Amanda Lepore

Amanda Lepore is a transgender model, performance artist, actor, and singer who has been a fixture of the New York LGBTQ+ scene since becoming known as one of the famous “Club Kids” during the 1990s. As the muse for multi-award-winning photographer David LaChapelle, she has been photographed by him many times and even lived in a life-sized set for one of his exhibitions. She released her debut album, I…Amanda Lepore in 2011 and has released a string of EPs and singles, including several collaborations with rapper Cazwell. She has also appeared in music videos for other major artists, including Elton John, Grace Jones, Erasure, and The Dandy Warhols. Her autobiography, Doll Parts, was published in 2017. Born in New Jersey, Lepore first began to get noticed after moving to New York City in 1989 and joining its legendary underground nightlife scene. She soon became known as one of the Club Kids, a loose group of hedonistic clubbers who behaved as outrageously as they dressed, frequenting the likes of Tunnel and Palladium, as well as holding their own parties in unlikely venues such as McDonalds or the subway system. Lepore’s shift into the art world began when she met David LaChapelle in a bar and began posing for him. This led to her appearance in magazines such as French Playboy and even on album covers. She has also participated in several documentaries including I Hate New York, Dig!, and Another Gay Sequel. She also has the unlikely accomplishments of featuring on the face of a watch made by Swatch and being turned into a toy doll, designed by Jason Wu.