TORRANCE, Calif. - Taryn won the fifth round of the 2009 Spearmint Rhino Entertainer of the Year competition on Thursday night in Torrance. She took first place in a field of six dancers from various Spearmint Rhino locations and their sister clubs.
Taryn, who was representing the host club, won the 2007 Entertainer of the Year crown and will be attempting to win her second title in the five years since the competition started. The winners must take one year off before they can compete for the title again. The finals are scheduled for 9 p.m. on Oct. 23 in Torrance with the top two finishers from each of the five preliminary rounds.
Chase from the Spearmint Rhino-Van Nuys captured second place on Thursday night and will also advance to the final round of 10 girls that will battle for more $40,000 in cash and prizes.
The 2009 Entertainer of the Year will receive a feature dancing contract to perform at all Spearmint Rhino's in the U.S. and Canada. She'll also get $5,000 cash and a diamond and gold, custom Rhino necklace (provided by Capri Jewelers of LA). The winning dancer 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.
Star, from Lexington, Ky., won the 2008 Entertainer of the Year title.
Raven, from the Spearmint Rhino in Boise, Idaho, won the fourth round of the competition on Oct. 9 but has withdrawn from the finals. She'll be replaced in the finals by last week's third-place contestant, Kristina from the Rhino in Rialto.
On Thursday night, Taryn wowed the packed club with her Marilyn Monroe-themed performance. After the "National Anthem" played, she appeared on a platform that had a fan hidden inside that made her white dress fly up to reveal her red, sequined panties. Then she presented a cake to one of the judges, Spearmint Rhino president Kathy Vercher, whipped off her blonde Marilyn wig and entertained the crowd with pole tricks and splits.
Chase, wearing a tiny, hot pink skirt, provided stiff competition in second place. Red and pink confetti rained down on the crowd throughout her sizzling set. She closed her show dancing to Rhianna's "Umbrella" with dozens of silver and pink balloons falling from the ceiling.
The field on Thursday night also included Sweetness from Blue Zebra in North Hollywood, Melrose from downtown LA, Brandi from West Palm Beach, Fla., and Alexa from City of Industry, who took third place.
