Why is Lea Michele a Role Model?

I chose Lea Michele as my role model because I admire her in several ways, she is constantly in the spotlight, but she keeps her image very clean, and despite her huge success it hasn't gone to her head and she still appreciates the small things in life that most celebrities forget about when they become successful, she still times find to spend time with her family and friends, and also for herself. After her late boyfriends death, she was in the spotlight even more so and the world was watching her every move, I admired the way which she dealt with the terrible time, staying out of the public eye and not making the situation about her self with some successful celebrities do to gain more publicity. I love her morals and beliefs, she stands for some amazing charities and uses her fame for good. She uses her social forum in amazing ways promoting healthy living, and self awareness and many other things that personally inspire me. I admire the way that she doesn't sell her self through 'sex' which again many celebrities use to get themselves noticed, she respects herself. In the future I will strive to be like Lea, taking things that I have learnt from her through her books, music and acting to better myself as a person.

Fashion

Lea also has a passion for fashion, drawing inspiration from the clothing on the runways today, however she also is inspired by older style clothing, she also like to pick items which enhance her body shape, and says its hard to find clothing which suites a petite size.  She is often seen in sporting clothing as she spends a lot of her spare time doing physical exercise. In her book Brunette Ambition, she writes that she never spends a lot of money on clothing, and also invests money into staple items which she can wear over and over again in different ways. 

Scream Queens

Lea would like to continue working on her acting career, her next job is a Fox TV series 'Scream Queens' where Lea is playing a very different role than her past character of 5 years Rachel Berry in Glee, she plays a girl with scoliosis and a neck brace, who's name is Hester. The show revolves around a college campus which is rocked by a series of murders, the TV show is planned to air in late 2015. Lea said that her character is refreshing, and it was such a welcomed change and a world away from anything she had done before.

Lea as "Hester"

Singing Career

Lea has the vocal range of a soprano as of 2013, her voice reportedly spans 2.7 octaves and one semitone. She has been repeatedly praised for her vocal ability, however, she has been critiqued by Christopher Weingarten 'Rolling Stone' who stated thatLea's voice is "a little too perfect" for the pop charts,  however on September 18, 2012, Lea announced she would be working on her first solo album; Louder. she wanted the album to be more 'pop/rock driven' instead of Broadway influenced, like the music she was known for on Glee and broadway shows. Her first single "Cannon Ball" sold over 51,000 copies in its first week of sale. 'Louder' debuted on the Billboard 100 at the number 4 spot, with the album selling over 62,000 copies its first week. With the succsess of Lea's album she has plans for second in the future however she would like to focus on her acting career.

Charites & Community Work

Lea Michele is active in many charities, including, gay rights, animal rights, PETA, Johnson Cancer Centre Foundation, and Feed America Ambition just to name a few. The one particular Charity that Lea feels strongly for is gay rights, as her best-friend and co-star Jonathon Groff is gay. The pair performed at the 'True Colours Cabaret' a fundraiser in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. Lea is also an ambassador for L'Oreal Women of Worth campaign since December 2013. The annual event celebrates women who have positively impacted their communities.



Lea talking at a PETA Charity Event.

Lea a L'Oreal Women's Worth Charity Event

Hobbies & Interests

Lea lives a healthy lifestyle, and preaches good health and exercise. She spends her spare time, hiking through the mountains of LA. In Lea's book she just published 'Brunette Ambition" she included her favourite recipes, and claims she loves baking as it keeps her grounded, as her family table used to revolve around food. Everyday that she can Lea does Yoga, and palates. She often promotes healthy eating on her social media accounts such as Instagram and Facebook. She also posts pictures of her cat Shelia who she says is her 'best friend'


Food Featured in Brunette Ambition.

Lea's Instagram post

Influences

Lea Michele is influenced by several actresses and singers, however she claims one sole person has inspired her throughout her life as she used to watch he musicals as a young child, Barbara Streisand.   Lea Said "I really love her, she's always been such a role model to me. She's someone who has built her career on focusing on what makes her unique and what makes her special." Lea's musical inspiration clearly shines through some of Barbara's influence.   An actress who influenced Michele was Natalie Wood. Michele said that she would watch "West Side Story" as a child and want to play the role of Maria. Currently Lea is inspired musically by Lorde, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, and Lady Gaga.

Natalie Wood

Barbara Streisand

Glee

In early 2009 Lea was Cast in the worldwide phenomenon, Glee. She was cast as the character
'Rachel Berry' Since the show started Lea has received the 2009 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical, Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, and several Teen Choice Award nominations. The TV show went over nearly five years only just wrapping up just last month this year after 121 episodes and over 728 music performances.  Lea said she had met the most amazing people, people who she will have lifelong friendships with. During this time Lea developed a relationship with co-star Cory Montieth, they were together for 4 years when Cory passed away from a drug overdose in late 2013. Glee paid tribute to Cory dedicating a whole episode to the star, Lea played a huge part in this episode.

Lea as "Rachel Berry"

Glee Cast

Early Life & Broadway

Lea Michele, born 'Lea Michele Sarfarti' was born on the 29th of August 1986, in The Bronx in New York. She is an only child and was raised by her two hardworking parents, her father a deli owner, and her mother a nurse. At a young age Lea and her family moved to Tenafly, New Jersey it was at this age that Lea found her passion for music, and performing. At the age of just eight years old Lea got the role of 'Cosstte' in the Broadway production 'Les Miserables' she went to the audition to support a friend but ended up auditioning herself and was offered the role herself. In 1995 moved on to another production called 'Ragtime' in this role she played a young girl, the daughter of a Jewish Immigrant. In 2004 Lea landed yet another role in the revival of 'Fiddler On The Roof' however at the same time she was accepted into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she decided to per sure her career and attend the college and persue her study.

 

“I am an unconventional beauty. I grew up in a high school where if you didn't have a nose job and money and if you weren't thin, you weren't cool, popular, beautiful.”

—Lea Michele
 

Lea aged 3

High school yearbook photo.