Daisy De La Hoya, who gained fame as a contestant on VH1's "Rock of Love" and later starred in her own spin-off "Daisy of Love," has revealed that she is currently homeless, broke, and struggling to find employment. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the 42-year-old detailed her journey from reality TV stardom to hitting rock bottom.
De La Hoya, who was once photographed with musicians like Tommy Lee and Dave Navarro, attributes her career and personal downfall to substance abuse and mental health challenges. She stated that she became sober in 2024 after a decade of turmoil and is now managing anxiety and bipolar disorder with medication. Despite addressing her health issues, she is currently couch surfing and has applied for jobs at fast-food establishments like McDonald's and Del Taco.
"It's embarrassing and it's very hard but I keep searching," De La Hoya told the Daily Mail. "I don't know what it is about me but I guess god does not want me to have a job."
She described a period of homelessness where she was assaulted, leading to PTSD. "You have a different perspective after hitting rock bottom and losing everything," she said. "And I was lucky, but I've had to crawl my way back and I'm still crawling my way back up."
De La Hoya noted that her professional experience is largely limited to the arts and entertainment industry, though she previously worked as a waitress and at Hot Topic as a teenager. She also worked as an exotic dancer in Denver before her television career began.
She expressed disappointment after being fired from a door-to-door fundraising job for a nonprofit, being told she wasn't "good enough." De La Hoya is currently studying musical theatre in hopes of re-entering the entertainment industry but stated she is open to any type of work.
Addressing potential misconceptions about her earnings from reality television, De La Hoya clarified that she received a flat fee of $50,000 for "Daisy of Love" in 2009 and does not earn residuals from reruns or streaming. "I'm poor and homeless, that's the truth," she stated.
Despite her current circumstances, De La Hoya remains in contact with former child star Corey Feldman, who she described as her closest celebrity friend. Feldman offers moral support and advice but does not provide financial assistance. She is hesitant to start a GoFundMe, finding it "weird" to ask people for money.
De La Hoya also confirmed she no longer speaks with Bret Michaels, the Poison frontman whose show launched her initial fame. Her long-term aspirations include becoming a "respectable working actress" and being taken seriously in the music business. She also aims to become an advocate for substance abuse and mental health issues, focusing on suicide prevention.
For now, De La Hoya is prioritizing her sobriety and mental health while actively searching for a job and a stable living situation. She emphasized that maintaining sobriety is a continuous, lifelong effort. "This is my entire life, my every day. This does not go away and everything is hard. It's like learning to relive your life."