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EXCLUSIVE FEATURE
go-getter right from the start, she began working the carnival Midway circuit at age three and was running her own game by the age of ten. She attended the University of Houston before moving to Chicago to pursue modeling and ended up in Los Angeles where she found her passion for acting. Before moving into adulthood, the formative childhood years, for LeeAnne, were filled with turmoil and uncertainty. Those summers spent working on the carnival circuit weren’t all fun and games. “As a child, I had a lot of labels,” LeeAnne says. “When I was three years old I was abandoned by my mother. My label was not worthy. When I was a preteen, I was molested by my best friend’s father. My label was not valued. When I was a young woman the person to whom I was engaged, tried to kill me. My label was not loved.”
Today LeeAnne is recognized for her current starring role on Bravo TV’s hit-reality TV series Real Housewives of Dallas, renewed for a second season to premiere later in 2017. Her list of accomplishments include, having a commercial she starred in chosen by ABC Network as one of “America’s Funniest Commercials”. She has gueststarred in national TV shows including GCB on ABC and Chase on CBS. She has appeared in many national commercials, infomercials and reality TV shows. Long time followers of LeeAnne’s will recall she was a top three finalist on the second season of She’s Got The Look on TV Land and appeared as a finalist on Ed McMahon’s Star Search. LeeAnne is an established author and has written 13 books on inspiration and affirmations. Additionally, she has created, produced and hosted two of her own television shows. From her early days as a top ten finalist in the Miss USA Pageant, to her role in Miss Congeniality alongside Sandra Bullock, LeeAnne has been making an impression for years on her growing fan base.
EXPLORING HER TALENTS AS A DESIGNER, LEEANNE IS STARTING LOVE LEEANNE COLLECTION, A COLLECTION OF UNIQUE AND RARE ITEMS TO COMPLEMENT A WOMAN’S WARDROBE, WHICH SHE HOPES TO, BRING TO HSN.
Strong and determined, LeeAnne realized it was necessary to find her voice and come to terms with the reality of her past circumstances. She came to understand surviving childhood abuse means getting help with its aftereffects. “People can recover from abuse, but getting help is very important.” She also came to realize treatment takes time to overcome successfully the typical states of recovery which often include denial, acceptance of what happened and the resultant grief, rage and anger, and finally, resolution. Resolution consists of placing responsibility where it belongs, freeing oneself of blame, learning to feel safe, creating a positive perception of oneself, and forgiving oneself.
To heal successfully and thrive, few people can’t do this on their own. LeeAnne would seek counseling as the most effective way for her to overcome the effects of her past abuse. “A lot of bad happened to me,” LeeAnne said. “I attribute a lot of it to how I looked and who I was. Keeping secrets makes us sick. I had a lot of therapy along the way to discover who I was as a human.”
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When she’s not acting, modeling, writing or producing, LeeAnne devotes her efforts to many nonprofits dear to her heart. She is dedicated to giving back and volunteering with the organizations about which she is most passionate. Exploring her talents as a designer, LeeAnne is starting Love LeeAnne Collection, a collection of unique and rare items to complement a woman’s wardrobe, which she hopes to, bring to HSN. With a heart the “size of Texas,” LeeAnne is sure to win you over with her big smile and even bigger personality. The tenets of her life, faith, courage, prayer and persistence, will ensure this remarkable woman continues to make her mark in positive ways for a long time. l