I didn’t know what to expect when meeting Amanda Hansen from the Real Housewives of Vancouver, but I figured she wouldn’t exactly be shy(I was correct and pleasantly surprised!). She definitely wasn’t shy; she was very friendly and outgoing, and even inspirational. With her hair still in rollers, she entered the photo shoot ready to work the camera, cracking jokes and getting creative with the crew.
While she doesn’t have time or tolerance for BS (and really, who does?), Amanda is an extremely passionate mother of three and sincere friend to those she’s close with. Despite her trips down the “dark rabbit hole,” she’s really just an awesome person who has struggled, but proven to be stronger than the battles she’s faced! Throughout our conversations, I realized this girl won’t just lay down and die, or roll with the punches, she embraces them and makes them her own crazy form of empowerment.
She’s got me wondering, is it not better to be in touch with your dark side (we all have one!) so you can be the best version of you?
Interview with Amanda Hansen
What does a typical week look like for you?
A typical week for me looks like a good old s*** show of flipping pancakes, timeouts, “no you can’t play mind craft at 3 a.m.,” a daily dose of The Bar Method and some good old twerking! Haha…. I love music and have to dance to sooth my disturbed soul!
What are three words that best describe your personality?
The three words that best describe me might be, Crazy, loyal and hilarious but I’ll ask my BFFs and get back to you with that one!
Do you have any secret talents?
I think I might have a few secret talents but I’ll let those remain secret since I already have enough fans and haters.
What’s your favourite thing about Vancouver?
My favourite thing about Vancouver is that it’s so beautiful that I know there must be a GOD and that homeboy is f-ing RAD! Clearly my God doesn’t judge or I’d be going to hell in a hand basket or a Gucci bag!
Why did you want to work with Lords of Gastown and Kris Por Studio?
I was stoked to work with the Lords of Gastown and Kris Por aka the camera G.O.D. because, well, they’re bada$$ obviously! The talent and the brand of this team is mind blowing, who wouldn’t want to do it! Kris is very professional and the guys behind the Lords brand are just rad guys.
If a genie granted you one wish, what would you wish for?
It would be to find an amazing guy to settle down with and complete my family. I always thought I’d have two girls and two boys but I’m short one boy and a husband so perhaps one day but I’m in no rush. I’m a lover and love to be loved. I don’t like the single life much. I’m a nurturer and without a husband to inspire me to cook for, I may end up eating wieners with Mac and Cheese forever.
Who inspires you?
I would have to say Madonna has always been a huge inspiration to me; I have loved her since I was a little girl. We share the same birthday and I have always felt a connection to her. I appreciate people who have been to hell and back. It’s those highly complicated individuals that may seem so messed up to other people that I love so much! It’s like finding someone else that speaks “I’m totally f’d up.” I seem to really understand and connect with people like this; they help me see that crazy comes and goes and that for people such as myself I have to work very hard to be somewhat socially acceptable or behave in that manor.
Icons like Marilyn Monroe and Kurt Cobain would be two people that I could use as an example but I have many people like this in my life and they are gifts to me, I cherish them. I have a woman in my life named Colleen that guides me when I head down my well-traveled dark rabbit hole! I am not capable at this stage in my sobriety to be remotely sane or logical! So I borrow her brain when I am smart enough to ask for help, she has a way better functioning brain than I do! Mine gets hijacked by the dark side regularly still!
What is your greatest accomplishment and proudest moment?
My greatest accomplishment is by far my amazing children! They are the coolest people I have ever met and I actually made them! They blow my mind daily with how talented, funny and smart all three of them are. My oldest, Nisa, is a total artist. She makes and sells her work. She’s always saying “mom it’s ok, I got this” and pays! She’s 12! My middle child Elleah is totally into music. She sings, writes and plays piano. At 8 years old to be able to write really good songs – it blows me away! Phoenix is my youngest; he’s 6 and a supernatural sports anomaly. I guess the little guy is just gifted because I have no idea how he’s as good as he is at so many things in that area.
At the birth of each of them I was the proudest and it was the happiest moments. My kids are getting older now and it’s sad to not have a baby around anymore. I miss that phase but the phase we’re in now is amazing!
Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years?
I’d like to see myself successful with my current project, which is hand made denim and leather embellished jackets. I’d like to be happily remarried to the love of my life/best friend whom I can’t keep my hands off and they don’t mind being driven crazy by moi from time to time. I’d like to remain sober but kick the crazy down a few notches and perhaps have a mute button to my head.
What do you want the readers of Vancity Buzz to learn about you?
If there is anything that I’d like the Vancity Buzz readers to learn about me, I guess it would be to remember I’m only human. I make mistakes. I may be loud from time to time and speak my mind but I have a heart of gold and I would do anything for anyone that I’m close to or anyone who struggles with life on life’s terms. I have the best friends and man in my life and I love with all my heart until I’m shown no reason to love that freely. The people in my life actually determine how important they will be to me by their actions. I try to never judge people, however I have no tolerance for fakes or people who manipulate and use others.
I would also let the readers know that I’ve been without a drink, not even smoked pot, in over three years. It’s an amazing way to live with a little, or in my case, a lot of help from a power greater than myself. Some might call the power God. I’ll just say if it was up to me and all my bad ideas I’d be dead, so I know something other than myself wants me to survive. Anything is possible when I let go of my unrealistic expectations for myself and realize what I think are my imperfections are actually what makes me, me, as messy as that may look at times. I’m just trying to figure life out one day at a time with the devil who screams loudly in my ears. Each day I take baby steps and work through things to be a better person.
God bless Vancity and peace out!
writer | Ashley Nickel
photographer | Kris Por
stylist | Michelle Addison
makeup/hair | Liz Pederson
Follow Channels and Categories