Lisa D'Amato


Lisa Marie D'Amato Friedman is an American recording artist, fashion model and television personality from Los Angeles, California. She first came into the public eye as a participant on the 5th cycle on the television series America's Next Top Model, placing 6th, and eventually went on to win the .

Early life

D'Amato was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents divorced when she was seven, with her mother raising her as a single parent. D'Amato started modeling at the age of 12.

Reality TV

''America's Next Top Model''

Cycle 5

D'Amato claims to have been dared to send in an audition tape to America's Next Top Model because her friends were obsessed with the show. After a year of persuasion, she decided to participate in the program realizing she had nothing to lose.
On the show, D'Amato soon became known as the "most notorious" of the models, not scared to speak her mind to the other contestants. She explained that this support truly comes from her heart because she wants other models to look their best, especially on national television. D'Amato cites having been abused as a child as the reason for her hard-hitting, survivalist attitude. She shocked the other models by urinating in a diaper while on a shoot which Nicole Linkletter was disgusted about. D'Amato would run around with wigs, masks, and weird outfits; and once had a long conversation with a Pampas Grass bush she named "Cousin It".
The judges eliminated D'Amato seventh in London during her only ever bottom two appearance which Jayla Rubinelli had survived for the second consecutive time. D'Amato has been identified since cycle 5 as one of the most memorable contestants due to her entertaining personality, unconventional beauty, penchant for melodrama, and strong fan base.

Cycle 17 All-Stars

After her first appearance on the show, D'Amato was selected to return to America's Next Top Model for an All-Star Cycle. Her seemingly off the wall antics secured her spot on this season of the show and aided in her journey to the top. Like all the other contestants on cycle 17, D'Amato was given a branding word: "daring". Using this key term, she presented herself on the show accordingly; wearing bold outfits for panel, expressing her extroverted personality and molding the challenges to fit her image. During her time on the show she developed her own perfume called "Neon" and performed in a music video for her song "I Be Like Whoa." On December 7, 2011, D'Amato won over fellow finalist Allison Harvard from a Cycle 12 who was the runner up in both of her cycles making her the oldest winner at the age of 30

Other

Prior to appearing on All Stars, D'Amato appeared in the sixth season teaching the girls about posing. She also appeared in one episode of British Invasion to announce British and American models would make a music video.
She appeared on the third season of Celebrity Rehab.
She appeared on the fifth season of WeTV's Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars.
In 2011, D'Amato starred in an Oxygen Network ordered television pilot titled "My Name Is Lisa" produced by Den of Thieves. The ensemble cast includes Lisa D'Amato, Brendan Vaughn, Adam Friedman, Benji Lanpher, Chris Bordeaux, and Lilly Rose.
D'Amato pitched her product, Dare-U-Go! on Shark Tank Season 10. She made a deal with Barbara Corcoran with for a $150,000 cash plus $200,000 loan in exchange for 35% stake.

Modeling career

D'Amato has been modeling since the age of 18, starring in advertisements for companies such as XOXO, Barneys New York, Mervyn's, Teen Magazine, Sassy, YM, Seventeen, Guess, Flojos, Surfer Magazine, Dragonfly. She has travelled around the world doing runway shows and print for Barneys New York, XOXO, Guess, Jared Gold, Devon Becke's, Levi's, H&M, Diane Von Furstenberg, 2BeFree, Clementyne, Sebastian's International, Coca-Cola's Bon Voyage campaign, Q101, Target, and The Gap's "Mellow Yellow" campaign.
After ANTM, D'Amato signed with L.A Models and L.A Talent which resulted her starring in ad campaigns for Black Chandelier, designed by Jared Gold, Clementyne, DaftBird, Swindle Magazine, Lemonade magazine. She has also modeled for Shoshanna Lonstein, DaftBird, Ford Fusion, Clementyne, Lip Service, Elle Girl Magazine, Lemonade magazine, Lilian Kha, and Permission magazine, where she appeared on the cover of its October 2006 issue. Her runway shows include Jared Gold, 2BeFree, Alice + Olivia's Fall 2006 collection and Jared Gold's Caspian Runway Show. D'Amato has also appeared in two Old Navy commercials and on Ripe TV. In December 2011, D'Amato became the face of ANTM's fragrance Dream Come True. In April 2012, D'Amato appeared in a six-page spread in Vogue Italia. In 2012, she began participating on a YouTube channel, damodel69, which is also in Da'model Salon with 6 episodes.

Other

D'Amato lost the award for "The Reality Remix Awards" for "Favorite Altered State." She was recently voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL Entertainment. and as the tenth biggest villain in reality TV by TV Guide.

Music career

D'Amato has pursued a career in music and has made a transition from modeling to performing, particularly in the rap, electro rap and hip hop genres. On October 8, 2007, the music video for her song "Ace of Spades" was released. Later she worked with Cisco Adler. This partnership resulted in tracks including "My Name Is Lisa" and "Bikini". Adler and D'Amato collaborated on videos for those tracks. Her song "Can't Touch It!" was featured on the HBO show Entourage. She has opened for or worked with LMFAO, Hyper Crush, 3OH!3, Shwayze, Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, Mickey Avalon, Ultraviolet Sound, Electric Valentine, Boomkat and The Beach Boys.

Debut album

Her debut album called La Puchinetta was released in December 2009. The collaborators include DJ Lethal, and DJ Gavin O'Connor. Between recording sessions, D'Amato has performed throughout the Southwestern United States, doing shows with her backup dancers, dubbed "The Super Smokin' Hot Bikini Dancers".

Second album

D'Amato's second album Flippin' the Bird was released in September 2011 and includes collaborations with The Cataracs, L.P., Aqua, Kali, Chris Bordeaux and Colin Hartel.

Live performances

D'Amato has played as a resident and host at the Viper Room in Hollywood, California, the Key Club, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Rio Hotel Las Vegas, Air Conditioned Lounge Venice, CA, Fubar Hollywood, The Roxy Hollywood, Hard Rock Hotel, Malibu Inn, Mood, SXSW, Palms Hotel and Casino, Magic, Coachella, and Hyde.

Personal life

D'Amato married entrepreneur Adam Friedman on September 30, 2012 in the Hollywood Hills. On May 29, 2013, she announced that she was expecting a boy. She also mentioned that she had been pregnant for five months. On September 28, 2013, Damato and Friedman welcomed their first child, a boy, named Daxel. On September 22, 2016, they welcomed their second son, Venice Sire Friedman. The birth was streaming live on Facebook.

TV appearances