Well, well, well. What have we here? Turns out Design Star finalist Lonni Paul sometimes goes by “Lonnie” with an “e” and originally hailed from the Partridge Family as well. Well, not that Partridge Family, but a family named Partridge. Why is that important, you ask? Because check out Lonnie-with-an-e Partridge:
Lonnie Partridge as Serena Fredrick in "Charmed: Something Wicca This Way Comes"
Back when Lonni was still a Partridge and before she added the “e,” she also did some modeling:
Isn’t she a total ringer for Princess Di in that last shot??
I don’t quite get the “sometimes with an ‘e’, sometimes without the ‘e’, sometimes a ‘Paul’, sometimes a ‘Partridge'” thing, but rumor has it, Lonni/Lonnie is a tad secretive about her other lives. Some Design Star contestants have told me she refused to tell them her maiden name, presumably because she didn’t want them to be able to track down photos from her modeling days. It’s a mystery why you’d be all secretive about something like that when two clicks on the Interwebs will pretty much grant anyone that information if they cared to look. (Gawd knows, with all that shushing going on, was I not forced to investigate?) Besides, if I had a rockin’ bod like Lonni did, I’d probably be passing out buttons with my pictures on them. Look at me! I was HOT!
Odd that – what is your maiden name? They went into this wondering if someone was hiding something. I’ve never had anyone ask me that – and it is notable – that’s all I am saying… But turns out there was fire under the smoke! Still nobody can compare to MikeyV. for past lives!
I just wonder, why hide it? Why not flaunt it?
She’s beautiful then and now! Maybe she was worried she wouldn’t be taken “seriously” as a designer if her acting/modeling secret came out! Well done, Robin!
WAS hot? STILL Hot!
I agree with you, Shelly. I think she wants people to focus on her as a designer and admire her for that, and not to make people associate her with modeling. I don’t think she was hiding it as some sort of a secret, but rather just as so people won’t label her as “model-turned-designer”. She just wants to be known now as Lonni Paul, Interior Designer. Good luck, Lonni. HGTV is not the only lifestyle channel out there.
Perhaps I’m off topic, but I just wanted Lonnie to know that I thought she was robbed. Dan may be the man, and Antonio tatooed, firm wrists are quite a relief from the typical TV design show hosts, but neither come close to your on-screen presence, charm and poise. That combined with your exquisite designs made me think that you would be the winner. So your subs didn’t get their job done. I really think that the judges overrate the importance of a timed finish. You are a great designer.