American photographer David LaChapelle was BOTD in 1963. Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, his family moved to North Carolina when he was in his teens. He moved to New York when he was 15, working as a bus boy at legendary nightclub Studio 54, and was hired by Andy Warhol as a photographer for Interview magazine. After the AIDS-related death of his partner, he relocated to London in the mid-1980s, working for magazines British Vogue and The Face. He became one of the most celebrated photographers of the 1990s, producing glossy, hyper-realistic portraits of celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Marilyn Manson, Tupac, Pamela Anderson and Björk. In 1995, he provoked controversy with a photo campaign for Diesel Jeans, featuring two male sailors kissing. Landing in the middle of a national debate about gays in the military, the image drew praise and thousands of complaints, cementing his international reputation. He also made a number of high-profile music videos for artists including Moby, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Macy Gray and Britney Spears. In 2006, he relocated to Hawaii, citing his dissatisfaction with celebrity culture, and became a farmer. He continues to live and work in Maui, focusing on art photography and occasionally directing music videos. His photographs have been exhibited in art galleries around the world, including the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Openly gay since forever, LaChapelle was briefly married to the female assistant of pop star Marilyn, divorcing after a year. His current relationship status is unknown.