Leah Dizon

Leah Donna Dizon (born September 24, 1986) is an American former singer, model and media personality.Leah Dizon Official Blog – Profile After moving to Japan in early 2006 to pursue an entertainment career, she made her recording debut on Victor Entertainment later that same year.

Early life and career

1986–2004: Childhood and youth Leah Donna Dizon was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 24, 1986. Her mother is of French descent while her father is of Filipino descent. Her parents worked as casino dealers."Up Close & Personal: Leah Dizon" . Import Tuner. October 2004 (republished February 2009). Retrieved July 25, 2010."SKY CORPORATION – 各タレントページ". Sky Corporation. Dizon is the fourth of six children: she has two older brothers, an older sister, and two younger brothers. In an interview, she explains that she listened to rock and R&B music and trained in dance since the age of 12."サイトマップ". Victor Entertainment. Retrieved August 14, 2011. Dizon has said that her mother was "very strict and monitored [Dizon's] spending habits". When she was 14 years old, she worked at a clothing store and eventually saved enough money to travel to Japan alone for a trip."Up Close & Personal: Leah Dizon" . Import Tuner. August 2005. Retrieved December 12, 2010.

She attended the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts for her freshman and sophomore years but graduated from the public Eldorado High School in 2004, where she became active in theater."First Date: Leah Dizon" . Import Tuner. July 2006. Retrieved December 12, 2010. At the age of 18, Dizon relocated to Los Angeles, California and attended college as a film major for her freshman year.

2005–2007: Destiny Line, early work, and career debut While living in Los Angeles, Dizon worked as a promotional model for local car shows. Eventually, her photographs were posted online. It was reported that there were 2 million Google hits within an entire year, with the majority of the viewers being located in China and Japan. Much of the attention received was attributed to her unique looks."Profile". Sky Corporation. She was asked by many Japanese fans—who had seen her photographs—to work in their country, which eventually prompted her to submit several demo tapes and dance videos to Victor Entertainment. An agent offered and signed her to a recording contract."リア・ディゾンプロフィール@Victor Entertainment". @ Victor Entertainment. Retrieved December 16, 2010.

In March 2006, Dizon moved to Tokyo and began Japanese lessons alongside voice training. She released her first photobook, Petite Amie (which means "girlfriend" in French), in October 2006—Petite Amie was ranked as the third best-selling photobook of 2006 and 2007.Japan Entertainment News Archives for January 2007 Japan Book Of The Year Oricon. Retrieved February 4, 2009. A few pictorials for various magazines followed.ハロリア! Hello! Leah HMV. Retrieved February 4, 2009.

Dizon made her musical debut under Victor Entertainment on February 14, 2007, with the single "Softly".Leah Dizon Official Website Retrieved February 4, 2009. This was followed by "Koi Shiyō", and "L・O・V・E U".L・O・V・E U (Normal Edition) (Japanese Version) – Leah Dizon YesAsia.com. Retrieved February 4, 2009. which also peaked at number 7 on the Oricon Weekly Chart. The title track is described as a "grooving, up-tempo dance song" and the single features 2 B-sides: "Could you be that one?" and .Leah Dizon / Koi Shiyo (Regular Edition) CDJapan. Retrieved February 4, 2009. Koi Shiyō was used in a Lotte TV advert, while "Could you be that one?" was featured in a PlayStation 3 Ninja Gaiden Sigma TV advert, with Dizon starring in both commercials. In September 2007, Dizon released her debut album, Destiny Line, under Victor Entertainment. The CD+DVD Edition contains 14 tracks, 10 of which she penned herself on the single PVs alongside a special album PV "Again and Again". The CD+1 only edition contains the digitally-released remix of "Koi Shiyō", called "Koi Shiyō (Yasutaka Nakata-Capsule Mix)".

2008–2011: Communication!!!, marriage, and pregnancy After the release of Destiny Line, Dizon continued with two singles: "Love Paradox" and "Vanilla" (both 2008). Her second album, Communication!!!, was released in August 2008.Communication!!! 通常盤/ リア・ディゾン] Neowing. Retrieved February 4, 2009. "Under the Same Sky" was used as the theme song for the Japanese drama Tokyo Prom Queen, while "Lost At Sea" was used for season 2. She made a guest appearance on the show as Naomi, the prom queen from the previous year, through photos and video snippets.Japan remakes internet drama "Prom Queen" Tokyograph. April 18, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2009.

In February 2008, Dizon began dating her stylist Bun ( 1979), whom she had met while shooting the music video for "Love Paradox". On October 10, 2008, three months pregnant, Dizon married Bun in a traditional Japanese ceremony."Shotgun wedding for Leah Dizon". Tokyograph News. October 14, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2010.]Leah's Latest Lesson in Japanese Showbiz Japan Zone. October 15, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2009. These initial stages were chronicled and announced during her Communication!!! Album Tour several days after the marriage. The couple's daughter was born in April 2009.

On February 14, 2010, Dizon appeared on live television, claiming that her marriage had been troubled ever since the birth."Leah Dizon to split from husband of two years". Japan Today. November 1, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010. On October 31, 2010, she announced that she and Bun had separated and filed for divorce earlier that month, and she was seeking full custody of their child. According to Dizon, the split was due to "busy schedules and inability to meet regularly differing opinions toward raising children" alongside "irreconcilable differences"."Leah Dizon divorce confirmation". October 31, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2011.リア・ディゾンが離婚、デキ婚から2年 Yomiuri Online. October 31, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010. According to a statement released on February 22, 2011, by Dizon's agency, Dizon received full custody of their daughter Mila and details of their arrangement were private. Their divorce was finalized in December 2010. Dizon subsequently attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City, where she graduated in December 2012."Leah Dizon resumes her activities". Tokyohive. December 16, 2012.Never say never~ Leah Dizon Official Blog（リア・ディゾンオフィシャルブログ） powered by アメブロ. December 19, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013. After graduating, Dizon stated that she would like to return to Japan for work in the future."Leah Dizon a Single Mom in US". Japan Zone. February 22, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011."Leah Dizon divorces husband". Tokyohive. February 22, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011."リア・ディゾン離婚していた長女と米帰国" ("Leah Dizon divorces her husband and returns to United States"). Sanspo. February 22, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.

In June 2011, Dizon filmed commercials in Manhattan for Shonan Cosmetic Surgery Clinic."Leah Dizon to make 'comeback' in TV commercials". Japan Today. August 2011.

2012–present: Return to Japan On December 14, 2012, Dizon announced that she had signed a contract with a talent agency in the US, and would also be accepting any offers for Japanese work if she were to receive any."Hello!" Leah Dizon Official Blog（リア・ディゾンオフィシャルブログ） powered by アメブロ. December 2012 The magazine Josei Jishin reported in June 2013 that Dizon's ex-husband Bun had stopped paying child support for their daughter, which was the main reason Dizon returned to Japan, before moving to Las Vegas with her mother and daughter."Leah Dizon reappears after 3 years". "Japan Today". June 2013"リア・ディゾン活動再開決意させた「元夫からの送金停止」【リア・ディゾン】" . "Joseijishin" June 2013

As of 2018, Dizon was a senior at Nevada State University, majoring in social psychology, was a McNair Scholar, and had plans to attend graduate school. She graduated magna cum laude in 2019.

Discography

Albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (subscription only)JPNTWNTWN East Asian Destiny Line Released: September 12, 2007 Label: Victor Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download 9 10 1 55,091 Communication Released: August 20, 2008 Label: Victor Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download 16 10 2 14,000

Mini-albums + List of mini-albums Title Album details For the World Released: July 24, 2019 Label: Tokyo Rabbit Format: CD, digital download

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications AlbumOricon Singles ChartsBillboard Japan Hot 100TWN East Asian "Fever" 2006 — — — —Non-album single "Softly" 2007 7 — — 49,000Destiny Line "Koi Shiyō" 7 — — 49,000RIAJ (cellphone): Gold "L・O・V・E U" 16 — — 20,000 "Love Paradox" 2008 15 30 — 11,000Communication "Vanilla" 26 — 7 8,000 "For The World" 2019 — — — —FOR THE WORLD "Only You" 2020 — — — —Non-album single

Concert DVDs Live Communication!!! (2008)

Video game soundtracks "Everlasting Love + You" (Katamari Forever) (2009) "Bomb a Head!" (Samurai & Dragons version ft. Leah Dizon) (Samurai & Dragons) (2013)

Filmography Film Traffic in the Sky (トラフィック・イン・ザ・スカイ) (2007) Kiba Gaiden (呀＜KIBA＞～暗黒騎士鎧伝～) (2011)

Television Webtama as a co-host (2007) Sakigake Ongaku Banzuke Vegas as host (2007) J-Melo as host (2007)

Plays Words Yakusoku / Uragiri: Subete, Ushinawareshi Mono no Tame (2009) To Drop Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima (2009)

Leah Dizon

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