LeeAnne Locken is an American actress, philanthropist, TV host, model, author and beauty pageant titleholder. She first rose to prominence after winning the Miss Arizona USA 1989 pageant, and regularly appeared in the reality television series Big Rich Texas and The Real Housewives of Dallas.[1][2][3]

LeeAnne Locken
Locken in 2011
EducationThe University of Houston
Occupations
  • Actress
  • philanthropist
  • television personality
  • model
  • author
Spouse
Rich Emberlin
(m. 2019)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Years active1986–present
Major
competition(s)
Websiteleeannelocken.com

Locken began her career as an actress, appearing in films such as Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (1986) and My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1987). She subsequently competed in the Miss Texas USA 1988 pageant, coming second; and went on to win the Miss Arizona USA contest the following year, placing in the top ten at the Miss USA 1989 pageant. She continued to work as an actor, appearing in films and television shows including Sons of Thunder (1999), Miss Congeniality (2000), Walker, Texas Ranger (2001) and Beyond the Farthest Star (2015).

In 2009, Locken made her reality television debut, starring in She's Got the Look, in which she came third in the show's second season. She was introduced as a board member and representative for the charity The Fashionistas, in Esquire Network's series Big Rich Texas in 2012. She left the show after two seasons in 2013. From 2016 until 2020, she was a main cast member in Bravo's The Real Housewives of Dallas since the series premiere, leaving the show after its fourth season. Locken has published two books and shown her continuous involvement in her philanthropic activities for several charities.

Early life and education

edit

Locken was raised by her grandparents from the age of three years old.[4] She was introduced to the carnival world at a young age and began her first job as a carnival worker when she was just a child. She graduated from J. Frank Dobie High School in 1985 and attended The University of Houston.[5]

Career

edit

Film and television

edit

Acting

edit

Locken has had roles in television programs including: Sons of Thunder, Walker, Texas Ranger, Inspector Mom, Chase, GCB and Ex-Housewife.[6] She has also appeared on the covers of Gladys, People, Restyled and OTS Magazine.[7][8][9] Additionally, Locken has appeared in several films: Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (1986), My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1987), The Only Thrill (1997), Broken Vessels (1999), Miss Congeniality (2000), Rain (2006), Chariot (2013), Pros and Cons: A Fantasy Football Movie (2013), Beyond the Farthest Star (2015) and Carter High (2015).[6]

Reality television

edit

In 2009, Locken joined the season two cast of TV Land's She's Got the Look.[2] She made a guest appearance in Most Eligible Dallas for its first season in 2011.[5][6] In 2012, Locken was added to the cast of Big Rich Texas for its second season in a recurring capacity as a representative for the charity The Fashionistas, along with the charity's founder, Heidi Dillon. Both left after the show's third season in 2013.[2]

It was announced on November 15, 2015, that Bravo was expanding The Real Housewives franchise to Dallas, Texas; with Locken joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Dallas, alongside Cary Deuber, Tiffany Hendra, Stephanie Hollman and Brandi Redmond.[10] The first season premiered on April 11, 2016.[11] After four years on the show, Locken announced her departure from the series on February 25, 2020, ahead of the show's fifth season.[12] The show was later put on an indefinite hiatus after five seasons.[13] She has also made numerous appearances on Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen throughout her time as a housewife.[14]

Modeling and pageants

edit

Locken began modeling at the age of 19 and subsequently entered the Miss Texas USA beauty pageant in 1988, placing third.[15] At age 22, Locken won Miss Arizona USA 1989 and went on to compete in the Miss USA 1989 pageant, placing in the top 10.[16] Locken continued her modeling career into the 1990s and early 2000s, and shot campaigns alongside fellow model Hendra.[17]

Philanthropy

edit

Locken has been a pivotal part of The Fashionistas, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, Fashion Group International, AIDS Services of Dallas, Dallas Challenge and Housing Crisis Center charities; hosting galas, raising money and increasing awareness for each of the charity's causes.[5] As of current, she serves as the vice president of The Fashionistas and is a board member of Housing Crisis Center. She has previously been the honorary chair for AIDS Services of Dallas' "No Tie Dinner" gala and co-chair of Dallas Challenge's "Art From the Heart" event. She has also made numerous speeches at women's empowerment exhibitions, sharing her own experiences of domestic violence.[18]

Authoring

edit

On November 5, 2012, Locken published a book titled What's Your Status?: Finding Your Way to a More Positive Life One Day at a Time!, which is described as "a collection of daily posts designed to motivate, inspire and encourage others to be their best and live a more positive life one post at a time".[19] On August 1, 2018, Locken released Color Me Crazy: Adult Coloring Book, with the front cover resembling her confessional interview moment from the second season of The Real Housewives of Dallas where she and her dog wore matching hotdog costumes.[20][21] The book was featured on the show's third season.

Personal life

edit

Locken began working in the carnival scene at three years old and left once she was able to buy rides at the carnival at the age of sixteen. As a self-described "carny kid", she was exposed to environments involving domestic abuse and drugs at a young age.[4] She has been very vocal regarding her struggle with mental health problems including depression and low self-esteem. She has also discussed her suicidal past, revealing she now advocates for people who have dealt with similar situations as herself.[4]

In April 2019, Locken married law enforcement veteran Rich Emberlin, which was featured on The Real Housewives of Dallas for its fourth season.[22][23]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter Beauty Pageant Contestant
1987 My Best Friend Is a Vampire Candy Andrews
1997 The Only Thrill Girl by the Pool
1999 Broken Vessels Grandmother
2000 Miss Congeniality Miss Nebraska
2003 12 Hot Women Agent December Short
2006 Rain Megan Randolph
Catching In Woman in Cemetery Video
2012 Watershed Jenny Short
2013 Chariot News Anchor
Pros and Cons: A Fantasy Football Movie Studio Reporter
Lucky Red Jogger Short
2015 Beyond the Farthest Star Candace Cutter
Carter High Reporter No. 3

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Miss USA 1989 Herself Beauty Pageant Competition
1999 Sons of Thunder Young Woman Episode: "Moment of Truth"
2001 Walker, Texas Ranger Caprice Episode: "Desperate Measures"
2006 Inspector Mom Vanessa Episode: "The Corpse's Costume"
Firehouse Cooks Herself/host TV series
Plano Wired Herself/Anchor TV series
2007–10 The Plano Experience Herself/host TV series
2009 She's Got the Look Herself Contestant: season 2
2011 Chase Abby Episode: "Father Figure"
Most Eligible Dallas Herself Episode: "When Pigs Fly"
Eye on Plano Herself/Anchor TV series
It's Three O'clock Somewhere Herself/host Episode: "Episode #1.1"
2012 GCB Jobeth Marie Episode: "Pilot"
Luxury Dallas Herself/host Host: Seasons 1–2
2012–13 Big Rich Texas Herself Recurring cast: Seasons 2–3
2013 Beautiful You HDTV Herself/host Episode: "Episode #1.1" & "Episode #1.2"
2014 The Starck Club Herself TV series
2016 Entertainment Tonight Herself Episode: "Episode #35.148"
The Domenick Nati Show Herself Episode: "LeeAnne Locken"
2016–19 Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Herself Guest: Seasons 13–16
2016–20 The Real Housewives of Dallas Herself Main cast: Seasons 1–4
2018 Glitterbomb Herself Episode: "Camila Banus/LeeAnne Locken/Patricia DeLeon"
2019 Ex-Housewife Herself Episode: "Episode #1.1"
Don't Be Tardy Herself Episode: "Performance Anxiety"
Celebrity Page Herself Episode: "Episode #5.38"
The Real Housewives of Atlanta Herself Episode: "The Float Goes On" & "Love, Marriage, and Sour Peaches"
2020 Popternative Herself Episode: "LeeAnne Locken"

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Real Housewives of Dallas: LeeAnne Locken Was In 'Miss Congeniality'". 2paragraphs. April 11, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Walsh, Megan (April 11, 2016). "What Else Has LeeAnne Locken Been In? You Might Remember The 'Real Housewives' Star". Romper. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "LeeAnne Locken". Bravo. February 11, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Martin, Russ (September 13, 2020). "LeeAnne Locken's Checkered Past". Slice. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Leigh, Clarissa (November 24, 2022). "How LeeAnne Locken Accumulated Her Estimated Net Worth Of $2.5 Million". TheThings. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "LeeAnne Locken". IMDb. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "LeeAnne Locken". Gladys. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Quinn, Dave (April 27, 2019). "LeeAnne Locken Is Married! 'Real Housewives of Dallas' Star Weds Longtime Love Rich Emberlin". People. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Exclusive: Actress And TV Personality LeeAnne Locken On The Importance Of Feeling Empowered". OTS Magazine. October 6, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  10. ^ Harnick, Chris (February 12, 2016). "Forget the Big Hair, It's Big Drama When The Real Housewives of Dallas Premieres on Bravo—Meet the Cast". E!. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  11. ^ Robinson, Phoebe (April 12, 2016). "The Real Housewives of Dallas Series Premiere Recap: First Impressions". Vulture. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Quinn, Dave (February 25, 2020). "LeeAnne Locken Is Leaving 'Real Housewives of Dallas' After 4 Seasons: 'It's Been an Amazing Journey'". People. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  13. ^ Grebenyuk, Yana (August 17, 2021). "'Real Housewives of Dallas' Will Not Return for Season 6 Amid Indefinite Hiatus". Us Weekly. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  14. ^ "LeeAnne Locken & Candiace Dillard". Bravo. September 16, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  15. ^ Associated Press (August 4, 1987). "Metroplex beauty wins Miss Texas". Houston Chronicle. p. 10.
  16. ^ Jane, Mary (September 7, 2018). "LeeAnne Locken at Miss USA 1989: She made history for Arizona?". FanSided. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  17. ^ "See LeeAnne Locken and Tiffany Hendra's Modeling Photos". Bravo. June 9, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Real Housewives of Dallas star LeeAnne Locken opens up about surviving abuse". SiriusXM. May 2, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "What's Your Status?". Amazon. November 5, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  20. ^ Locken, Leeanne (August 1, 2018). Color Me Crazy: Adult Coloring Book. ISBN 978-1718016286.
  21. ^ "Don't Mess with LeeAnne Locken". Bravo. August 25, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  22. ^ Smith, Courtney (September 4, 2019). "LeeAnne Locken Of Real Housewives Of Dallas Finally Got Married & Of Course It'll Be On TV". Refinery29. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Rich Emberlin". Police1. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
edit