Rhonda Shear

Rhonda Shear
Beauty pageant titleholder
Born Rhonda Honey Shear
(1954-11-12) November 12, 1954
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Years active 1970–present
Title(s) Miss Louisiana USA 1975
Major
competition(s)		 Miss USA 1975
Spouse Van Fagen (2001-present)

Rhonda Shear (born November 12, 1954) is an American television personality, comedian, actress, and entrepreneur.

Early life

Shear was born Rhonda Honey Shear in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Loyola University, earning a B.A. in Communications.[1] In 1977, after graduating from Loyola University, Shear moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in Hollywood.

Career

Shear earned titles in several beauty contests, including holding the titles of Miss Louisiana USA 1975 for Miss USA and that of Miss Louisiana for both the Miss World and the Miss International pageants.[2] Among her other titles was Queen of the Floral Trail Society. While she sported the latter title, she posed for a picture in Playboy Magazine; though fully clothed, the organizers were opposed to her appearance and rescinded her title.

Shear is best known for her role as a host of the USA Network's 1980s and '90s weekend B-movie show, USA Up All Night. From 1991 to 1998, she hosted in-studio and on-location segments that typically aired on Friday nights, replacing comedian Caroline Schlitt (the Friday night host for the show's first few years). She also occasionally hosted the show with her Saturday counterpart, Gilbert Gottfried, in addition to making cameos on his edition. Her trademark manner of speaking the show's title, by raising her voice an octave when saying the word "Up", became a catch phrase. Shear also briefly hosted a comedy program called Spotlight Cafe on WWOR-TV in Secaucus, NJ, hosted previously by comic Judy Tenuta.

Shear made two subsequent nude appearances in Playboy: First, in their "Funny Girls" pictorial in June 1991, then in her own pictorial titled "Rhonda Is Up All Night" in October 1993.[3]

Shear also co-starred in numerous sitcoms from playing the Fonz's girlfriend on Happy Days to the sexy neighbor on Married... with Children, before making her mark as a comedian. She then made her way into stand-up comedy, headlining as a successful comedian in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York, and eventually touring across the country with Comedy PJ Party, an on-stage slumber party featuring a number of comedians.

Other ventures

In 2001, Rhonda Shear, with her husband Van Fagan, started a new career as the designer and entrepreneur behind Shear Enterprises, LLC and Rhonda Shear Intimates. Shear began designing from her home office in 2003 with just 3 employees soon launching the Rhonda Shear Intimates line at HSN. She was later picked up on shopping networks around the world, including The Shopping Channel (Canada) and Ideal World Shopping (U.K.). Rhonda Shear Intimates has continued to grow and is now represented in over 40 countries with over 25 employees in her St. Petersburg, Florida offices (her home since 2005).

In 2010, Shear designed the Ahh Bra, and the product was an overnight success. The Ahh Bra is now the #1 selling bra worldwide with over 25 million sold internationally. In 2011 the company had 72 million dollars in sales.[3] As of 2013, she has added cosmetics, swim wear, fragrance, and Boomer Hottie.[4]

In 2014 a line of "intimates, athleisure and loungewear" was announced that was co-designed with Crystal Hefner, 2009 Playboy Playmate and wife of Hugh Hefner, to be sold through Hefner's website.[5]

Charity work

In 2011, Shear was the event chair and a sponsor for American Cancer Society's Making Strides: Put on Your Pink Bra Event. Between speaking engagements, creating a giant flying bra for the RedBull Flugtag, and helping with fundraising events, Shear got the chance to meet with women struggling in treatment or following surgery who needed bras that were affordable, feminine, and comfortable. She was struck by their stories, strength, and sense of community. Shear stays connected by donating product every month to women's shelters around the country and continuing her work nationwide with various charitable organizations that fund research and empower women.[3]

Credits

Filmography

Discography

Television

Awards and accolades

References

  1. ↑ "Rhonda Shear Biography". Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  2. ↑ "The Rhonda Shear Site - About Rhonda - Rhonda Trivia". Retrieved 2007-02-08.
  3. 1 2 3 Schawbel, Dan (June 14, 2012). "Rhonda Shear: From Playboy Model to Millionaire Entrepreneur". Forbes.
  4. ↑ (dead link). The Wall Street Journal.
  5. ↑ "Playmate News, Girl Talk". Playboy. 61 (December): 156. December 2014.
  6. ↑ Bozung, Justin (July 25, 2013). "Rhonda Shear, host of USA Network's UP ALL NIGHT and actress in films like SPACEBALLS, GALAXINA, ASSAULT OF THE PARTY NERDS talks with TV Store Online.". TVStoreOnline.com.
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