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AMERICAN Pickers star Danielle Colby has paid tribute to legendary burlesque dancer Toni Elling.

Danielle, 47, took to Instagram on Monday and gushed over the performer, who went by the stage name Satin Doll.

The reality TV star posted two photos of Toni, an older snap and a more recent one, and wrote a lengthy and heartfelt caption alongside them.

Danielle began: "Toni Elling, although I never had the opportunity to hug you, I’ve learned so much from you.

"Most of the Burlesque teachers I have had are your students and your burly children," she wrote.

"They have treated me with respect and love and driven home the importance of kindness, patience and giving the audience a moment to drink in the costume.

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"You put the emphasis on the tease. You were a giant in burlesque and in love. I’ve only ever heard lovely stories about you."

Danielle then revealed: "While performing in Detroit, I had the chance to come to your home for lunch but declined because I realized I was getting sick.

"I felt awful and I was incredibly worried about potentially passing my yuck on to you. I try to be very careful of spreading illness. I was heartbroken to miss such an incredible opportunity."

She continued: "I can’t believe there will never be another chance to get to meet you and give you a hug… You will always be a legend to me, heck to all of us.

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"Please know that you have inspired so many who never even met you. You are a pioneer to every burlesque dancer and your love of dance and movement will continue to echo on stages across the world for lifetimes to come, thanks to your teaching.

"You are missed, Legend and Queen Toni Elling," Danielle added.

Her 265,000 followers were quick to like and comment on the post, as one person wrote: "This was beautiful a story."

Danielle first became interested in burlesque while she was living with her family in Chicago and attended a performance starring comedian Margaret Cho and dancer Satan's Angel.

This prompted Danielle's desire to become a burlesque dancer.

After she moved back with her family to the Quad Cities area of Iowa, she created the professional burlesque troupe Burlesque Le Moustache, with nine performers, including Danielle herself using the stage name Dannie Diesel.

On Danielle's official website, she describes her alter ego as "the shimmying and shaking Queen of Rust."

It goes on to say that the American Pickers star "specializes in vintage burlesque and strip tease costumes and embraces the history of these pieces and the performers that wore them, honoring each artist that paved the way for modern day dancers around the world."

As well as researching and restoring such costumes, Danielle also dedicates her time to "practicing circus arts and all forms of dance."

Danielle has been starring on American Pickers as a shop manager since 2009, having previously been a good friend of Mike Wolfe for a decade before the concept of the show had even been developed.

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Last year, Danielle took time off when she underwent a hysterectomy after suffering from "incredibly painful" uterine fibroids.

She admitted she had "lost" her "desire to work" in the "emotionally taxing" time after her surgery.

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