The Naked City: Behind the Curtains of Las Vegas
Las Vegas has plenty of strippers, gamblers, paparazzi, cowboys, criminals and Elvises, and plenty of imagery representing them all in some form. Alle Madrid of Los Angeles, a showgirl performing in the parade, waits for the Halloween Parade to begin in downtown Las Vegas Oct. 31, 2011.
Local Liberace impersonator Will Collins sits in the Moroccan Room inside the Las Vegas Villa, Jan. 28 2012. The Villa, located in Las Vegas, was formerly owned by Liberace and Collins often performs there.
Since 2007, Photographer, Leila Navidi has been capturing those behind-the-scenes moments rarely glimpsed by the masses in a place known as an adult playground for America; Las Vegas.
Showgirl Svetlana Failla secures her headdress before going onstage for the opening number of Folies Bergere at the Tiffany Theatre inside the Tropicana, March 23, 2009. Folies Bergere's last show was March 28, 2009.
As Leila describes, " As a newspaper photographer, I'm always trying to get on the other side of that curtain, whether it's real or metaphorical. The reality on the other side - backstage, or maybe on the other side of a socio-economic barrier - may not be as glowing, sparkly or neon-lit as the Las Vegas Strip, but it must be shown." Hugh Hefner celebrates his 82nd birthday with a toast with his girlfriends at Trader Vic's inside the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, April 5, 2008.
14-month-old Jaden Brittell of Las Vegas, dressed like Elvis, is held up by his mother during the Las Vegas Halloween Parade, headed north on Fourth Street in downtown Las Vegas, Oct. 31, 2011.
A man soaks up the sun at the Sahara pool on the last weekend the historic hotel was open, May 15, 2011.
Dean Martin impersonator Eric Richardson of Baltimore, Md. pauses by the window during the Celebrity Impersonator Convention at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Feb. 21, 2012.
Dancers from Sapphire Gentlemen's Club demonstrate dancing for a pole company at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo inside the Hard Rock Hotel, Jan. 18, 2012.
Legal prostitute Air Force Amy puts on her shoes at Sheri's Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada, April 29, 2010.
Damian Robert Ochoa of San Francisco rides on the elevator up to his room at the Sahara on the last weekend the hotel was open, May 15, 2011.
Showgirls from Always Entertainment Johanna V, from left, Kari Richards, Jennifer Speelman, and J.P. Howard wait behind the stage during the pre-race show at the Shelby 427 Sprint Cup Race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, March 1, 2009.
A man detained by Las Vegas Metro Police stands next to the squad car outside the Strip Hotel on Utah Avenue late, June 25, 2007 in downtown Las Vegas.
"Kay" a dancer from Deja Vu Showgirls does some pole dancing moves while inside the Stripper Mobile truck with other strippers from Little Darlings as an advertisement for the clubs on the Las Vegas Strip late in the evening, Nov. 9, 2009.
Robert Boudreau of Riverside, California rests inside his camper hauled by his classic Voltswagon Bug at the Las Vegas KOA at Circus Circus, April 2, 2010. Boudreau goes to car shows with his Bug themed in different ways, and was headed to a car show in Boulder City the next day with a cowboy theme.
Amy Winehouse impersonator Monica De Diego of Spain reapplies her lipstick in the bathroom during the Celebrity Impersonator Convention at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Feb. 20, 2012.
Drag Magician Cashetta, who will performing his magic show at the Harmon Theatre, poses on the stage of the theatre, Feb. 12, 2008.
Leila has been a staff photographer at the Las Vegas Sun since 2007. She loves living in Las Vegas because it is quirky, unpredictable, colorful, shiny, bright, sunny, hot, sweaty, and bold.