick audiobook listen and I’m happy I listened to it. I was one of the Humans of NY viewers who was captivated by the 33 Tanqueray posts on Instagram released at the beginning of the pandemic.
I found the audiobook to be kind of disjointed. There were a lot of random stories told without any consistency or flow.
3/5
I found the audiobook to be kind of disjointed. There were a lot of random stories told without any consistency or flow.
3/5
February 2, 2024
What a life! Tanqueray, from HONY fame, starts off with her unexpected early life and from the get, you know it’s going to be good. I enjoyed listening to the author tell the story in her own words, because even in her old age, this lady has spunk!
July 26, 2022
I was torn about whether to give this 4 or 5 stars because honestly, it's just a bit more than the stories she provided in the Humans of New York entries of 2020 on social media. But at the same time, its brevity is what makes it fantastic. She is so-to-the point and she doesn't add an extra word or story or paragraph to anything. I am sure she has more tales to tell, but I got the feeling that she was sick while putting this together and eager to earn the windfall she'd been waiting for her entire life.
And that's how it reads. Like a woman who tells you a few stories and you just sit there thinking, oh my god, tell me another one, with some fantastic detail or description of clothing or of Times Square or with gangster names or tricks that strippers used to do. And for insights into how to really hustle; she dances, she sews, but she never turns and actual trick, except that one time for Mr. Bloomingdale, who she runs out on because he wants to beat her! Amazing.
I also appreciated this little book with the giant font as a true time machine of a New York City gone by. Also a world gone by. She writes about how there's no place for people to just go anymore, and I think there's this general ennui all over the country and maybe the world because you can't just go places and dance, or even go places and watch strippers dance. Even strip clubs or clubs in New York are for the upper class or some family scene. There's nowhere to disappear and have fun anymore, for the young or the old. So I loved this book, it was bite-sized fun, and I read it in two sittings. I hope they make a tv series or a movie out of it!
And that's how it reads. Like a woman who tells you a few stories and you just sit there thinking, oh my god, tell me another one, with some fantastic detail or description of clothing or of Times Square or with gangster names or tricks that strippers used to do. And for insights into how to really hustle; she dances, she sews, but she never turns and actual trick, except that one time for Mr. Bloomingdale, who she runs out on because he wants to beat her! Amazing.
I also appreciated this little book with the giant font as a true time machine of a New York City gone by. Also a world gone by. She writes about how there's no place for people to just go anymore, and I think there's this general ennui all over the country and maybe the world because you can't just go places and dance, or even go places and watch strippers dance. Even strip clubs or clubs in New York are for the upper class or some family scene. There's nowhere to disappear and have fun anymore, for the young or the old. So I loved this book, it was bite-sized fun, and I read it in two sittings. I hope they make a tv series or a movie out of it!
December 20, 2022
Stephanie Johnson, also, well known as Tanqueray, has captivated us in this truly enlightening and encouraging memoir with the assistance of Brandon Stanton (Humans of New York).
Heartfelt and awe-inspiring. She is self-made and she never let ANYONE steal her joy in anything. She was the light for others in their time of need, and had a few TRUE friends that reciprocated the same for her.
He love of burlesque, fashion, make-up and drag, has in some ways I feel, influenced the industry. Although she had no good relationship with her mother, she was bold and outspoken and ensured she would be better and never have to depend on her mother for anything. For me, that moment when she chose prison over her going back to live with her mother, SPOKE VOLUMES!
Determined, smart, funny and outspoken. Stephanie and Tanqueray. Whether dancing, custom designing/sewing, or falling in love, she ALWAYS new that she would reach heights in her grasp and beyond!
It was a special treat to hear her tell her story in the audio book. The forward by Mr. Stanton, and their interview after REALLY made for a special connection with this memoir.
Heartfelt and awe-inspiring. She is self-made and she never let ANYONE steal her joy in anything. She was the light for others in their time of need, and had a few TRUE friends that reciprocated the same for her.
He love of burlesque, fashion, make-up and drag, has in some ways I feel, influenced the industry. Although she had no good relationship with her mother, she was bold and outspoken and ensured she would be better and never have to depend on her mother for anything. For me, that moment when she chose prison over her going back to live with her mother, SPOKE VOLUMES!
Determined, smart, funny and outspoken. Stephanie and Tanqueray. Whether dancing, custom designing/sewing, or falling in love, she ALWAYS new that she would reach heights in her grasp and beyond!
It was a special treat to hear her tell her story in the audio book. The forward by Mr. Stanton, and their interview after REALLY made for a special connection with this memoir.
May 23, 2023
Wow, just fascinating and engrossing. This is like the best case scenario of talking to your grandma and getting the good dirt on all the wild stuff she did in the 70s. Highly recommend the audio book version where you get to hear Stephanie herself tell the stories.
July 26, 2022
Interesting, but didn't have a whole lot more than the HONY story. I love Brandon, though, so I try to support him by buying his books when they come out.
August 13, 2022
Fun and wild story of her life. Read it in one sitting!
July 14, 2022
I discovered Stephanie "Tanqueray" Johnson through the Humans of New York (HONY) Instagram page. Although I am always drawn to the various stories provide by the account's creator Brandon Stanton, I was most intrigued by the story of now 70 year old Stephanie Johnson aka Tanqueray who was once one of the best known burlesque dancers in New York.
Stephanie first appeared on the HONY Instagram account on November 18-20, 2019. Stephanie’s stories of her days as the burlesque dancer Tanqueray were so entertaining, Stanton provided her with an opportunity to share her full story on September 21, 2020, via the HONY Instagram feed. Over the course of 33 photos and seven days, the world got to read and see the story of Stephanie Johnson's transformation from a childhood of abuse and privilege to becoming a burlesque dancer.
The memoir begins with a foreword by Brandon Stanton, creator of Humans of New York photo blog, Facebook, and Instagram account who provides the story of how first met Stephanie on a cold November day many years ago. As he was walking home from the gym, he walked past her and said hi which lead to her telling him about past New York, her childhood in Albany, and her experience with the mob. Through many years not only does Stanton and Stephanie become friends, Stanton is able to share her story on social media and raise almost 2.7 million dollars to cover Stephanie’s her living expenses and healthcare costs as well as achieve Stephanie’s dream on telling her full story in a book.
Stephanie tells the story of a childhood in Albany, growing up in an interracial neighborhood and having no friends except dolls. As a child, her parents divorced and when she gets to high school, she gets bullied for being better dressed and better spoken than the other students at the school. Eventually, Stephanie gets tired of being bullied and retaliates against her bully.
After becoming pregnant, her and her mother have a falling out and in a bold move, when given a choice, Stephanie chooses to give up her baby for adoption and go to jail rather than return to Albany and live with her mother. After doing prison time, Stephanie goes to New York to start a brand new life.
She arrives in New York on Valentine’s Day in the 1960s and learns about black music, soul food, and racism/colorism. The longer she’s in New York, the more she learns how to fit as well as finding a job and befriending pimps. Although she wants to become a go go dancer, she realizes she won’t get hired because she had stretch marks, tattoos, and isn’t white.
By befriending mobsters, she starts doing side jobs selling stolen mink coats. Eventually gains fame as only black girl go go dancer in New York city but is angry she’s not sent downtown where the big money is because she’s Black.
Although Stephanie is a talented seamstress, she quickly realizes that people will trick her into performing sexual favors to get her outfits shown she she returns to dancing instead.
Stephanie talks about the important men she's met throughout her life including Oscar, a auto mechanic who treated Stephanie with respect and was the closest things Stephanie had to a father figure and Carmine, the love of her life.
The memior is informative in defining what burlesque dancing is as well as different type of burlesque dancers.It was also interesting to read stories about Stephanie's friends including a dancer who was a nurse by day and dancer by night and the publisher of “High Society” adult magazine.
Tanquery eventually finds success as a writer of x-rated stories in “High Society” magazine as well as through dancing. Although she enjoyed the fame from the magazine and dancing, she feels a loss of her real self and becomes depressed. Stephanie made sure to separate her real self from her stage persona Tanquery.
As the years pass, Stephanie reinvents herself many times over and has jobs as a brothel manager, cross dresser makeup artist, and creator of adult baby clothes.
While reading this book, you can’t but admire Stephanie’s hustle spirit and ability to have two things going at once in case a plan falls through. I personally viewed hustle spirit as an result of Stephanie's lack of trust in her parents as a child. Although this book is not for the faint of heart due to some of the graphic sexual acts described, this memoir provides a quick, enjoyable, and insightful journey to the bygone days of New York burlesque dancers.
Stephanie first appeared on the HONY Instagram account on November 18-20, 2019. Stephanie’s stories of her days as the burlesque dancer Tanqueray were so entertaining, Stanton provided her with an opportunity to share her full story on September 21, 2020, via the HONY Instagram feed. Over the course of 33 photos and seven days, the world got to read and see the story of Stephanie Johnson's transformation from a childhood of abuse and privilege to becoming a burlesque dancer.
The memoir begins with a foreword by Brandon Stanton, creator of Humans of New York photo blog, Facebook, and Instagram account who provides the story of how first met Stephanie on a cold November day many years ago. As he was walking home from the gym, he walked past her and said hi which lead to her telling him about past New York, her childhood in Albany, and her experience with the mob. Through many years not only does Stanton and Stephanie become friends, Stanton is able to share her story on social media and raise almost 2.7 million dollars to cover Stephanie’s her living expenses and healthcare costs as well as achieve Stephanie’s dream on telling her full story in a book.
Stephanie tells the story of a childhood in Albany, growing up in an interracial neighborhood and having no friends except dolls. As a child, her parents divorced and when she gets to high school, she gets bullied for being better dressed and better spoken than the other students at the school. Eventually, Stephanie gets tired of being bullied and retaliates against her bully.
After becoming pregnant, her and her mother have a falling out and in a bold move, when given a choice, Stephanie chooses to give up her baby for adoption and go to jail rather than return to Albany and live with her mother. After doing prison time, Stephanie goes to New York to start a brand new life.
She arrives in New York on Valentine’s Day in the 1960s and learns about black music, soul food, and racism/colorism. The longer she’s in New York, the more she learns how to fit as well as finding a job and befriending pimps. Although she wants to become a go go dancer, she realizes she won’t get hired because she had stretch marks, tattoos, and isn’t white.
By befriending mobsters, she starts doing side jobs selling stolen mink coats. Eventually gains fame as only black girl go go dancer in New York city but is angry she’s not sent downtown where the big money is because she’s Black.
Although Stephanie is a talented seamstress, she quickly realizes that people will trick her into performing sexual favors to get her outfits shown she she returns to dancing instead.
Stephanie talks about the important men she's met throughout her life including Oscar, a auto mechanic who treated Stephanie with respect and was the closest things Stephanie had to a father figure and Carmine, the love of her life.
The memior is informative in defining what burlesque dancing is as well as different type of burlesque dancers.It was also interesting to read stories about Stephanie's friends including a dancer who was a nurse by day and dancer by night and the publisher of “High Society” adult magazine.
Tanquery eventually finds success as a writer of x-rated stories in “High Society” magazine as well as through dancing. Although she enjoyed the fame from the magazine and dancing, she feels a loss of her real self and becomes depressed. Stephanie made sure to separate her real self from her stage persona Tanquery.
As the years pass, Stephanie reinvents herself many times over and has jobs as a brothel manager, cross dresser makeup artist, and creator of adult baby clothes.
While reading this book, you can’t but admire Stephanie’s hustle spirit and ability to have two things going at once in case a plan falls through. I personally viewed hustle spirit as an result of Stephanie's lack of trust in her parents as a child. Although this book is not for the faint of heart due to some of the graphic sexual acts described, this memoir provides a quick, enjoyable, and insightful journey to the bygone days of New York burlesque dancers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
3.6/5 ⭐️ - I follow Humans of New York, so I first heard of Stephanie through there. I decided to read her book after I found out she had passed away.
The book was interesting the whole way through. It was kind of like a reality TV show in book form. It’s amazing how interesting and crazy some people’s lives are. I am glad she got to live the life she lived, and I hope she passed away peacefully with little regret.
The book was interesting the whole way through. It was kind of like a reality TV show in book form. It’s amazing how interesting and crazy some people’s lives are. I am glad she got to live the life she lived, and I hope she passed away peacefully with little regret.
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