Rhonda Shear | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1954-11-12)November 12, 1954 (age 70) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Loyola University New Orleans |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1970–present |
| Television | USA Up All Night |
| Spouse | Van Fagen (m. 2001) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Louisiana USA 1975, |
| Major competition(s) | Miss USA 1975 |
| Website | rhondashear |
Rhonda Honey Shear (born November 12, 1954) is an American television personality, comedienne, actress, and entrepreneur. She is known for her role as a host in the 1990sUSA Network's weekendB movie show,USA Up All Night. In 2001, she started an intimate apparel business that was marketed onHome Shopping Network (HSN), with one of her most successful products being the Ahh Bra in 2010. She is a regular participant in Tampa Bay's annual Fashion Week events.[1][2]
Shear was born inNew Orleans,Louisiana. She attendedLoyola University, earning aBachelor of Arts degree incommunications.[3] After graduating from Loyola in 1977, she moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in Hollywood.[citation needed]
Shear earned titles in severalbeauty contests, including holding the titles ofMiss Louisiana USA 1975 forMiss USA and that of Miss Louisiana for both theMiss World and theMiss International pageants.[4] She appeared as a contestant inThe Gong Show in 1979. She also appeared as grown up Kimmy Gibbler in the 1987 sitcom,Full House.
Shear is best known for her role as a host of theUSA Network's 1980s and '90s weekendB-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 calledSpotlight Cafe onWWOR-TV inSecaucus, New Jersey, hosted previously by comicJudy Tenuta.
Shear made two subsequent nude appearances inPlayboy: First, in their "Funny Girls" pictorial in June 1991, then in her own pictorial titled "Rhonda Is Up All Night" in October 1993.[5]
Shear also co-starred in numerous sitcoms from playing the Fonz's girlfriend onHappy Days to the sexy neighbor onMarried... 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 withComedy PJ Party, an on-stage slumber party featuring a number of comedians.[6]
In 2001, Shear, with her husband Van Fagan, started Shear Enterprises. She began designing from her home office in 2003 with three employees, and launched the Rhonda Shear Intimates line atHome Shopping Network. Her products were picked up on shopping networks around the world, includingThe 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.
In 2010, Shear designed the Ahh Bra, and the product was an overnight success. The Ahh Bra was the number-one selling bra worldwide with over 25 million sold internationally. In 2011, the company had $72 million in sales.[5] As of 2013, she has added cosmetics, swim wear, fragrances, and Boomer Hottie.[7]
In 2014, a line of "intimates, athleisure, and loungewear" was announced that was co-designed withCrystal Hefner, 2009PlayboyPlaymate and wife ofHugh Hefner, to be sold through Hefner's website.[8]
Shear has written a book titledUp All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell to Lingerie Mogul, Life Lessons from an Accidental Feminist, released in October 2017.[9]
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.[5]
Shear married her childhood sweetheart Van Fagen, who works as her business partner in Shear Enterprises.[10] They live in St. Petersburg, Florida.[11]
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