Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee, a 24-year-old tattoo artist (and notorious swastika model), made headlines after telling InTouch magazine that she's been having an affair with Jesse James, Sandra Bullock's 40-year-old husband of nearly five years. "I would never have hooked up with [James] if I thought he was a married man," McGee told InTouch. "He gave me the impression they were separated." Who is Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee — and what proof does she have of her claims?
McGee was raised Amish: According to a bio from a 2009 "Miss Inked Contest" unearthed by Radar Online, McGee grew up in a "very conservative" Amish household. However, she "left the church" at 16, moving to California to pursue her dream of becoming a tattoo enthusiast shortly after. "I never looked back," McGee reportedly said.
She's a mom: McGee is the mother of two children, both in grade school. McGee's landlord told Radar Online: "She was really quiet and a nice girl. She had two kids and didn't have a lot of visitors."
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She's also a stripper: According to Hollywood Life, McGee has stripped at several clubs in the San Diego area, including Larry Flynt's Hustler Club and two Pure Platinum clubs. She's currently stripping under the name "Avery" at a Pure Platinum club — but hasn't been to work in the past few days.
McGee bears a resemblance to James' past lovers: Some gossip blogs have pointed out that McGee looks "similar" to Jesse James' ex-wife — and fellow tattoo enthusiast — porn star Janine Lindemulder (with whom Bullock and James have been involved in a long child-custody battle).
Her claims may have some substance: McGee initially offered no proof of her alleged affair with James, but text messages between the two are photo documented in the March 29 issue of InTouch. One exchange suggests that the two arranged a rendezvous at a June 6, 2009 tattoo convention aboard the Queen Mary. Meanwhile, People reports that Bullock, 45, moved out of the house she shares with James on Monday.
McGee claims to be book smart: According to McGee's personal website (which crashed promptly after the scandal broke), she has a bachelor's degree in biology and is working on a master's in biochemistry. She also claims she has completed two years of medical school. However, some sources have noted that the numbers don't quite add up for this 24-year-old, "unless she's some sort of "leather clad Doogie Howser."
What's this about a so-called "Best Actress curse"? As USA Today puts it, "If James and Bullock do split, the actress will join other famous names who have fallen to the 'Oscar curse' — relationships that have broken up shortly after [the actress won] Best Actress honors. Among them: Hilary Swank, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts and, most recently, Kate Winslet."
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SEE THE WEEK'S LATEST COVERAGE OF MICHELLE "BOMBSHELL" MCGEE:
• Michelle "Bombshell" McGee and 7 other swastika scandals
