Interview with Lieselotte, GNTM 2022 and Former Frontwoman of MONA LISE
Updated: Oct 9
Lieselotte, you were a well-known singer in East Germany and have an impressive musical career behind you. Looking back, how did you experience this phase of your life, and which memories matter most to you?
Yes, I was the frontwoman and songwriter of the band MONA LISE in the 1980s in what was then the GDR.
At that time, art was supported by the state and there was recognition. However, touring literally had its limits. Udo Lindenberg's offer to perform with him as his opening act in the Federal Republic of Germany, on the other side of the Wall, was denied to us by the state.
The fall of the Wall was a historic change in Germany and had a profound impact on many people's lives. How did reunification influence your personal and professional journey?
Reunification was an exciting time in my life. I, too, wanted to reorient myself: I was a single mother and preferred to return to teaching. It was a new challenge, but it meant a regular income.
In the course of the upheaval, new ideas could be brought in everywhere, and I shaped the profile of my Berlin grammar school so strongly that it adopted my proposed name: JOHN LENNON.
You are a single mother and musician and have surely mastered many challenges. Could you share how you managed to combine your passion for music with your role as a mother while following your own path?
Having a career and being a mother was never an issue for women from East Germany, because it was expected of us, and equality was one of the progressive attitudes of communist society.
One of your remarkable adventures was taking part in "Germany's Next Topmodel". What made you take this step and enter the world of modelling?
Taking part in GNTM 2022 by Heidi Klum was a great adventure. After all, it was a novelty that older models were wanted, and at well past sixty I had the composure to meet vanity and attention in a relaxed way. I tried to master every task playfully while giving my best. It was a balancing act that not everyone understood. I should add that at no point in my life have I defined myself solely by my appearance.
We hear you are developing your own birch cream. Can you tell us more about it, and when can we expect it on the market?
Developing Lieselotte's birch cream (BIRKE by LIESELOTTE) is an exciting project and close to my heart. I did not shy away from investing, because I wanted to have a say in the innovation. I want us women to do something good for our skin without unnecessary chemical ingredients; what we want are the gifts of nature. That is why the skincare line will keep its natural colour: in the end, it will be a cream-coloured cream.
Your first trip to Switzerland must have been exciting. Can you tell us about this special experience and what fascinated you most about the country and its culture?
I would like to thank Lisa Lesunja for her warm hospitality. I had the opportunity to see Zurich's romantic old town, and then we travelled through the mountains to St. Moritz. In the middle of the village, Lake St. Moritz was enchanting, and despite the shoot, a holiday mood set in. How wonderful to see a country that has been spared from war.
You have learned a lot about jewellery and are now an ambassador for Lesunja Fine Jewellery. What fascinated you about jewellery, and from your perspective, why would you recommend buying real jewellery, based on your experience with Lesunja Fine Jewellery?
Before I met Lisa Lesunja, precious metals and gemstones were beyond anything I could imagine. Her request that I promote the precious jewellery she designs seemed absurd to me at first.
My respect for it was too great, but in the end that is exactly what tempted me to do it. Lisa Lesunja is a designer, an artist and a craftswoman. She understands the making process and is therefore 100% authentic when she sells.
Lieselotte, after all the impressive experiences and changes in your life, what are your plans for the future? Are there new projects or goals you would like to pursue?
Yes, especially as you get older, you need ideas and have to stay curious; otherwise you are quickly written off and miss out on everything.
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