Entrepreneur and Doctor of Ministry is closing in on “The Prize of a Lifetime”
In many ways, East Amherst’s Lisa Christie can be described as Western New York’s Wonder Woman. Just listening to what this entrepreneur, wife, mother, and grandmother does on a regular basis leads one to wonder just how she does it.
A deeply spiritual Christian, Christie is an ordained Doctor of Ministry, a professional singer, model, actor, and a former Mrs. America (1997-98), Mrs. New York 1997, and Mrs. New York United States (2011 & 2013). She also is a:
- National fitness expert
- Author
- Television and radio host
- A Certified Personal Training Coach
- Adjunct professor of Business, Management, and Leadership
- Founder of B-Harmony, her own line of earthly care products
- Co-owns a martial arts school in the city of Buffalo, NY with her husband.
- She placed 8th out of over 600,000 in the Ms. Health & Fitness 2020
- Twice, she has tried out for The Voice and has twice made it to the end of the audition process.
- Spokesperson for A Cup of Cold Water, an international organization with two divisions: one helps orphanages around the world. They are currently working in Uganda providing food, medical, and school supplies. The other division is to preserve the history of holocaust survivors, providing medical, transportation, in-home visits, food, etc. They are presently working in Belarus with 10,000 survivors. She also is the spokesperson for the Western New York Angels Network for Alzheimer’s with Paul Kijek.
Christie is now involved in the most intense competition of her life because of her spectacular singing ability, but it is taking her out of her comfort zone by asking friends and the world for help. Through her and her family’s ingenuity and a lot of help from so many close friends and local business leaders, she is one step closer to achieving “The Prize of a Lifetime” in a nationwide on-line voting competition, Opening Act.
The grand prize winner will be the opening act performer for the 10th annual “We Can Survive” concert at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J on October 14. The headliners will be Maroon 5, ONEREPUBLIC, Kelly Clarkson, and more.
Each contestant was asked: ‘If you win, whom would you most like to collaborate with?” Christie answered: “Stevie Wonder has been my dream! If he is unavailable, then Anita Baker or Maxwell. She added: “Whitney, Mariah Carey, and Aretha have all been my inspiration and mentors.”
Why Stevie Wonder?
“I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder and have always loved his music!” Christie explained during an interview at Panera Bread in Amherst. “I had seen Shania Twain sing with him and not do such a great job, I told myself that if she can sing with him, then so can I! A few years ago, my husband took me to his concert at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo. I experienced just how talented he is, and my desire grew even stronger that night to be on stage performing with him!
“I will never forget hearing Stevie Wonder tell the audience that night: ‘Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes, doesn’t mean he lacks vision!’ This quote shows me his talent comes from above and I want to share my talent the same way!” added Christie, who knew when she was five years young that she was going to be a model, an actor, and then a singer who eventually would be on television.
“As I reflect on that dream as a 5-year-old, I fulfilled all of it, but not to the fullest extent in singing. There’s a drive in me that won’t give up until I make it as a singer, no matter how old I am. Nancy Sue Wilson, an American jazz singer sang until she was 81, and I’m hoping to do the same!”
In explaining where this passion comes from, Christie responds: “I live to do kind acts for others and share with the younger generation what I have learned on this journey God has provided for me.”
How Singing With Stevie Wonder May Become a Reality
It all began for Christie in late June when, as a singer and performer, she learned of a national online voting contest with the Grand Prize winner earning the opportunity to be the opening act for a very impressive major concert in October which is being presented by Audacy Radio to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)*. It was the question on the application asking whom she would like to collaborate with if she won that prompted her to complete the application, pray, and visualize herself on stage singing with Stevie Wonder.
“Winning this Opening Act contest would be a dream come true because I have been trying since 2016 to get onto The Voice and I know this would open doors for me,” she added. In another question on her contest site, Christie was asked why she sings, and her response was: “I always sing for God’s people, and I pour my heart into the music by thinking about the words! My love is great for the world. Making a difference through my performances and helping a variety of charities around the world is my passion.”
When asked about this contest, she added: “I am realizing the road to winning the Grand Prize is not easy but with my deep Faith and a large network of friends and family across the globe, many of whom have already donated online to get me this far, I am ready and excited for the challenge!”
On July 10, Christie made it to the Top 20 competitors in her group after 10 days of voting. Another week of voting began August 3, and she earned a Top 10 position. The next week, she qualified for the Top 5 and in a very close vote that went to the final seconds on August 24, she won her group final to advance to the quarterfinals.
For the next round, voting continues until 10pm on Thursday, September 7. She is currently in second place in the quarter-finals.
Semifinal round voting will be September 8-14 with the top finishers from each of the four semifinal groups advancing to the final round of voting which takes place September 15-21 with official results announced September 27.
*AFSP’s Western New York chapter is hosting its annual “Out of the Darkness” walk on Saturday, September 23 at Canalside in Buffalo. Audacy Buffalo’s radio stations are the local media supporter of the walk. To register for the walk, visit supporting.afsp.org.
You can listen to some of Lisa’s performances on Youtube: Song 1 | Song 2 | Song 3 | Song 4 | Song 5
