{{Short description|American model (born 1982)}} {{Unreliable sources|date=July 2022}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox youtuber | name = Amber Lee Ettinger | image = Amber Lee Ettinger.png | caption = Ettinger in 2011 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|10|2}} | birth_place = Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | othername = | occupation = {{flatlist| *Actress *model *singer *internet celebrity }} | years_active = 2003–present | youtube_handle = amberleeonline | youtube_display_name = | youtube_years_active = 2006–present | youtube_genre = Comedy | youtube_subscribers = 3.41 thousand<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 233,482<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
| stats_update = September 11, 2025 }}
'''Amber Lee Ettinger''' (born October 2, 1982) is an American actress, Internet celebrity, model, and singer.
Ettinger became a celebrity after being hired to portray '''Obama Girl''' in Barely Political's June 2007 Internet video "Crush on Obama", in which she lip-synced the lyrics to the song expressing admiration of then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama. The video led to numerous sketch comedy appearances and interviews, including ''Saturday Night Live'', ''Geraldo at Large'', ''The O'Reilly Factor'', and ''Hannity''.
==Early career== Ettinger is a native of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Her interest in entertainment began at an early age. She participated in beauty pageants, dance recitals, theater, and cheerleading competitions.
Ettinger moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology to study fashion and clothing design, having expressed hopes to create her own clothing line and other business ventures.<ref name="Cosmic Tribune">Tribune, Cosmic [http://www.cosmictribune.org/interviewamberettinger.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070718112250/http://www.cosmictribune.org/interviewamberettinger.htm|date=2007-07-18}} November 16, 2006 at [https://web.archive.org/web/20241213103228/https://wwwcosmictribune.org/ The Cosmic Tribune]</ref> She is currently a designer alongside her mother Roseann Ettinger, together they have created the "Inspired by Amber" jewelry line.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.inspiredbyamber.com/ |title=Inspired by Amber Official Website |access-date=2018-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606120507/http://www.inspiredbyamber.com/ |archive-date=2012-06-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Ettinger was crowned Miss NYC and Miss Alpine New Jersey in the 2003–2004 Miss Hawaiian Tropic pageant,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/02/05/2008-02-05_obama_girl_hits_new_york.html | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=Obama Girl hits New York | first=Eloise | last=Parker | date=February 5, 2008}}</ref> later augmenting that title with a nod as Howard Stern's Miss Howard TV in June 2007.<ref name="missHowardTV">{{cite web | url=http://www.howard.tv/missHowardTV/June2007 | title=Miss Howard TV - June 2007 | publisher=Miss Howard TV | access-date=2008-01-07 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20071218141208/http://www.howard.tv/missHowardTV/June2007 | archive-date=2007-12-18 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Ettinger was Hooters Miss Manhattan, representing them in the 2003 International Swimsuit Pageant.<ref>[http://www.pageant.com/hooters3/ Pageant.com information on the 2003 Miss Hooters International Pageant. Ettinger's picture is shown.] Accessed 22 January 2011.</ref>
Ettinger appeared in commercials for VH1's Pepsi Smash, Bikini Zone, and Certain Dri. She has also appeared in a video for ''The Onion''.<ref name="Use of 'N-Word' May End Porn Star's Career">The Onion News Network [http://www.theonion.com/content/video/use_of_n_word_may_end_porn_stars Use of 'N-Word' May End Porn Star's Career] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125033032/http://www.theonion.com/content/video/use_of_n_word_may_end_porn_stars |date=2010-01-25 }}</ref> She was featured in music videos for Thalía, The John Popper Project,<ref name="Lapdance video">{{YouTube|wHfnayydxf0|The John Popper Project featuring DJ Logic}}</ref> and Styles P.
Ettinger has traveled around the world modeling for swimsuit, lingerie and fashion companies such as Ujena, Born, Baby Phat, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. Ettinger has been featured in many publications such as ''Maxim'', ''FHM'', and ''Elle''. She has appeared on the cover of ''Wired'' and ''Steppin Out'' magazine.
==Viral videos, and response== thumb|Ettinger in 2008 Ettinger was hired by Barely Political founder Ben Relles to appear in the "Crush on Obama" viral video, which was posted to the Barely Political channel on YouTube in June 2007. She appeared in a later video called "Hillary! Stop the attacks! Love, Obama Girl", released on March 25, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.digitalalchemy.tv/2008/03/amber-lee-ettinger.html | title=Amber Lee Ettinger: Hillary! Stop the attacks! Love, Obama Girl}}</ref> On May 7, 2008, Barely Political posted a YouTube video with Ettinger and former Democratic and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Mike Gravel, entitled "Mike Gravel Lobbies for the Obama Girl Vote". In the video, Gravel tries to persuade her to switch her support from Obama to him.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjK-iSkLJlQ "YouTube"]. ''youtube.com''. Retrieved on 27 August 2015.</ref> She and Relles guest-lectured in Paul Levinson's class at Fordham University on September 21, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2007/09/obama-girl-applauded-in-my-class-at.html|work=Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress|title= Obama Girl Applauded In My Class At Fordham This Afternoon|last=Levinson|first=Paul|date=2007-09-21|access-date=2018-01-07}}</ref>
In late September 2008, Ettinger made a YouTube video with Independent candidate Ralph Nader in which he argued that he should be included in the debates. The video was a spoof of conventional sitcoms and was called "The Obama Girl and Ralph Nader Show". Also featuring former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura, the video followed what would happen if Obama Girl and Ralph Nader shared an office.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/09/nader-and-obama-girl.html|publisher=The Daily News|title=Nader and Obama Girl|author=Elizabeth Benjamin|date=2008-09-25|access-date=2008-09-30 | location=New York| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080930045630/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/09/nader-and-obama-girl.html| archive-date= 30 September 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
In the fall of 2008, Ettinger starred in a parody of "I Got a Crush on Obama" with a promotional video for EA's Red Alert 3. In it, she professes her allegiance to Howard Ackerman, a fictional presidential candidate played by actor J. K. Simmons. Since then she has been featured in multiple videos by Barely Political, including parodies of Jennifer Lopez, Fergie and Catwoman.
In February of the election year 2012, Ettinger collaborated with Obama impressionist Iman Crosson (Alphacat) in the PoliPop video "Glease" which was a spoof of the song "You're the One That I Want" from the film ''Grease'' and television series ''Glee,''<ref name="GlobalGrind20120215">[http://globalgrind.com/news/obama-girl-back-video "Obama Girl Is Back! (VIDEO)"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120217223952/http://globalgrind.com/news/obama-girl-back-video WebCite archive]), The Global Grind, February 15, 2012.</ref><ref name="FoxNewsVid20120613">Hannity, Sean (interviewer), [https://video.foxnews.com/v/1688217141001 "Ex-Obama Girl?"], Fox News Channel video, June 13, 2012. Related intro at [http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/blog/2012/06/13/obama-girls-crush-fading-and-so-americas Obama Girl's Crush Fading and So Is America's] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626033049/http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/blog/2012/06/13/obama-girls-crush-fading-and-so-americas |date=2012-06-26 }} (same day). Interview includes clip from and discussion of Ettinger's 2012 "Glease" video.</ref> in which "a smitten Obama seeks the affection (read: vote) of the Obama Girl".<ref name="Politico20120214">Gavin, Patrick, [https://www.politico.com/story/2012/02/team-12-obama-girl-alphacat-072858 "Team '12: Obama Girl, Alphacat"] ([https://www.politico.com/story/2012/02/team-12-obama-girl-alphacat-072858 WebCite archive]), Politico, February 14, 2012.</ref> A related music single was also released.<ref name="Politico20120214"/><ref name="AllSongsByGlease">[http://www.allsongsby.com/album/glease-single-polipop/502112998/ "Glease - Single by Polipop"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223650/http://www.allsongsby.com/album/glease-single-polipop/502112998/ |date=2016-03-03 }}, AllSongsBy.com music search website, viewed 2012-06-26.</ref> In April 2012, "Glease" was included as part of the in-flight entertainment line-up for Virgin America airline.<ref name="VirginAm20120410">[http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/channel-11 "What's Onboard — Channel 11"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120412202635/http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/channel-11 WebCite archive of 2012-04-10]), "Life" section of Virgin America Channel 11 content listing.</ref>
As the 2012 election approached, news organizations mentioned and interviewed Ettinger as a barometer of whether Obama would be re-elected. More than a year before the 2012 election, ''CNN Newsroom's'' Brooke Baldwin had remarked, jokingly, that "obviously, the Obama girl is the litmus test for who will win in 2012."<ref name="CNNnewsroom20111010">[http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1110/10/cnr.07.html "CNN Newsroom / "Obama Girl" from 2008 may now have Doubts about President"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084223/http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1110/10/cnr.07.html WebCite archive]), transcript in CNN archives for ''CNN Newsroom,'' October 10, 2011.</ref> In 2012, Ettinger declined to state who she was supporting for President.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/obama-girl-amber-lee-ettinger_n_1586351|title='Obama Girl' Declines To Endorse|date=2012-06-11|website=HuffPost|language=en|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/02/obama-girl-im-undecided-this-time-072503|title=Obama Girl: I'm undecided this time|last=Gavin|first=Patrick|website=POLITICO|date=6 February 2012 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref> Sean Hannity interviewed Ettinger on Fox News Channel's ''Hannity'' about her level of support for Obama; Ettinger explained that her 2007 ''Crush on Obama'' video "encompassed what a lot of Americans were feeling the excitement for hope and change" and that now (June 2012) she hadn't given up on Obama, but added that her options (for voting in November 2012) were open.<ref name="FoxNewsVid20120613"/> In a Fox News Channel opinion piece, J.D. Gordon used Ettinger's indecision in 2012 as a specific example of Obama's waning support.<ref name="FoxNewsGordon20120623">Gordon, J.D., [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/06/23/top-5-changes-at-pentagon-under-obama/ "Top 5 changes at the Pentagon under Obama"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625050135/http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/06/23/top-5-changes-at-pentagon-under-obama/ |date=2012-06-25 }}, Fox News Channel Opinion, June 23, 2012.</ref>
==Music== Ettinger was a singer with Obama impersonator Iman Crosson in the music single "Glease" (February 14, 2012; PoliPop, and Maker Studios).<ref name="Politico20120214"/><ref name="AllSongsByGlease"/>
Ettinger released her own music EP titled ''Queen of the Web'' (October 29, 2008; Silver Curve Records), the EP including three tracks:<ref name="AllSongsByALEttinger">[http://www.allsongsby.com/artist/amber-lee-ettinger/282564809/ "All songs by Amber Lee Ettinger"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415100241/http://www.allsongsby.com/artist/amber-lee-ettinger/282564809/ |date=2014-04-15 }}, AllSongsBy.com music search website. Music label and date are specified on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110610025352/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/queen-of-the-web-ep/id294757472 iTunes website]. Both viewed 2012-06-26.</ref> #"Second Time" #"Second Time Remix" #"Surrender" In an August 2008 interview, ''Wired'' magazine asked Ettinger about "her double life as an online sensation and actual person", with Ettinger describing her background in fashion design, modeling and acting.<ref name="Wired20080822">Buskirk, Eliot Van (interviewer), [https://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/08/qa-amber-lee-et/ "Q&A: Amber Lee Ettinger (a.k.a. Obama Girl)"], ''Wired,'' August 22, 2008.</ref> Ettinger said that she was not singing about Obama in the EP's songs, and staking out her own musical identity after lip-synching the 2007 "I've Got a Crush" video, Ettinger explained that "Obama Girl's going to sing about Obama, but Amber Lee Ettinger's going to sing about other things that are going on in her life."<ref name="Wired20080822"/>
==Other projects== On March 10, 2010, she appeared on ''Shear Genius'' as one of the models to be styled for headshots.<ref>Miller, Liz Shannon. [http://newteevee.com/2010/03/11/obama-girl-gets-action-heroine-look-from-shear-genius/ "Obama Girl Gets Action Heroine Look From ''Shear Genius''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316041221/http://newteevee.com/2010/03/11/obama-girl-gets-action-heroine-look-from-shear-genius/ |date=2010-03-16 }} New Teevee; March 11, 2010</ref> In mid-2010, Ettinger became a correspondent on fashion for the network WPIX in NYC.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}
On December 17, 2012, she appeared on the game show Take It All hosted by Howie Mandel making it to the final round. She chose "Keep Mine" while her opponent chose "Take It All" and took everything winning in excess of $500k.
In 2013, Ettinger appeared in a commercial for Natural Light as a lifeguard.<ref>[https://vimeo.com/84338485 "Nattastrophe"]. ''Vimeo''. Retrieved on 27 August 2015.</ref> A banned version of the same commercial also appeared online.<ref>[https://vimeo.com/87019076 "Nattastrophe Banned 01"]. ''Vimeo''. Retrieved on 27 August 2015.</ref>
==Personal life== Ettinger has said that she did not vote in the primary for the 2008 presidential election<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/obama-girl-didnt-vote/|work=The New York Times|title='Obama Girl' Didn't Vote|author=Jennifer Lee|date=2008-02-06|access-date=2012-02-08 | location=New York}}</ref> but that she did vote in the 2008 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://youtube.com/K-UnlrrJJTo|title= Obama Girl votes on November 4, 2008|date=November 6, 2008|access-date=February 4, 2026|website= YouTube}}</ref>
She is of German, Italian, Swedish and Irish ancestry.<ref>Tapper, Jake. [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3279937&page=1Sister of Clint Lexi and Sabrina Ettinger "Obamagirl Says 'We'll See' to Voting for Obama"] ABC News. July 14, 2007</ref> She has an older brother and two younger sisters.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb name|id=2344263|name=Amber Lee Ettinger}} * [https://www.youtube.com/user/amberleeonline AmberLeeOnline channel] on YouTube * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120706042728/http://www.maxim.com/todays-girl/obama-girl Obama Girl Photo Gallery] on ''Maxim'' * [http://thedp.com/index.php/article/2008/04/vaughn_stewart_bootyshaking_for_democracy "Booty-shaking for democracy"], opinion piece in ''The Daily Pennsylvanian'' about "getting politically apathetic people interested in the election" *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100130034311/http://www.tropicbeauty.com/modelprofile.cfm?ID=159 Tropicbeauty.com profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110824114615/http://piercingthereality.org/doc/Vergani2009SC.pdf Vergani, M. (2009), YouTube e civic commercial engagement. Il caso Obama Girl e Barely Political, in «Sociologia della Comunicazione», 40/2009, pp. 131-144] *[http://www.amberleeonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=27 amberleeonline.com about "Obama Girl"]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ettinger, Amber Lee}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Category:Female models from Pennsylvania Category:American people of German descent Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American people of Swedish descent Category:Fashion Institute of Technology alumni Category:Pennsylvania Democrats Category:People from Hazleton, Pennsylvania Category:People from West New York, New Jersey Category:People associated with the 2008 United States presidential election Category:American comedy YouTubers Category:21st-century American actresses Category:YouTubers from Pennsylvania