$20 tip leads to massive brawl between Vegas ‘showgirls’ and tourists

Two fake Las Vegas showgirls allegedly turned a $20 photo op into a vicious brawl, with one woman repeatedly beating a tourist with her high-heeled boot nearly two dozen times after demanding more money.Jennifer Ortiz and Magdellena Romero were arrested after the September 30 fight outside Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Strip, which left a North Carolina man and woman injured, according to a newly obtained arrest report cited by Fox 5 Vegas.The tourists reportedly paid $20 to take photos with three women in feathered showgirl costumes, but Ortiz allegedly followed them and demanded between $60 and $180 before the encounter turned violent, the docs state.Video shared with TMZ shows the women fighting the tourists in front of stunned onlookers along Las Vegas Boulevard.Ortiz allegedly struck the man more than 22 times, including with her white high-heeled boot, leaving a nearly 2-inch cut on his forehead, according to the report.Two of the three women dressed as Vegas showgirls were arrested last week after allegedly attacking tourists who tipped them just $20 for a photo (Viral Press via Reuters Connect)Romero allegedly tackled the second tourist, pulled her hair and punched her in the face and head. A male tourist, who lost his shirt during the fight, then charged toward the women in an apparent attempt to protect his partner. The women allegedly attacked him, too.Both tourists were treated at the scene but declined to go to hospital. They later gave written statements to police and requested charges.Ortiz was booked on charges of battery and obtaining money under false pretenses involving less than $1,200. Romero was booked on a battery charge. Both were taken to the Clark County Detention Center.A male tourist lost his shirt during the brawl (Viral Press via Reuters Connect)A third woman in a showgirl costume was present but was not charged. She did not strike either tourist and tried to break up the fight, police said. Both women disputed the tourists' accounts of the fight. Ortiz claimed one tourist struck her first, while Romero said she intervened after seeing her friend being attacked.Ortiz is also accused of overcharging another tourist for photos in a separate incident at the same location. The man told police he agreed to tip her $60 and tapped his debit card against her phone, only to discover he had been charged $218, according to Fox 5 Vegas. One of the women is accused of partaking in a separate, yet similar incident at the same location (Viral Press via Reuters Connect)When the customer challenged the charge, Ortiz allegedly gave him a false phone number to resolve the dispute. He also provided a written statement and requested charges, according to the report.Ortiz was also involved in a similar confrontation at the Fremont Street Experience in March 2026, the docs state. Following that incident, a Las Vegas Municipal Court judge ordered her to stay out of trouble, according to Fox 5 Vegas.Ortiz and Romero are scheduled to return to court for a status check on December 3.The Independent has contacted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for comment.