I was introduced to Lisa Montonen by her handler at a
company called That’s Entertainment. The handler asked me if I would want to
photograph her. I could not believe my luck as I had never seen such a face in
my life.
As a way of introduction I was asked to escort her to a
beauty contest being held on the stage of the Drake Hotel which at the time
(80s and then early 90s) was the best strip joint in Vancouver.
The women had to parade much like in a beauty contest and do
a dance number with their clothes on.
In the end Montonen did not come close in the winner’s list.
As we left she was in tears. This was the first and last time that she ever
showed any emotion in my presence.
All I could say was, “Those other girls were very pretty but
you lost because you were the only one who was beautiful.” I have no
recollection if she smiled.