Maneca Lightner, The lovely and curvaceous 5′3 cover-girl for Prince’s Madhouse jazz-fusion project

TPS: Just curious, was the doggie on the covers yours?

ML: No, that was a trained puppy, but still those shoots went on forever. While on the set, he’d crawl into the car and  fall asleep or play. But I had alot of fun and he was a sweet puppy.

TPS: Had you done any modeling prior to those covers?

ML: No. I wasn’t really interested in being a model. I met Prince when I lived in Denver. I was only 16, and he was at a record signing. Two years later, we met again and I was wearing a polka-dot outfit that he really liked – that’s why all the outfits I wear on the album covers have polka dots on them. Three years later I got a call from him asking if I was interested in being the cover model for a jazz album he was putting together.  We shot three covers and two videos.  It was big fun!! We dated off and on for some time–unfortunately, I didn’t have any talent he could tap into & develop.  I didn’t dance, sing or play any music instruments.

TPS: Did you have any offers to model after that?

ML: Yes, but Prince wanted me to represent only the Madhouse projects. I didn’t really want to be a model anyway. I didn’t like the feeling of having to look perfect every time I stepped out of the house. People want you to look exactly like your photos and that’s simply not realistic. Fortunately, I had a talent at the business side of the music industry.  I knew there was something I was good at! HAHAHA!

TPS: So what have you been up to since then?

ML: Well, I worked for sometime with different record labels, all on the business
 side of things. I worked with Warner Brothers, Virgin, and others. I then opened a talent agency for Musicians and Singers with a partner. We were in business for seven years working with artists like Pink, Christina Aguillera, Destiny’s Child and many more! I still work on certain music events every now and then, but for the past two years I’ve been working in Real Estate and I’m now finishing up a book I’m writing with my best friend, on love and relationships.

TPS: What’s the name of the book?

ML: ”The Soft Side of Love, the Hard Side of Love & Everything In Between”
 
TPS: Anything you’d like to share about your personal life?

ML: I live in the Valley in Southern California. I have two boys, age 6 and 16. Between my real estate work, my book, my boys –I’m pretty busy!  Life is good!

Maneca and Richard Hallmarq