Most people know Elaine Starchuk as the woman who married rock star Tommy Lee for just a short time. But her life story is much bigger than that. She worked as a model in the 1980s, faced many difficult challenges, and later became a successful business owner. Her journey shows us that life can change many times, and we can always start fresh.
Personal Info
| Full Name | Elaine Margaret Starchuk |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 7, 1964 |
| Age | 61 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) |
| Famous For | Model, Tommy Lee’s first wife |
| Career | Model, Dancer, Business Owner |
| Business | Enlightened Lashes |
| Net Worth | Around $500,000 |
Early Life and Dreams
Elaine Margaret Starchuk was born on April 7, 1964, in Vancouver, Canada. She grew up in a regular Christian family that gave her love and support. As a young girl, Elaine loved looking at fashion magazines. She dreamed about becoming a famous model one day.
When she was still a teenager, Elaine was tall and pretty with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. She knew she wanted to work in fashion. So at age 18, she made a big decision. She left her home in Canada and moved to the United States to follow her dream. This took a lot of courage for such a young woman.
Modeling Career in the 1980s
Moving to America was not easy for Elaine. At first, she did not have many chances to work. But she did not give up. In 1982, she started modeling for adult magazines like Playboy and Penthouse. These were very popular magazines at that time.
Working for these magazines was not what Elaine first dreamed about. She wanted to walk on fashion runways and work with big designers. But modeling for Playboy and Penthouse made her famous. Many people started to know her name. She appeared on magazine covers several times, sometimes using the name “Candace Starrek.”
During the 1980s, Elaine became well-known in the modeling world. She also worked as a dancer and even helped on movie sets. The 1980s was a time of big hair, bright colors, and rock music. Elaine fit right into this exciting world.
The Short Marriage to Tommy Lee
In March 1982, Elaine met Tommy Lee. He was the drummer for Mötley Crüe, a very famous rock band. Tommy was 19 years old, and Elaine was 18. They liked each other immediately and started dating.
For about two years, they were together. On November 24, 1984, they got married. Everyone thought they would be happy together. But something went wrong very quickly.
Many people say their marriage lasted only seven days. But Elaine herself said the truth was different. She explained that they were married for about three months, not just one week. She discovered that Tommy was not faithful to her, which means he was seeing other women. This hurt her very much, so she decided to leave him. They officially divorced in 1985.
This short marriage became very famous, and many people still talk about it today. But for Elaine, it was a painful time in her life. She had to start over and find a new path.
Life After Tommy Lee
After her divorce, Elaine dated other famous people from the music world. She had relationships with Vince Neil (another member of Mötley Crüe), Dave Coverdale (from the band Whitesnake), and others. Later, she married a man named Todd Marshall, but that marriage also ended after four years.
Elaine learned important lessons from these relationships. She realized that being famous was not as important as being happy and healthy. She slowly started to step away from the public eye. She wanted a more private and peaceful life.
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Starting a New Business
After leaving the modeling world, Elaine moved back to Canada. She decided to use what she learned about beauty and fashion to start her own business. She created a company called Enlightened Lashes, which teaches people how to do eyelash extensions.
Eyelash extensions make people’s eyelashes look longer and prettier. Elaine started this business with three other lash artists. Together, they built something special. Elaine did not just sell products—she also taught others how to do this work. She helped many women learn this skill so they could earn money too.
Her business became successful. She even worked with famous people like singer Avril Lavigne. She also did eyelash work on the movie set of “Transformers.” Elaine proved that she could succeed in business just like she succeeded in modeling.
The Terrible Accident in 2013
Life was going well for Elaine, but then something terrible happened. In May 2013, she was shopping at a health food store in Langley, British Columbia. While she was standing at the deli counter, an SUV driven by an elderly man suddenly crashed through the front of the store.
The car hit the deli counter, which pushed Elaine into the wall. The wall broke and fell around her. She was trapped and seriously hurt. Her neck, shoulders, chest, back, and foot were all injured. One of her old breast implants was torn and needed to be replaced with surgery.
This accident changed Elaine’s life completely. She could no longer work with her hands the way she used to. Holding the small tweezers needed for eyelash work became too difficult because her hands were numb and her shoulders hurt. She also developed post-traumatic stress disorder, which means the scary accident gave her mental and emotional problems too.
In 2016, the Supreme Court of British Columbia gave Elaine $440,000 to help her with medical bills, lost income, and pain. This money helped, but it could not take away all the pain she experienced.
Fighting Cancer with Natural Healing
As if the car accident was not enough, Elaine later faced another big challenge—cancer. She did not share many details about this illness, but she did say it was one of the hardest times in her life.
Instead of only using hospital treatments, Elaine chose to try natural healing methods. She joined a women’s prayer group that helped people with serious illnesses. She also studied Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, which are ancient healing practices from Asia and India.
Elaine believed in healing her body and mind through nature, healthy food, and spiritual practices. Her approach worked, and she survived. This experience made her even stronger and showed her deep faith and determination.
Life Today
Today, Elaine lives a quiet and private life in British Columbia, Canada. She still runs her business, Enlightened Lashes, though she can no longer do the eyelash work herself because of her injuries from the accident. Instead, she teaches and manages the business.
One thing that brings Elaine a lot of joy now is her love for animals. She cares deeply about animal welfare and often helps rescue animals that need homes. She shares her love for animals on social media, especially Instagram, where people can follow her at @_elainestarchuk.
Elaine does not want to be famous anymore. She prefers a peaceful life where she can help others, care for animals, and focus on her health and happiness. She learned that being in the spotlight is not as important as being true to yourself.
What We Can Learn from Elaine’s Story
Elaine Starchuk’s life teaches us many important lessons:
1. You can always start over: Even after a painful divorce and a short-lived fame, Elaine built a new life and a successful business.
2. Bad times do not last forever: Elaine faced a serious accident and cancer, but she kept fighting and found ways to heal.
3. You are more than one relationship: Many people only know Elaine as “Tommy Lee’s ex-wife,” but she is so much more than that. She is a business owner, a survivor, and an animal lover.
4. Success looks different for everyone: Elaine’s success is not about being famous. It is about building a business, helping others, and finding peace.
5. Taking care of yourself matters: Elaine chose natural healing and focused on her mental and physical health. She shows us that taking care of ourselves is very important.
Conclusion
Elaine Starchuk’s story is not just about a seven-day marriage to a rock star. It is about a woman who had big dreams, faced many challenges, and never gave up. From her early days as a young model in the 1980s to becoming a business owner and cancer survivor, Elaine has lived a life full of ups and downs.
She shows us that we do not have to be defined by our past or by what other people say about us. We can always change, grow, and create a new future for ourselves. Elaine’s journey reminds us that real strength comes from inside, and happiness comes when we live life on our own terms.
Today, at 61 years old, Elaine continues to live with purpose, helping others learn new skills, caring for animals, and focusing on what truly matters. Her life is an inspiring example of resilience, courage, and the power of starting fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long was Elaine Starchuk really married to Tommy Lee?
Many people think their marriage lasted only seven days, but Elaine said it actually lasted about three months. She filed for divorce after discovering he was unfaithful. The divorce was finalized in 1985.
2. What does Elaine Starchuk do now?
Elaine owns and runs a business called Enlightened Lashes in British Columbia, Canada. The company teaches people how to do eyelash extensions. She also helps rescue animals and lives a quiet, private life.
3. What happened to Elaine in the 2013 accident?
In May 2013, a car crashed into a store where Elaine was shopping. She suffered serious injuries to her neck, shoulders, chest, back, and foot. The accident left her with chronic pain and made it hard for her to work with her hands.
4. Did Elaine Starchuk have children?
There is no public information showing that Elaine has any children. She has kept her personal family life very private over the years.
5. How much is Elaine Starchuk worth today?
Elaine’s estimated net worth is around $500,000. This money comes from her modeling career, the legal settlement from her accident, and her successful eyelash extension business.
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