Angelyne is an American singer, actress and model who is known for purchasing billboards advertising herself. Her billboards became a trademark of Los Angeles and made her an icon who is considered one of the pioneers of the term ‘famous for being famous.’
A significant part of her ‘mystique’ comes from her refusal to answer questions (and giving contradictory information when she does). Consequently, much of Angelyne’s actual biographical information is unknown or doubtful.
Angelyne drives a pink Chevrolet Corvette C6 with the vanity plate ‘ANGELNN.’ She has a pink Maltese named Buddha. She began to gain local attention in the early 1980s when a series of handbills, and later billboards, popped up around Los Angeles featuring her in various poses. Around this time, she made her first appearance on national television as a guest on the late night talk show ‘Thicke of the Night’ hosted by Alan Thicke, and featuring a young Arsenio Hall. She made a few cameo appearances in movies as well, notably in ‘Earth Girls Are Easy’ in 1988. She was parodied as a robot (named ‘Angelyne’ but pronounced ‘angle-een’) in the ‘Futurama’ episode ‘Bendless Love.’
Although it has been claimed that billboard companies or a wealthy husband pays for her billboards, Angelyne, who is single, credits ‘investors’ for financing the outdoor advertising. Angelyne compares herself to Barbie, stating that ‘Kids think I’m a Barbie doll,’ and in one billboard, ‘Barbie wishes she were me.’ Angelyne was a candidates in the 2003 California recall election, finishing 28th in a field of 135 (garnering 2,533 votes). Her slogan during the campaign was: ‘We’ve had Gray, we’ve had Brown, now it’s time for some blond and pink.’
Her billboards have appeared in several television shows and movies, including the opening titles of the 1980s television series ‘Moonlighting,’ ‘Get Shorty,’ and the 1997 film ‘Volcano.’ She was featured in the song ‘Culver Moon’ on Jackson Browne’s 1996 album ‘Looking East.’ As of 2011 most of her billboards have disappeared from Los Angeles. However, a replica of her first and most famous billboard was placed over a re-creation of the Hollywood Sunset Strip in the north part of Downtown Miami on N.W. 14th Street built for the 2012 Tom Cruise film ‘Rock of Ages.’
The Daily Omnivore 
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