 |
| I'll Never Break your Heart, circa 1998 |
I was in the 6
th grade on my 45-minute bus ride across town to school when I heard that my favorite Backstreet Boy was off the market. Brian was engaged to that blonde chick from the “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” video who was holding the Chihuahua. I cried and vowed to hate her forever; NO ONE was good enough for
my Brian.
My 11-year old heart eventually recovered, but Leighanne was
everywhere. She was in music videos, on T.V. specials, at every show on tour. It
became clear that she was here to stay, and I am so glad she is. As it turns
out, Leighanne is more than good enough for Brian—she is
perfect for him. I don’t believe there is another woman on this
Earth who could handle herself the way that Leighanne does in this role, and
here is why:
1.) She
sacrifices. Sure, it seems glamorous to jet-set around the world while the
Boys are on tour. But could you imagine spending the majority of your time away
from your family and friends, living out of a bus and/or hotel room? And what
kind of 9-5 accommodates months of travel at a time? Thank goodness her career aspirations are mobile.
2.) She supports. All of those sacrifices are the ultimate display of support for Brian. She demonstrates her loyalty and dedication by showing up and putting her family above herself. Her ability to be selfless in her marriage should be a lesson to anyone who aspires to have a life-long partnership.
3.) She lives unapologetically. When your every move is under a microscope, it can be difficult to just be yourself. Leighanne has no problems showing
the world what a fun-loving, witty, intelligent, caring, humble woman she is.
She never apologizes for being real, and her critics hate that they can’t phase
her.
 |
| BSBBBQ in Hershey, PA. Photobombing at its best. |
|
|
|
4.) She is
patient. As a Backstreet fan of 18 years, I can confidently say that
fans are not always calm or polite. Despite the rude comments she sometimes endures, Leighanne recognizes that a few bad apples don't spoil the whole bunch. She
always poses for pictures, answers questions, signs cards, and records video messages to fans who can't be where ever she is. She
treats fans like friends, and she welcomes them into her life. I can only
aspire to have patience like she does.
 |
| A woman who loves and adores her husband (photo credit: Ben Vigil) |
 |
| Proof that happily ever after does exist (photo credit: Leighanne) |
6.) She
gives. It is hard to quantify the time and attention that Leighanne dedicates to making people feel appreciated. If you have never been to a Wylee party,
you’re missing out. In addition to offering personalized fashion tips (and pulling "secret" items from the back room because they would look fabulous on you),
Leighanne goes out of her way to make fans feel special. She treats them like friends, sharing more of herself than she has to. And that is one of the reasons I love her.
7.) She
loves. Have you ever seen the way Brian and Leighanne look at each other? I
am not talking about just in posed photos or staged interviews. When the two of them
are interacting, pay attention to the way Leighanne looks at Brian. You can see
the adoration and genuine love all over her face. And what more, as a true fan,
could you want for our Boys than for them to find their lobster?
Leighanne has been a part of the Backstreet family for more
than 15 years. I hope that she knows that we love her and appreciate all that
she does for us. But more importantly, we are grateful for the unconditional
love she gives and the life-long partnership she has built with our blue-eyed,
angelic-voiced Brian. We are happy she is part of our Backstreet family, and we
know that no one else could do what she does.
WE LOVE YOU, LEIGHANNE! <3
