CHATSWORTH, Calif. - The finals of the 2009 Spearmint Rhino Entertainer of the Year competition will start at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen's Club in Torrance, Calif.
Nine dancers from various Spearmint Rhinos and their sister clubs will compete for more than $40,000 in cash and prizes at the fifth annual event.
Each of the final contestants emerged from the five preliminary rounds that began on Sept. 18. The lineup includes Taryn (Torrance), Chase (Van Nuys), Christina (Rialto), Lily (Rialto), Benni (City of Industry), Shay Lynn (Rouge-Van Nuys), Lisa Rei (Torrance), Christina Aguchi (Rouge-Van Nuys) and Madison (City of Industry).
Taryn, Lily, Shay and Christina from Rouge all won their rounds outright. The first and second place finishers from each round advance to the finals. However, the Week 4 winner and second-place finisher both withdrew from the finals for personal reasons. Christina from Rialto, the third-place contestant in that round, stepped in to complete the field of nine vying for the crown on Thursday.
The 2009 Entertainer of the Year will receive $5,000 cash and a feature dancing contract to perform at all Spearmint Rhinos in the U.S. and Canada. She'll also get a diamond and gold, custom Rhino necklace provided by Capri Jewelers of LA. The winner will also be given a $5,000 gift certificate from Dr. John Anastasatos, a professional photo shoot with a portfolio and a $1,500 gift certificate to the Spearmint Rhino Superstore in City of Industry.
Taryn from the host club in Torrance will be attempting to win her second national title. The sexy brunette won the 2007 Entertainer of the Year crown in 2006. The winners must take one year off before they can compete for the title again.
Shay Lynn, from Rouge in Van Nuys, captured the Exotic Dancer Newcomer Feature of the Year award in August at the 11th annual Exotic Dancer and Nightclub Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. She is also one of two adult starlets in the field with a burgeoning girl/girl performing career. She joins fellow Rouge dancer Christina Aguchi who has also performed in dozens of adult films.
Star, from Lexington, Ky., won the 2008 Entertainer of the Year title and is expected to be in Torrance Thursday to hand over her crown.
The judges will be evaluating several aspects of the dancers' performances including originality, costume, sex appeal and crowd interaction, among other criteria.
Spearmint Rhino Films director Goldie DeWitt and veteran director Jax will be shooting the festivities for spearmintrhino.com.
