Kandice Melonakos, better known by her stage nameLola Blanc, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, writer, and model. She has been declared a "rising star" and "boudoir beauty" by Playboy, a "funky pop songstress" by Vibe.com, "one badass chick" by Refinery29, and "one to watch" by Ladygunn Magazine. Blanc co-wrote Britney Spears' top 40 single "Ooh La La" in 2013 and reached number 3 as an artist on the Next Big Sound chart in 2014. Blanc has appeared on such television shows as ; she is also a contributing writer for Vice.com, having written about a number of topics including ageism in the music industry and her experience with believing in a cult leader.
History
Blanc was born in Bavaria, Germany and raised primarily on a farm in Fremont, Michigan. Brought up Mormon by a Greek-American father who was in the CIA and a motivational speaker mother, she spent much of her childhood writing songs and performing as a ventriloquist and auctioneer with her mother and brother, who performed magic and escape art. When Blanc was a pre-teen, her mother was targeted by a religious impostor posing as a true LDS prophet who played on her beliefs and lured her into his web. Blanc found their letters and believed in him too; she was temporarily separated from her mother, who was coerced into human trafficking until an accomplice who had a change of heart saved her. They were promptly reunited. Eventually Lola moved to Los Angeles, where she now resides, to pursue music full-time.
Music and career
Lola Blanc has written songs alongside producers and songwriters such as Sophie, Ammo, Fernando Garibay, Jimmy Harry, Jon Levine, and more. Blanc originally co-wrote Britney Spears' single Ooh La La with Fransisca Hall and producer Ammo for her own project; the title was intended to be a play on her name. When Dr. Luke heard it, he thought it'd be perfect for Spears and brought in songwriters Bonnie McKee and J. Kash to rewrite the lyrics so they would better suit Spears and The Smurfs 2.
Acting
Blanc has made appearances on television shows such as and Life in Pieces on CBS; she has also acted in several indie features and shorts. In 2011, she played Green-Eyed Girl in filmmaker Joshua Leonard's movie, The Lie. In 2015, she played The Undertaker in Max Landis' online short "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling."
