Legend: Haji

Haji: Featured Legend for Red Hots Burlesque

This weekend we lost another beloved legend. Today at Red Hots Burlesque we tribute…HAJI
January 24, 1946 – August 9, 2013

Cult film goddess and burlesque legend Haji passed away this weekend at the age of 67. Her early years are shrouded in mystery — just like the performer, herself — but was born in Canada and began dancing at the age of 14. She was dancing in a nightclub in L.A. when director Russ Meyer was sent to see her. She had never considered acting, but read for a small part in “Motorpsycho” at Meyer’s request. Haji won the lead role. Most famous for her role as ball-busting lesbian Latina sidekick Rosie in “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” in 1965, Haji was a unique beauty who often identified as being literally from out of this galaxy. She and Meyer would go on to make five sexploitation films together, with Haji creating her own costumes, writing some of her own dialogue, and doing her own makeup, catapulting her to cult icon status. One of her most notorious lines is when the character Linda offers her a soft drink in “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” and Haji replies, “Honey, we don’t like nothin’ soft! Everything we touch is hard!” She had a huge heart, devoting most of her life to helping children and animals. In Steve Sullivan’s book “Glamour Girls,” Haji identified herself as “a creature of the universe who seeks to brighten lives in her short time on this planet.” Her individual spirit will be missed.