Danielle Colby

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<h2>A Surprising Start</h2>

<p>Danielle Colby was born on December 3, 1975, in Davenport, Iowa. She is best known as an American reality television personality for her role on the History Channel series <em>American Pickers</em>.</p>

<p>Colby was raised in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah">Jehovah</a>’s Witness household, which she has described as "very loving but very strict." In 2004, at age 29, she married Alexandre De Meyer and had two children. However, her growing involvement in television contributed to the end of their marriage. In a 2012 interview with WQAD-TV, she stated, “Fame and notoriety are not easy for him to deal with at all, so the relationship ended up not working out.”</p>

<h2>Joining American Pickers</h2>

<p>Before the inception of <em>American Pickers</em>, Colby had been close friends with <a href="/biography/mike-wolfe">Mike Wolfe</a> for over a decade. When the History Channel greenlit the show, Wolfe invited her to work at the Antique Archaeology office. The series premiered on January 18, 2010, and quickly gained popularity, becoming the number-one rated non-fiction series among total viewers and adults aged 25–54 by September of that year.</p>

<p>Reflecting on her decision to join the show, Colby remarked in a Yuppie Punk interview, “I didn’t have any trepidation at all. I just figured if Mike’s on board, I’m on board.” She also clarified rumors about her relationship with Wolfe, stating, “People think that <a href="/biography/mike-wolfe">Mike</a> and I are dating, which isn’t true at all.”</p>

<h2>Roller Derby and Burlesque Career</h2>

<p>Outside of her work in television, Colby has pursued a number of creative ventures. She participated in a roller derby league for three years as part of the team The Big Mouth Mickies, until injuries forced her to retire. “After three years of roller derby, I pretty much tore my body up,” she explained. “But I think the shelf life of a roller derby girl is like three to five years.”</p>

<p>After leaving roller derby, Colby formed a burlesque troupe called Burlesque Le Moustache, comprised of eight performers touring eastern Iowa and western Illinois. She performed under the stage name Dannie Diesel and eventually opened a burlesque academy named Dannie Diesel’s Bump 'n' Grind Academy, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.</p>

<p>Colby credits a burlesque show featuring <a href="/biography/margaret-cho">comedian</a> <a href="/biography/margaret-cho">Margaret Cho</a> and dancer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan">Satan</a>’s Angel as the inspiration behind her burlesque involvement. “Growing up in a strict household, I went into that evening thinking burlesque was taboo and wrong," she said. "But I left feeling liberated—being in a space with women of all shapes and abilities who fully embraced themselves was life-changing for me.”</p>

<p>The History Channel has been supportive of Colby’s burlesque activities. “I made it clear upon starting the show exactly what I do,” she stated. “As long as everything stays tasteful, I think they’re okay with it.”</p>

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<p>In a separate interview, Colby emphasized the comedic element of her stage performances: “For me, it’s all about comedy. If you don’t have comedy in there, you’re just taking yourself way too seriously.”</p>

<h2>Entrepreneurship and Creative Ventures</h2>

<p>Colby is also <a href="/biography/danielle-colby">co-owner</a> of a retro clothing boutique named 4 Miles 2 Memphis, located in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. The shop, which opened on January 18, 2013, is named in honor of her two children and features retro and repurposed clothing made by Colby and friends. Her business partner is Remey Rozin, a fellow roller derby enthusiast and former owner of Broken Cherry boutique. “It’s a great collaboration between two very strong women who just want to run a good business and have a positive impact,” Colby remarked.</p>

<p>Continuing her work in the performing arts, Colby serves as the executive producer of a documentary centered on the life of legendary <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempest_Storm">burlesque artist</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempest_Storm">Tempest Storm</a>. She is also an advocate for social justice through her work with Batey Girls, a jewelry initiative aimed at supporting young women and girls in the Dominican Republic who have been affected by sex trafficking and domestic violence. Additionally, she has expressed plans to tour and perform with her band, Gin Rummy.</p>

<h2>Passion for History</h2>

<p>Colby often ties her creative and business endeavors back to her love of history. As she wrote on her official website, “My work on <em>American Pickers</em> reflects my real-life passion for history. The beauty lies in the story. Without a backstory, there is little value to vintage. From our past, we learn where to direct our present and future humanitarian efforts.”</p>

<p>She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging all aspects of the past: “My goal is to bring to light all sides of history, lay them out in front of you, and allow you to become an involved steward of history yourself.”</p>

<h2>Social Media Presence</h2>

<p>Colby maintains an active social media presence that supports her public persona and business endeavors. Her Twitter account (@daniellecolby) boasts over 79,000 followers, while her Instagram handle (@danielleamericanpicker) has attracted more than 162,000 followers. Her Facebook page for her burlesque persona, Dannie Diesel, is followed by over 121,000 users.</p>

<h2>Sources</h2>

<p>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Colby<br />
https://web.archive.org/web/20120213213356/http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/womens-liberation-burlesque-le-moustache/<br />
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130110/wicker-park/american-pickers-star-open-shop-wicker-park/<br />
https://web.archive.org/web/20100626112837/http://www.yuppiepunk.org/2010/04/danielle-colby-cushman-american-pickers.html<br />
https://www.daniellecolby.com/artist-page</p>

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