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PNB interview:

Lisa Gleave talks
to Patrick Nathaniel Bartholomew III

Look what we found!

Lisa Gleave is an Australian model who has had a successful career both in the United States and in Australia. You can see her as one of "Barker's Beauties" on "The Price is Right" on prime-time shows in February 2003.

GLEAVE: I've been here for a couple of years now. Actually, it will be two years in November 2002. I moved out here in 2000, but I was coming back and forth from Australia to the United States beginning in 1998. I finally made the move and decided to jump aboard and stay in the States.

PNB: Australia is a great place to live. Why did you decide to leave there and come to the United States back in 1998?

PNB: Tell me more about the modeling industry in Australia. What was your market there?

GLEAVE: My home of Queensland, which is also known as the Gold Coast, is a beautiful, sunny, tropical place.  There are many movies shot there. Swimwear and sportswear are photographed there also. I did a lot of that, but I wanted to get into the fashion industry, too, so I moved down to Sydney. I tried the market down there, but it didn't work as well for me so that's why I moved to the States.

PNB: When you first moved to the United States, you knew you were taking a big risk. How did you overcome the uncertainty?

GLEAVE: I did have my husband, Cristian LeTelier, and he is well connected in the industry. Cristian is a model and actor himself. He passed on some contacts and clients to me so he was very helpful in setting me up here. I was lucky to have him.

PNB: Where is Cristian's home?

GLEAVE: Cristian is from Chile.

These photos by Mike Fifrick

GLEAVE: We met in Singapore. We're from all over the place. We met in Singapore. I'm from Australia. He's from Chile. We live in the States. I was in Singapore doing a food and wine festival for Australia. Cristian was there modeling.

PNB: Now that you've been in the United States for several years, what has surprised you about the United States?

GLEAVE: How fast I've become reasonably well-known here.

PNB: Are you more well-known in the United States or in Australia?

GLEAVE: I would say Australia for sure. On the Gold Coast, I was Miss Indy.

PNB: What is the significance of that title?

GLEAVE: In conjunction with the Formula One and Grand Prix car race on the Gold Coast, they hold a contest to find  a turbo-charged, super-personality type of girl to represent the Gold Coast and promote tourism and travel for a year.

PNB: How would you compare the United States to Australia?

GLEAVE: The two places are very different. Obviously, in Australia, I have my family and friends. In the States, there are more work opportunities. My husband and his family are here. I live in Venice Beach. There is a lot of culture and a lot of different characters there. On the Gold Coast and in Queensland, it is very mellow. Here in L.A., there is a lot more hustle and bustle, and I like that.

GLEAVE: Venice is a little more outgoing, and it is a little more outrageous. Venice also has the walk paths and the rollerblading paths along the beach. At the end of my days, I can get out and rollerblade at sunset. I can do that on the Gold Coast, but I'd have to use the roads, and it is more dangerous.

PNB: What other countries have you visited?

GLEAVE: I've visited Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan for work. I've been to the coldest part of New Zealand, unfortunately, but it is a beautiful, stunning, exotic place to see.

PNB: I know that you had a European trip this past summer. Tell me about that experience.

GLEAVE: I went to Bulgaria in July. I was representing the USA in the Miss Queen of Clubs which is now called the QC girl. It is a competition organized by PreCon Leisure to find a girl to represent all the clubs worldwide as a party host. Unfortunately, I didn't win, but I came in second out of about 30 girls so I was happy with that.

PNB: Few Americans have been to Bulgaria. Where is Bulgaria, and what were your impressions of it? Were you in Sofia?

GLEAVE: Yes, I was in Sofia. Bulgaria is across the sea from Iraq so it was very close to the Middle East. It was somewhat frightening after Sept. 11 (date of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States). It was a beautiful country. It was very different from Australia an the U.S. We had bodyguards 24/7 (around the clock) wherever we went , so we were well taken care of. We had a great time, though we didn't get to see much of Bulgaria. We were in rehearsals practically every day.

PNB: Was the production of the competition similar to what we would expect in the U.S.

GLEAVE: It was very similar, about what you'd expect. Events, promotions, rehearsals, competition.

PNB: How was the food in Bulgaria?

GLEAVE: I was trying to eat basic American food. I don't like to explore (cuisine), in case something happens, and I get sick.

PNB: At 5' 7", you are an "in-betweener" as a model.

GLEAVE: Are you trying to call me short?

PNB: No, no, no. But you are not 5' 9" or taller, like the girls in fashion. What do you think is your best market?

GLEAVE: The modeling industry is very diverse. It has many different avenues. There's fashion. There's print. There's commercials. There's TV. There's this. There's that. My niche is print, commercials and TV. Being 5' 7", I don't really do a lot of runway. I'd love to. I love runway. When I do, I really get out there and enjoy it., but I make money with what I do best, and that is print, commercials and TV.

PNB: Any acting in your future?

GLEAVE: One day. It's not really in my heart. I really want to get into the hosting side of TV. I did a two-week stint on "The Price Is Right." Hopefully, I'll become one of "Barker's Beauties."

For an earlier PNB feature on Lisa Gleave, click here.

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