REAL-LIFE ‘I’M ENGAGED TO MY VINTAGE CHA ND EL IER! ’
What does your perfect match look like? Most of us have a ‘type’ when it comes to the partner of our dreams. But for 33-year-old Amanda Liberty, it’s a little different.
From the age of 14, the Leeds, UK, local has found herself falling in love with objects rather than people.
‘They are human to me and I fall in love with all of their different personality traits and little quirks,’ Amanda reveals to New Idea.
‘People are always quick to judge me as they don’t understand it, but I wish others would try and see how happy it makes me.’
Amanda openly admits her first ‘relationship’ was with a drum kit, and now she’s engaged to a chandelier she found on ebay.
‘I fell madly in love with the chandelier the moment I spotted her in December 2016, when I was looking for something new to add to my collection,’ Amanda recalls. ‘I quickly named her Lumiere from the film Beauty And The Beast.
‘The brass framework and jewels hanging from her arms make her a perfect companion.’
Amanda has been dating the 90-year-old antique for just over a year, and proposed on Valentine’s Day.
They both share matching promise rings – one of which is attached to the chandelier – and Amanda hopes to marry her love in a commitment ceremony later this year. However, Lumiere isn’t the only object of Amanda’s affections – she’s currently in what she calls an ‘open relationship’ with five other chandeliers, and has a collection of 25 in total within her home.
Despite the fact she is engaged to Lumiere, Amanda spends her nights sleeping next to Jewel – a portable chandelier, who she can cuddle up to easily.
‘I sleep with Jewel in bed, even though I’m engaged to Lumiere, because Lumiere is far too big to carry into bed,’ she says matter-of-factly.
‘I’m also in love with Luna, Duchess, Cherie, and Emperor – but Lumiere is the main light of my life.’
Amanda identifies as Objectum Sexual, which means that she is attracted to inanimate objects. After her first relationship with the drum kit, she moved on to New York’s Statue of Liberty, who she affectionately calls Libby.
‘My relationship with Libby is still ongoing, but it’s quite complicated due to the fact that she lives in America and I live in England,’ Amanda explains.
‘I still love her with all of my heart and even have a huge seven foot replica of her in my bedroom, but she understands I get lonely with her so far away.
‘My Lumiere isn’t jealous though, as she knows that she has won my heart.’
Amanda – who is currently unemployed – can fall in love with any object, as she claims she can sense the energy that the objects possess.
‘I proposed to Lumiere, because I knew she was the one for me,’ she says.
‘It’s a promise to her that I’ll always love her and will be with her. I’ve never been engaged before, so I’m very excited.’
Amanda adds: ‘It may seem weird to some people, but it takes all sorts to make a world – and if I’m happy and not hurting anyone, why should it matter to anyone else?’