Latest news with #AmanzaSmith
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'I wanted to end my life at 27': Selling Sunset's Amanza Smith, 48, opens up about childhood abuse and addiction battle that led to suicidal thoughts - and how she turned her life around
On the latest episode of the Mail's Life of Bryony podcast, Selling Sunset 's Amanza Smith talked publicly for the first time about contemplating suicide in her twenties. Amanza, 48, is a luxury estate agent and renowned contemporary fine artist, who found fame after appearing on season 2 of the hit Netflix show. Before her career marketing high-end real estate, Amanza was a model and actress based in Los Angeles. She now raises two children, a daughter named Noah and a son named Braker, as a single mother. The TV personality told Mail columnist Bryony Gordon about the 'mental, physical and sexual abuse' she suffered as a child, which drove her to substance abuse in adulthood. 'At 27 years old, I wanted to end my life', Amanza revealed. 'I have never said that out loud before – I wanted my kids to be at an age where they could hear me say that and understand it. 'I remember having spent three years partying my a** off. I started not going to my auditions, and I was not doing my modelling jobs – and I was completely addicted to cocaine and other, harder things. I was totally self-medicating. 'At 27, I got really sad. I think as a woman you start to think you have expired right before you turn 30. I am from a small town in Indiana and all my friends were already married and maybe onto their second or third baby. 'I had been living in Los Angeles with my nose in a plate of cocaine for the last three years and then all of a sudden, I felt like I had completely, miserably failed my whole life. 'It just felt like my life was over at 27 - if I had a gun, I would have ended my life.' Amanza said her rock bottom came after trying to quit drugs on her own, leading to a terrifying withdrawal episode. 'I remember getting out of my friend's truck in the middle of the highway and walking directly into oncoming traffic', she said. 'I was shouting – I was coming off the drugs, I wanted to stop. I then realised, what have I been doing? 'Cut to now, I am 48 years old, I am an international, contemporary fine artist. I have two of the most amazing kids on the planet. I can literally survive anything.' Amanza believes she carried the repressed trauma from a 'tumultuous' childhood into her early adult years. On her childhood, the TV personality described: 'I was abused sexually by two family members from the time I was about three until I was 11. 'My biological mother was emotionally and physically abusive so, as a kid, I wasn't safe being anywhere. 'Nobody ever knew any of this was happening. I never told anybody. My mum did ask me once whether these inappropriate things were going on, and I lied. I said no. 'In my 11-year-old head, I thought she was going to kill him if she found out – and I am going to be stuck with only her, and I didn't want that to happen.' Despite the challenges she had to overcome, Amanza said she wouldn't change anything about her life as it made her the defiant person she is today. 'I would live every moment of my life again', she said. 'I know now who I am – and what kind of mother I am. My kids will never have to sit on a sofa in tears talking to a therapist crying about their abuse. 'I now get to inspire and show people, that if you keep going, you can have anything you want.' Reflecting on her story, host Bryony told Amanza: 'You're more than survivor - you are a thriver.' To listen to the full interview, search for The Life of Bryony - available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube now.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Selling Sunset star Amanza Smith says she's glad Prince Harry met Meghan Markle and not her - after they both appeared on the same hit US TV show
A star of hit Netflix reality series Selling Sunset, Amanza Smith was once a 'briefcase girl' on US game show Deal or No Deal girl, just like the Duchess of Sussex. But Amanza, 48, who is also an artist and model, says she is glad that Prince Harry met Meghan, not her. 'Meghan was on the show a season before me,' she tells me at the first British exhibition of her art works, at Grove Gallery, London. 'But now, looking at her journey, I'm glad I missed the boat. I don't think the Royal Family would want me married into it. 'I used to drink quite a lot, I have like 30 tattoos, I vape and I cuss like a sailor.' Amanza adds: 'She can have him.' Meghan held briefcase number 24 on Deal Or No Deal USA in 2006 and 2007, while Amanza took charge of number 19 in 2009 and case 20 in 2010. The TV star, who launched her collection of paintings at Grove Gallery Palma in Mallorca this month, recently revealed she hopes to be successful in Europe so she can move to the UK on a semi-permanent basis. And a potential switch to London isn't because she loves the grey weather, but Amanza admits she finds British men, who regularly appear on her Raya dating profile, attractive. She said: 'I am pretty single right now. I am open to meeting somebody. I have been single for a minute. 'When I got out of the hospital I was dating somebody but that was a short-lived thing. I was highly medicated, and I don't know what happened there, I made a decision which wasn't so wise. 'I have been focused on my artwork because it's a new career. My plan is to sell so many paintings in the UK that they want me here every three months and I could just be international. 'I do like British guys. On my Raya profile it's always British guys or someone from Spain or Italy, just somewhere else not Los Angeles. Maybe I will meet someone while I'm in London or they will come to my exhibition.' Last month, Amanza revealed how the Netflix cast really feel about boss Jason Oppenheim romancing a string of younger women. Meghan (pictured, left) held briefcase number 24 on Deal Or No Deal USA in 2006 and 2007, while Amanza (right) took charge of number 19 in 2009 and case 20 in 2010 'Meghan was on the show a season before me,' she tells Richard Eden at the first British exhibition of her art works, at Grove Gallery, London The real estate agent told MailOnline that she and her co-stars, which include fellow Oppenheim employees Chrishell Stause, Mary Fitzgerald, and Nicole Young, bear no judgment towards Jason, 48, whom they have all previously dated. In an exclusive interview, Amanza teased the new season of Selling Sunset, based on the behind-the-scenes drama at LA brokerage The Oppenheim Group, will be even more explosive than the latest instalment – and she doesn't shy away from the action. Since the end of series eight, which featured storylines like the breakdown of Chelsea Lazkani's marriage, Jason has entered a new relationship with model Jessica Vargas, who's also hired at the real estate agency. The multimillionaire split from 27-year-old model Marie-Lou Nurk in 2023 and has since had flings with the likes of TikToker Danika Tanya and pro tennis player Genie Bouchard, 31. But Amanza insists that the stars of Selling Sunset support Jason's active dating life and says the property tycoon has 'earned' his right to romance whoever he chooses. She said: 'Jason is doing amazing and has earned his right to date whoever he wants. He's the hardest working man that I know and a total charmer. 'Look, I dated Jason, that came out in the reunion, everybody's dated Jason. He's a really great guy. 'He has a new girlfriend now called Jessica and we all absolutely adore her. She is beautiful and really intelligent and a great human. The new series of Selling Sunset will see Amanza's return with Emma Hernan, Chelsea Lazkani, Chrishell Stause, Bre Tiesi, Nicole Young and Mary Fitzgerald as well as twins Jason and Brett Oppenheim Amanza, who is a single mother after obtaining full custody of her two children Braker and Noah, 'almost died' in 2023 following her diagnosis with a life-threatening bone infection 'He's particular, he always has beautiful young girlfriends, but they're not dummies, he's got a really good sense of taste for the women that he dates. 'We just cheer him on. Good for him.' The mother-of-two, 48, added that the cast would be hypocritical if they judged Jason for dating younger women when Chrishell is married to Australian singer G Flip, 31, who is 12 years her junior. She said: 'Nobody is telling anybody else in the office or watching the age of who someone else is dating. Chrishell's partner is a lot younger than she is, and everybody is cool with that.'
Irish Daily Star
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Amanza Smith says Selling Sunset fans will see a 'very passionate' side of her in new series
Amanza Smith has hinted at some fiery developments in the upcoming season of Selling Sunset. The 48-year-old Netflix sensation dropped by This Morning on Thursday to chat about her new art exhibition at Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia, which kicks off Thursday night. But naturally, the conversation veered towards the popular Netflix show, Selling Sunset, which showcases the glitz, properties, and drama among The Oppenheim Group's real estate agents. Speaking with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, Amanza shared: "You don't realise how much, you really have drama in your life, you just don't realise it till there's cameras following you 24/7." She continued, "If you talk a little bit negatively about someone they usually don't hear it as there's not a camera in your face and then it comes to life when we film.", reports the Mirror US . "This season is no different, I'll give you a little bit, I actually do have a moment where I'm not as calm. Amanza Smith has teased that things take an explosive turn in the new series of Selling Sunset (Image: ITV) "I'm not going to say what it is or when it is but there is a moment where I haven't seen it edited so I'm exited to sort of see how it plays out. "But I have a very strong opinion about something somebody says and I sort of just lose it, I'm like: 'Ahhh!'". She added a teaser: "You get a very passionate side of me like sticking up for a friend and I'm interested to see how it plays out." Earlier this month, Grove Gallery excitedly announced Amanza's exhibition, stating: "From Netflix to the global art stage. We're thrilled to announce that @amanzasmith star of Netflix's Selling Sunset, has officially joined Grove Gallery. "Known for her fearless style and unshakable presence, Amanza is now making her mark in the fine art world – and she's doing it with Grove Gallery. The Netflix star, 48, appeared on Thursday's This Morning to talk about her new art exhibition at Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia (Image: ITV) "Her debut European exhibition lands at our Fitzrovia space on 24th April 2025 – and it's just the beginning. Stay tuned for exclusive previews, global exhibition announcements, and limited-edition releases that promise to redefine contemporary cool. "Art. Fashion. Culture. Power. #grovegallery #amanzasmith #artexhibition #netflix #sellingsunset #london #artgallery #artoninstagram #artnews #art." Amanza's Selling Sunset co-stars were quick to react to the post as Chrishell Stause penned: "That's so cool!!" with clapping and fire emojis. Breana Tiesi posted a heart and hands emoji while Brett Oppenheim added clapping and fire emojis. This Morning continues on weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV X.
