Follow Me

Though many know her as the woman who sang the theme song for "The Love Boat", Amanda Lear's life was anything but smooth sailing.

Born Alain Maurice Louis René in 1939, she was transgender before many knew or accepted the term.

Little is known about her early life and upbringing. She would go on to study art at Saint Martin's School of Art. It is unclear when her transition began, but in the 1960s she began her career as a model. It is at this time that her close friendship with Salvador Dalí began. Ian Gibson says in his biography of Dalí that Dalí paid for Lear's transitional surgery. Transgender artists April Ashley, Romy Haag, and Bibiana Fernández have also confirmed Lear's transgender background. Her birth certificate was released, thus confirming all of their claims. Lear herself has neither confirmed nor denied it, but honestly doesn't seem concerned. She even did a song called "I'm a Mistery".

She would go on to be successful not only in modeling, but in painting, singing, and dancing. She is most known for her disco music as well as covers of famous songs (she did an Italian cover of "Rock me Amadeus" as well as covering Lou Reed's "Take a Walk on the Wild Side").

She is also fluent in five languages, English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.

She is also rumored to have dated Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Keith Moon, and even one of the Beatles! She married Alain Philippe-Malagnac, who was bisexual. Dalí did not approve of the relationship. Though they had begun to grow apart, Lear and Dalí would still write to each other.

In 1978, Lear released her biggest hit, "Follow Me". Partially inspired by the German classic "Faust", "Follow Me" is an anthem about moving on and becoming your truest self. "Unbelievable, maybe. You'll have a new identity. For a second of vanity. I want to change your destiny".

Malagnac died in 2000 from smoke inhalation in a fire.

Lear has gone on to continue her career and is still active now. She paints and still makes the occasional TV appearance. You can find her artwork at www.amandalear.com.

If she doesn't want to come out, that's fine. That's nobody's business but her own and I respect that.

I'm not ashamed to admit I've always had a huge crush on this woman, but I also have immense respect for her. Honestly she is goals! She motivates me to better myself every day. Nothing stopped her from achieving her dreams, becoming her truest self, and living her life the way she wanted to.