The context for History Channel’s TV series American Pickers begins with,’ This isn’t your grandmother’s antiquing’. The single statement perfectly summarizes the reality series and adds an air of seriousness to it. The series followed two Midwestern pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz as they travel across America in search of rare artifacts and national treasures. Treasures that are not just good-looking but can also be cashed in for a considerable sum. The series runs with the motto that someone’s trash can be someone else’s treasure. Even though the series primarily focuses on Mike Wolfe, it hinges on all the members of the cast to carry out their tasks. In this article, we take a look at Danielle Colby who is not only a cast member but also manager of Wolfe’s antique store, Antique Archaeology.
Table of Contents
Upbringing
Danielle Colby was born on the 3rd of December 1975 in Davenport, Iowa where she also grew up. She is the daughter of Sue Colby however the identity of her father is not available. She has a sister named Carbomb Betty.
Danielle comes from a family of devout members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses which limited her exposure to worldly things. She rebelled against the strict rules of her religion and developed a love for music, dance, and fashion. She also suffered from sexual abuse by an older man which left a lasting impact on her.
She developed an interest in antiques and vintage items from a young age, and started picking at garage sales and flea markets. She met Mike Wolfe, the co-star of American Pickers, at a garage sale in 2000, where he snatched a lamp that she wanted to buy. They became friends and later business partners, as Wolfe hired her to work at his antique shop Antique Archaeology.
Professional Career
Danielle moved to Chicago with her family and joined a female roller derby team called the Big Mouth Mickies. She enjoyed the sport for three years until she suffered several injuries that forced her to quit. Around the same time, she attended a burlesque show starring comedian Margaret Cho and dancer Satan’s Angel. She was inspired by their performance and decided to pursue a career in burlesque dancing.
She moved back to Iowa and founded her own burlesque troupe called Burlesque Le Moustache. She adopted the stage name Dannie Diesel and performed with nine other dancers across eastern Iowa and western Illinois. She also opened a burlesque academy called Dannie Diesel’s Bump ‘n’ Grind Academy in Chicago, where she taught the art of striptease and empowerment to women of all ages and sizes.
American Pickers
Danielle’s life took another turn when she reconnected with her old friend Mike Wolfe, who had an idea for a TV show about traveling across the country and picking antiques from people’s barns and backyards. He asked her to work at his shop Antique Archaeology and be part of his show. Danielle agreed and became one of the main cast members of American Pickers, which premiered on January 18, 2010.
The show was an instant hit and attracted millions of viewers who enjoyed watching Mike and his partner Frank Fritz bargain with eccentric collectors and discover rare and valuable items. Danielle was the brains behind the operation, managing the shop, researching the items, and keeping in touch with the pickers on the road. She also occasionally joined Wolfe and his partner Frank Fritz on their trips to discover hidden treasures and meet quirky characters. She also added some humor and sass to the show with her witty remarks and quirky outfits.
Danielle has appeared in over 350 episodes of American Pickers since its premiere in 2010 and has also produced a spin-off series called American Pickers: Best Of, which showcases some of the most memorable moments and finds from the show. Besides her role in American Pickers, Colby is also a producer of the 2016 documentary Tempest Storm, which tells the story of the legendary burlesque dancer and actress who performed with Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and JFK.
Business & Other Things
Danielle’s popularity on American Pickers led her to explore other ventures as well. She launched a clothing line called 4 Miles 2 Memphis, which featured retro-inspired designs made from recycled materials. She also became an advocate for various causes, such as animal rights, domestic violence prevention, and LGBTQ+ rights. She has several tattoos on her body that represent her beliefs and experiences.
Net Worth
With such a diverse and impressive resume, it is no wonder that Danielle Colby has amassed a considerable fortune over the years. She has an estimated net worth of $2 Million as of 2023. Her main source of income is the Television show American Pickers which has been airing since 2010 and has become one of the most-watched non-fiction series on cable television. She also makes money from her other ventures, such as her burlesque shows, her clothing line, and her production projects.
Controversies
Danielle has a unique style and a strong personality, which have often attracted controversy and criticism from some viewers and fans. One of the controversies that Colby faced was related to her tax issues. According to Radar Online, Colby received a notice from the IRS in 2013 saying she owed nearly $6,000 in taxes for her burlesque boutique, 4 Miles 2 Memphis. The report claimed that Colby never filed any returns and was slapped with multiple liens for unpaid taxes. It is unclear if Colby has resolved this matter, but it could have potentially landed her in legal trouble.
Another controversy that Colby faced was related to her burlesque career. As a performer and an instructor, Colby has embraced the art of burlesque as a form of empowerment and expression. However, not everyone has appreciated her choice of profession. Colby has often received negative comments and backlash for her burlesque photos and videos on social media. Some people have questioned her morality, her credibility, and her role as a mother. Colby has defended herself against these attacks, saying that she is proud of her body and her work.
Colby is not afraid to speak her mind and share her opinions on various topics, which have also caused some controversy. She has been vocal about her support for LGBTQ+ rights, Black Lives Matter, and other social causes. She has also expressed her views on politics, religion, and culture. Some of these views have been controversial or unpopular among some segments of the audience, who have accused her of being biased, ignorant, or disrespectful. Colby has often responded to these criticisms by explaining her perspective and standing by her beliefs.
Personal Life
Danielle’s professional life is an open book but her personal life has been more complicated and private. Colby has been married and divorced twice, and she is now engaged to her longtime partner, Jeremy Scheuch. Here is a brief overview of her romantic history and how she found love again.
First marriage: Robert Strong
Colby married Robert Strong in 2004, when she was 28 years old. They had two children together, a son named Miles and a daughter named Memphis. However, their marriage did not last long, as they divorced in 2012.
According to Colby, one of the reasons for their split was the fame and attention that came with her role on American Pickers. She told WQAD-TV in 2012 that “fame and notoriety are not easy for [Strong] to deal with, at all. So the relationship ended up not working out.”
Second marriage: Alexandre De Meyer
After her divorce from Strong, Colby met Alexandre De Meyer, a French graphic designer and artist. They connected in 2011, when he was hired to create a logo for her boutique, 4 Miles 2 Memphis. They soon started dating, and they tied the knot on Valentine’s Day in 2015.
Colby and De Meyer settled in Chicago, where they lived with her children from her first marriage and a niece. However, their marriage was also short-lived, as they separated soon after. The divorce was finalized on April 27, 2018.
Current relationship: Jeremy Scheuch
Colby has found happiness with Jeremy Scheuch, an underwater photographer and filmmaker. The pair have been together since 2017, and they are currently based in Puerto Rico.
Colby revealed that she did not know that their first date was a date when she agreed to go with him to see Fleetwood Mac on Valentine’s Day in 2017. She wrote on Instagram: “I remember telling my niece we were going to see Fleetwood Mac on Valentines Day and she said, ‘yeah…that’s a date.’”
The couple got engaged in 2020 when Colby proposed to Scheuch on her birthday while they were filming her birthday burlesque show. She posted the proposal video on Patreon.
Physical Traits
Danielle stands at 5 feet 9 inches or 176 cm tall and weighs about 165 lb or 75 kg. She has a curvaceous body shape with measurements of 39-28-40 inches and a bra size of 36C. Her eyes are a captivating hazel-green color, and her hair is a dark brown that she often styles in different ways.
Tattoos & Dressing Style
Danielle Colby is a woman of many talents and passions, but also of many tattoos and feathers. The American Pickers star has adorned her body with a stunning collection of ink that tells a story of her life and personality. From her arms and shoulders to her chest and back, she has covered herself with various patterns and images that reflect her interests, values, and experiences. She refers to her tattoos as a form of “tattoo collecting”, a hobby that she takes very seriously and enjoys as a way of expressing herself.
Danielle Colby is not afraid to show off her tattoos, nor her curves, in her dressing style. She often wears outfits that reveal her inked skin, such as tank tops, crop tops, shorts, and skirts. She also likes to accessorize with jewelry, hats, glasses, and scarves. Her style is eclectic and colorful, mixing vintage and modern elements with a touch of flair. She is especially fond of feathers, which she uses as props for her burlesque performances.
Wiki/Bio Facts
Fact | Value |
---|---|
Full name | Danielle Colby |
Also known as | Danielle Colby-Cushman, Dannie Diesel |
Date of birth | December 3, 1975 |
Place of birth | Davenport, Iowa, USA |
Nationality | American |
Gender | Female |
Sexuality | Straight |
Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness |
Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
Weight (approx) | 75 kg (165 lbs) |
Hair color | Dark Brown |
Eye color | Hazel Green |
Tattoos | Multiple tattoos on her arms and other parts of her body |
Occupation | Reality TV personality, antique shop office manager, burlesque dancer, producer, model |
Net Worth | $2 Million (estimated) |
Best known for | Appearing on the History Channel show American Pickers |
Marital status | Divorced twice, engaged to Jeremy Scheuch |
Ex-husbands | Chad Cushman, Alexandre De Meyer |
Children | Two children: a son named Miles and a daughter (name unknown) |
Siblings | A sister named Carbomb Betty (no brother) |
Former occupations | Roller derby player, clothing designer, owner of 4 Miles 2 Memphis and Dannie Diesel’s Bump ‘n’ Grind Academy |
Stage name | Dannie Diesel (for burlesque performances) |
Burlesque troupe | Burlesque Le Moustache (with nine dancers) |
Nickname | Queen Of Rust (for her love of antiques) |
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