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A Rockstar Games veteran has cleared the air on an old urban myth surrounding Grand Theft Auto IV.
The World Of Liberty City
2008’s Grand Theft Auto IV told the story of immigrant Niko Bellic leaving behind a troubled life as a war vet in Europe to make it in Liberty City’s crime scene.
Liberty City was overtly based on New York City. Rockstar did their research to evoke the aesthetic and feel of the Big Apple.
Or at least a fictional version of New York. Between Goodfellas, Sex and the City, Taxi Driver, Annie Hall, When Harry Met Sally, etc. etc., there could be no more iconic city in the big screen.
Of course, in the world of Grand Theft Auto IV, they would bring up the version of New York found in crime and police movies. That evokes a New York filled with millionaires in their ivory towers, hustlers and sex workers out in the streets. And most popular of all, is Bellic’s mold; a man who wants to live a better life, but could sink to the bottom any time.
Enter The Lollipop Girl
One of Grand Theft Auto IV ‘s most iconic promotional images is the Lollipop Girl. Her face is the face of the game in many physical disc releases, on her own or as part of a collage.
Lollipop Girl has a name and backstory. Lola Del Rio is a 22 year old walking the streets at Algonquin and often seen sucking on a red lollipop. She isn’t actually in-game, but her character is firmly established in the lore of the game.
Many fans have speculated about the real life model who played Lola for years. Some of this has come out, but it’s been mixed in with misinformation. Finally, we get some clarification on the real life story.
Stephen Bliss Tells The Truth
Stephen Bliss was senior artist at Rockstar Games from 2001 to 2016. He worked on every famous Grand Theft Auto game out there, from Grand Theft Auto III to Grand Theft Auto V.
He once revealed that Lola was actually based on his wife. However, he saw word spreading that his wife’s name was allegedly Jillian Fontana. Bliss finally decided to debunk this piece of fake news once and for all.
Bliss made this post on Twitter (edited for clarity):
I was working on the #GTAIV #art and we needed the iconic #GTA woman. There had been Misty, Lamborghini Girl, Martini Girl, etc.
So after work, at 11.00pm, I went home to see my fiancée who wasn’t Jillian Fontana, and asked her to please pose as a working lady.
She wasn’t pleased, and I can understand that – she’d had a demanding day working at Google.
She was a good sport and dressed up in various costumes, posed with money, a bottle, and a lollipop. 2 hours later, super displeased, but now she’s a pop icon.
On our wedding day there she was up on a billboard on Bowery and Broadway – or was it LaFayette? – 2 minutes from the reception. Thank you for being my model! And an amazing mum!
