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Show & Tell: Meet Shazelle Hayden

Meet Shazelle Hayden

Monte Carlo Party Pit

Hometown: Las Vegas

Age: 25

Her mother created the name (“My mom’s an architect, so she has that artistic side”). … Started taking dance lessons at age 3. … Competed in dance and gymnastics as a kid and was a cheerleader in high school. … First professional dance job: performing in a New Year’s show during her senior year of high school (paycheck: $1,000). … Graduate of Silverado High School. … Two weeks after graduation, landed a spot in the Rio’s “Show in the Sky” (and was in the show for a year-and-a-half). … Holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UNLV. … Started her go-go career at Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay during college. … Also has danced at the Excalibur and Mandalay Bay party pits. … Most common query from patrons: “What’s your real name?” … Potential second career: using her accounting degree as an independent consultant.

On inevitable encounters with former classmates:

“It’s a little awkward. You have, like, the popular kids in my (high) school — and I wasn’t really one of them — they just stop and have this puzzled look on their faces, like, ‘Do I know you?’ I just smile and wave at them: ‘Oh, yeah. Hi!’ (Laughs). Or, in college, you dress down a little and wear sweats and your hair in a ponytail, and they stop and stare and finally say, ‘Do I know you?’ ‘Oh, yeah, I’m in your finance class.’ ‘Oh my God!’ “

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