A reader by the name of "O" tipped me off to this post on the howtheylooknow LiveJournal that's dedicated to my homegirl Swan Brooner (of Living Dolls). Apparently, this is how she looks now, at age 13:
No idea what the source is, or if this is even real, but I'd love to believe that it is. She's cute. People on that LJ thread compared her to Shanna Moakler and Candace Cameron, but you know who she looks like the most to me? Cristy from my favorite episode of Intervention! Really, it's all about those eyebrows and that hair color/texture. I really hope that this doesn't mean that Swan's on meth.
Oddly, an email from someone requesting to remain anonymous who didn't seem aware that this Swan shot leaked yesterday, wrote me just a few hours after that email from O. The subject of anon's email? "update on swan brooner." Two shots of Swan in one day? My soot-covered, page-boy-cap wearing, "Where-hair-hair-hair is love" singing heart could barely take it. Anyway, the email covered most of the post Living Dolls stuff any rightful obsessive already knows: Swan's mom died soon after the documentary was released. Swan went to live with her dad in Alaska, and then he died, as well. Swan's doing well in Alaska -- she's a cheerleader and on the honor roll. I'm not sure how accurate this is because someone posted on that LJ thread that Swan's sister Silva has custody of Swan, and Silva's now-private MySpace lists her as living in Virginia. Hmmm.
Anyway, the real dirt of the email came from a supposed conversation with Swan's brother, the lovable mischief magnet, Bubba, who said that Swan's mother, Robin Browne, was bipolar "which manifested on Swan." No idea what that means, but it sounds unfortunate, as does the added tidbit that none of the money that Swan won went to her (but fair enough, probably: it all, I guess had to funnel back into paying for the pageants, as Robin spent like $70,000 on that shit, per Dolls).
So that's what I know. Take it with the normal grain of salt you would with any "reporting" you see on a blog. It strikes me that I'm pretty obsessively invested in these strangers' lives, but I think that's just testament to the film's effectiveness. I can't think of anyone on earth (not even Mariah Carey!) that I'd want to interview more than Swan. If anyone has connections, hook it up!
Oh, and finally: also per that LJ thread, it seems that someone has reupped Living Dolls to YouTube. It lives even though my account does not. Anyway, this is awesome news -- to watch it, check out KayOhhBabyy's videos. She has a ton, so you'll have to look through them, but all nine parts of Living Dolls are up. Now you can fall in love all over again. Here's Part 1:
Love the banner! Princess Mononoke
Posted by: | May 24, 2007 at 01:10 AM
i hope she is in virginia. i will try to scope her out at the local mall stands. rich, i hope you get to interview her because i'd love to see what you have to ask her? look at those beautiful teeth!
Posted by: mer | May 24, 2007 at 01:20 AM
Wow. Not a good idea to watch that clip before bed... Nightmare-tastic.
Posted by: milk&honey | May 24, 2007 at 01:28 AM
YES! I'm glad somebody pointed you to the link - I saw that this morning and just assumed you had felt a disturbance in the Swan force and would not require my services. I recently watched to documentary on YouTube, per your glowing recommendation and, man, you did not fail me. Live on, Swan!
Posted by: Neva | May 24, 2007 at 02:52 AM
Is there any way you can post or recap that VH1 show about pageant girls? I'm in Europe and can't see it and no one has uploaded it that I could find!
Posted by: Laura | May 24, 2007 at 05:10 AM
Oh wow Rich. Thanks for posting those links. I always wanted to see Living Dolls but it had been pulled by the time I got around to it.
Swan is the best! Now, I am obsessed too. you MUST find her! haha
Its like watching a car crash. Those poor children...gah.
And hey if you can't find Swan, we know where to find Leslie Butler- still competing and still dealing with creepy ole Mister Tim (the singing mc). Go here americasmodelmiss dot com and scroll to bottom select galleries. Maybe you should interview Mister Tim or Leslie:)
ps- loving the Mononoke banner too- one of my favorites.
Posted by: Orchide | May 24, 2007 at 05:20 AM
I do hope she has as normal a life as her circumstances allow. It turns my stomach to see little girls put into that meat market. The make-up, the processed hair...little girls are beautiful without all that. I wish they would stop traumatising these poor children. Notice it's always about the mom's ego. They do this to their daughters because THEY were never attractive enough.
Posted by: MzKamikaze | May 24, 2007 at 06:04 AM
If that's Swan today, she looks older than 13. I hope she's survived her very interesting childhood.
Thanx for posting the YouTube links. Now I can relive Swan all over again! :D
Posted by: Reese | May 24, 2007 at 09:17 AM
I IMed Silva before her Myspace went private. She's a mom with two little boys, the manager of a Carraba's restaurant, and has a steady guy. Still looks as mature and together as she did in the documentary.
I WANT that to be Swan, because the eyebrows and bone structure are the same when she smiles, but I'm betting it's not. She just looks too old. Plus they didn't say where they got the picture.
Leslie Butler's Myspace is on private also. Still pageanting it up! Shane is doing pageant stuff on the West Coast and the other guy is still down South.
God, if Swan every sat down to an interview with Leslie, Mr. Tim and Shane, I think every fourfour disciple would cry tears of joy. There would be national celebrating!!!
Posted by: Leanne | May 24, 2007 at 01:11 PM
I cannot thank you enough Rich for putting up that pick of Swan. You know I have tried very unsuccessfully to find any recent pics of her (although I have found updates on Asia Mansur and Brooke Breedwell). But Swan was always my favorite. Shame about her eyebrows though.
Posted by: Blair | May 24, 2007 at 01:12 PM
Wow, I remember this documentary. I saw it before I had a daughter of my own. Now that my child is of "pageant age" (meaning she's over a year old), I'd really like to watch it again. Thanks for the link. Just watching the clip you posted made me realize that, as horrified as I was the first time around, it's nothing compared to how horrified (and sad) I'll feel this time.
I hope little Swan is doing well, wherever she is.
Posted by: winterwheat | May 24, 2007 at 01:20 PM
I just went to americasmodelmiss.com to see Leslie Butler in all her tarted up glory. Check out the names of the girls...all pornstar names and spellings. They're all so spray tanned they look orange!!! Check it out Rich, it's a fourfour fan's dream come true.
Posted by: Leanne | May 24, 2007 at 01:21 PM
I just went to americasmodelmiss.com to see Leslie Butler in all her tarted up glory. Check out the names of the girls...all pornstar names and spellings. They're all so spray tanned they look orange!!! Check it out Rich, it's a fourfour fan's dream come true.
Posted by: Leanne | May 24, 2007 at 01:22 PM
I just went to americasmodelmiss.com to see Leslie Butler in all her tarted up glory. Check out the names of the girls...all pornstar names and spellings. They're all so spray tanned they look orange!!! Check it out Rich, it's a fourfour fan's dream come true.
Side note: Since Shane and what's his face broke up, anyone know the story behind that and why they got a divorce?
Posted by: Leanne | May 24, 2007 at 01:24 PM
I just went to americasmodelmiss.com to see Leslie Butler in all her tarted up glory. Check out the names of the girls...all pornstar names and spellings. They're all so spray tanned they look orange!!! Check it out Rich, it's a fourfour fan's dream come true.
Side note: Since Shane and what's his face broke up, anyone know the story behind that and why they got a divorce?
Posted by: Leanne | May 24, 2007 at 01:25 PM
I too became obsessed with this documentary after Rich posted links to youtube. It's the perfect show to pic apart and make fun of. Perfect combo of funny and sad. I hopw swan is doing well. It killed how these girls are all dolled up at these pageants while their families are in the audience in old raggy tee shirts and dirty sneakers. And it killed me how Swans mom basically ignore the little boy and used the dorky boyfriend for his car and babysitting services. Remember how he trekked around on the bike. I could ramble about this documentary all day. Love it.
Posted by: leepo | May 24, 2007 at 03:24 PM
I cannot wait to watch Living Dolls! Can't wait!
Posted by: Ivy | May 24, 2007 at 03:55 PM
My favorite part is Swan Brooner's "real" profile on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/swanbrooner
It cracks me up. Like "Hey y'all! This is me! All my pictures are screen captures from Living Dolls! I'm definitely not some creepy 70 year old man making fake pervy profiles for little pageant ladies!"
Posted by: gail | May 24, 2007 at 04:09 PM
OMG, me and Swan have the same birthday! Oct. 1!!!
Posted by: W.C. | May 24, 2007 at 09:17 PM
No, that "now" photo of Swan Brooner is a fake!
That is Tammy Lynn Leppert whom was in beauty pageants and an actress...and she has been missing since 1983 when she was 18 years old:
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/l/leppert_tammy.html
I really don't know who started this...but I guess it's not horrible if it gets her picture out there. Odds aren't she isn't alive anymore, but I know that her younger sister is desperately trying to find any information that is out there about her...
Posted by: Lauren | May 24, 2007 at 11:17 PM
i might be pretty unpopular in saying this, but i really feel for swan's mom. maybe it was due to strategic angles, shots, and film editing, but i just harbored such empathy for her, this have-not in a sea of apparently wealthy, seasoned contenders.
Posted by: julie | May 25, 2007 at 01:57 AM
that makes me sad that Tammy's picture was stolen and is now being pushed as being "Swan" on the Myspace page.
So wrong.
Posted by: Orchide | May 25, 2007 at 02:41 AM
http://community.livejournal.com/howtheylooknow/352928.html#cutid1
Posted by: | May 25, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Hey boy! It's 'O' (I'll have to start using that now) or pikapika217 as I'm know on LJ. I immediately thought of you when I saw this. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Poor Swan! such a cute girl, such a tragic life
Posted by: O | May 25, 2007 at 05:36 PM
Hey boy! It's 'O' (I'll have to start using that now) or pikapika217 as I'm know on LJ. I immediately thought of you when I saw this. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Poor Swan! such a cute girl, such a tragic life
Posted by: O | May 25, 2007 at 05:38 PM