Amanda Lepore

Amanda Lepore
Lepore at the Life Ball in Vienna, Austria, May 2014.
Born (1967-11-21) November 21, 1967[1]
Cedar Grove, New Jersey, United States
Residence New York, New York
Occupation
  • Model
  • socialite
  • singer
  • performance artist
Years active 1989–present
Modeling information
Height 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Hair color Platinum blonde
Eye color Brown
Website amandalepore.net

Amanda Lepore (born November 21, 1967[1]) is an American transgender model, celebutante, singer, and performance artist. The former Club Kid[2] has appeared in advertising for numerous companies. Lepore is also noted as a regular subject in photographer David LaChapelle's work, serving as his muse, as well as many other photographers, such as Terry Richardson and Ruben van Schalm. She participated in LaChapelle's Artists and Prostitutes 1985–2005 exhibit in New York City, where she "lived" in a voyeuristic life-sized set.[3][4] Lepore has also released several singles, many written by and/or recorded with Cazwell. In 2011, she released her debut studio album, I...Amanda Lepore, on Peace Bisquit.

Early life

Amanda, born in 1967,[1] grew up in the Essex County community of Cedar Grove, New Jersey.[5][6] Her father was an Italian-American chemical engineer, and her mother was a German-American housewife. Her mother had schizophrenia and spent much time in mental institutions.[7][8] She has one sibling, an elder brother.

Lepore later wrote: "Ever since I can first remember, I knew I was a girl. I couldn't understand why my parents were dressing me up in boys' clothing. I thought they were insane."[8] In her early teens Lepore began making costumes for a transgender friend in exchange for female hormones.[9] She was already isolated from her peers. At this time, her parents withdrew her from public school and hired a private tutor. They took her to a psychologist, who helped her obtain a prescription to begin hormone therapy.[10]

At the age of 17, and through a legal loophole, Lepore married a male bookstore owner. She was granted permission for sex reassignment surgery,[10][11] which she had at age 19 in Yonkers, New York.[11] Lepore later left her husband; in 1989, she relocated to New York City.

In the early 1990s, Lepore tried to establish herself as a nightlife figure (including being a member in the Club Kids). She supported herself by working in a nail salon, as a dominatrix,[10] and later as a cosmetics salesgirl for Patricia Field. After meeting photographer David LaChapelle one evening while hosting at Bowery Bar, she began collaborating with him. She ultimately gained international fame as his muse.[10]

Modeling and acting

Lepore has appeared in fashion magazines, including French Playboy, Ponytail, DAMn and TUSH. She is on the cover of Lords of Acid's 1999 album Expand Your Head and on Thighpaulsandra's 2006 album The Lepore Extrusion.

Because of her association with the Club Kids, Lepore had a cameo in the documentary Party Monster: The Shockumentary (1998) and the feature film Party Monster (2003). She can be seen briefly in the fashion spoof comedy Zoolander (2001). She was featured in the documentary Dig! (2004) and in Another Gay Sequel (2008). Lepore will be featured in José André Sibaja's upcoming film The Zanctuary.

Lepore has had cameos in music videos for artists including Elton John, Thalía, The Dandy Warhols, Girl in a Coma,[12] Grace Jones, Keanan Duffty, TIGA (for his cover of "Sunglasses at Night"), and the alt rock band The Drums (for "Days").[13] Lepore appears in many of Cazwell's music videos, including "Watch my Mouth"[14] and "All Over Your Face".[15]

She was Chief of Parade at the 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Australia.[9]

Book

On April 18, 2017, after having it announced for more than a year, Lepore launched her autobiographical book, "Doll parts". It was co-written with Thomas Flannery Jr. and published through Regan Arts. Among the text, the book features lots of pictures of Amanda taken by different photographers such as David LaChapelle, Tina Paul, Josef Jasso, Rob Lebow (who has taken the cover image) or Joey Falsetta.

Music

Her first single, "Deeper," is a 2003 trance dance song written by Wigstock drag queen Lady Bunny.[16]

In 2005, Lepore released her first album, Introducing... Amanda Lepore, which contains "Champagne" and "My Hair Looks Fierce". In 2007, she released two remix albums, Fierce Pussy and My Pussy E.P. Lepore also sings the main title for Another Gay Movie, "I Know What Boys Like". She also performs "Cotton Candy", from the soundtrack of Another Gay Sequel.[17]

Lepore was a part of True Colors Tour 2007, a 15-city North American benefit tour sponsored by the Logo channel, hosted by comedian Margaret Cho and headlined by Cyndi Lauper.[18] The tour benefited the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG and the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and it included Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Gossip, Rufus Wainwright, The Dresden Dolls, The MisShapes, Rosie O'Donnell, Indigo Girls, The Cliks and other special guests. In 2009, Lepore performed at the Majestic Theatre during Metro Pride Fest in Detroit with The Divas of the Majestic: A Divine Lites Productions and Founder, Electra Lites.[19] In June 2011 she debuted her album I...Amanda Lepore at the Highline Ballroom with Cazwell, Kat Deluna, Neon Hitch, Ana Matronic, Jonté and many others.

Her debut full-length album I...Amanda Lepore was released in 2011 on Peace Bisquit.[20]

In 2013, her version of the Marilyn Monroe song I wanna be loved by you was released through Peace Bisquit

In 2014, Lepore was featured on drag performer Sharon Needles' single, "I Wish I Were Amanda Lepore", and she guest starred in the music video for the track, depicting Needles as a fan obsessed with getting plastic surgery to look like her.

In 2015, she collaborated with Alek Sandar in his song P.O.R.N., even appearing in the cover of the single and in the music video.

On July 31, 2015, she published the remix album I... Amanda Lepore - Make over sessions. This album includes 2 digital CDs that contain the best remixes of her first studio album I... Amanda Lepore, released four years before.

On December 8, 2017, the song Buckle up was released from her forthcoming EP Lepore., which was released on February 16, 2018. The EP contains 4 new songs: Buckle up, My panties, The Jean Genie (original song by David Bowie) and Too drunk to f*ck

Merchandise

In October 1999, Swatch released "Time Tranny", a watch designed by LaChapelle with Lepore on the face, which displays a printed crack on the glass and marble stripes as the background. A second version displays no cracked glass and a blue and yellow striped background.[21]

In April 2006, Integrity Toys launched an Amanda Lepore doll produced by Jason Wu as a benefit for AIDS charities.[22]

Lepore has a line of cosmetics in partnership with CAMP Cosmetics, called "Collection Lepore", as well as a signature perfume.[23]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures, and certifications
Title Album details Certifications
I...Amanda Lepore
I...Amanda Lepore - Make over sessions
  • Released: July 31, 2015
  • Label: Peace Bisquit
  • Formats: digital Download
  • Includes 2 digital CD's
  • Remix album
  • Has 2 official covers
EPs
Year Album
2005 Introducing... Amanda Lepore
2007 My Pussy
2008 Fierce Pussy (The Remix Album)
2010 Cazwell and Amanda
2018 Lepore.
Singles
Year Title Album
2006 "I Know What Boys Like" Another Gay Movie Soundtrack
2009 "Cotton Candy" I...Amanda Lepore
"My Hair Looks Fierce"
Music videos
Year Title Director
2009 "Cotton Candy"[24] Bec Stupak
2010 "Marilyn"[25] Leo Herrera
2011 "Turn Me Over" Marco Ovando
2010 "Get Into It" Cazwell feat. Amanda Lepore Marco Ovando
2011 "Doin It My Way" Marco Ovando
2012 "Doin It My Way" Remix Sid Licious

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Amanda Lepore, Confessions From Loving Life as a Living Doll". Observer.com. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  2. ↑ Graymay, Kevin (May 14, 2014). "After Prison, No After-Hours: Michael Alig, the Former King of the Club Kids, After Prison". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ LaChapelle, David, (2005). Artists And Prostitutes Taschen America Llc, ISBN 978-3-8228-1617-2
  4. ↑ Williford, Daniel (2009). Queer Aesthetics. Borderlands, Vol. 8. No.2.
  5. ↑ Peden, Lauren David. "Shopping with...Amanda Lepore" Archived 2012-03-22 at the Wayback Machine., Dominican Today, September 28, 2005. Accessed July 6, 2011. "But that's what makes Amanda (nee Armand) Lepore from Cedar Grove, New Jersey so great. The boy who grew up to be a Vargas pinup girl may be all manufactured artifice on the outside – huge blond hair, huge red lips, huge gravity-defying boobs."
  6. ↑ Musto, Michael (March 11, 2008). "Christian From Project Runway Has a Boyfriend!", Village Voice
  7. ↑ Ian Phillips, "How Do I Look? ; Transsexual, Muse, Naked Party Animal, Amanda Lepore Walks on the Wild Side", The Independent, 27 October 2001
  8. 1 2 Lepore, Amanda. "The Amanda Lepore Story". Buzznet.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Olding, Rachel (February 27, 2010) Fantastic plastic. Sydney Morning Herald
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Amanda's Story on amandaleporeonline.com". Archived from the original on 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  11. 1 2 Musto, Michael (March 16, 1999). "NY Mirror". Villagevoice.com. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  12. ↑ Road to Home (music video) on YouTube
  13. ↑ Sunglasses at Night (music video) on YouTube
  14. ↑ Watch my Mouth (music video) on YouTube
  15. ↑ All Over Your Face (music video) on YouTube
  16. ↑ Page Six (July 10, 2003). How Lopez lost Vogue cover. New York Post
  17. ↑ Monroe, Kennidi (December 22, 2008). Interview: Season Finale, with Amanda Lepore. Archived 2013-04-18 at Archive.is TrannyTalk 101
  18. ↑ Chinen, Nate (June 20, 2007). Power to the People (and Some Pop Too). The New York Times
  19. ↑ Staff report (July 16, 2009). Electra Lites to leave Detroit. PrideSource
  20. ↑ Visco, Gerry (June 29, 2011). Bash Compactor: Golden Girl. New York Press
  21. ↑ Clark, Hazel; Brody, David (2009). Design Studies: A Reader, p. 493. Berg, ISBN 978-1-84788-236-3
  22. ↑ Lopez, Vincent (May 9, 2006). Toys, p. 64. The Advocate
  23. ↑ Iannacci, Elio (March 17, 2011). The new transsexual chic. Macleans
  24. ↑ "Cotton Candy" (music video) on YouTube
  25. ↑ "Marilyn" (music video) on YouTube
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