The thought of being stuck abroad without a return home in sight is the stuff of nightmares – for Model Lisa Daniels, it’s one that became a reality.
The trip from California, USA to Cali, Colombia is one that’s enjoyed by thousands of models every single year as the destination is widely regarded as the Mecca of cosmetic treatments while it also provides visitors with a stunning backdrop to relax and recover before returning home. For penthouse model Lisa Daniels (@lisadaniels), though, the three-week trip from heaven quickly transformed into a three-month trip from hell.
Crazy Times In Cali
For the Colombian-born penthouse model, the trip to Cali at the beginning of March was supposed to provide a much-needed break before resuming a hectic career that was set to make 2020 an unforgettable year. It certainly delivered a memorable experiences, but not for the reasons she anticipated.
Daniels’ vacation started in much the same way as any other with her Brazilian Bum Lift (BBL) and liposuction on her arms, back, chin, and stomach all delivering the desired results. Even for a penthouse model who has scooped several awards, donned the covers of many magazines, and been immortalized in animated form in South Park, the developments that were about to unravel are scarcely believable. Truthfully, if the journey hadn’t been documented on her YouTube channel, you’d probably think you were reading a script straight out of Tinseltown.
While the outbreak of COVID-19 had caused minor disruptions during the trip to this point, the virus hadn’t posed much of a threat to the Colombian public. In fact, the number of cases in the South American country was still in double digits on the date that Daniels went under the knife.
But just as she started her recovery, President Ivan Duque announced travel restrictions to stop international travel in and out of the nation. Worse still, those restrictions would commence just 72 hours later, leaving Daniels with very little time to act.
Panic In Paradise
The impending restrictions, combined with the time needed to recover from surgery, left Daniels with two choices: rush home and risk injury, or stay put and hope for the best. While dozens of models put their bodies on the line to get back to America within the three-day window, Daniels and business partner Dillinger decided to see it out.
After all, they were due to remain in Cali for another fortnight, which they hoped would be long enough for normal travel services to return.
Not only did the travel bans remain upheld, but Daniels found herself stranded when further restrictions in Colombia forced the recovery house to evict all guests. The penthouse model was suddenly 5,500km from home without a place to stay or any idea of when a return home may become viable. All the while, she was still in the early recovery from her cosmetic treatments.
While an Airbnb rental provided a temporary roof over their heads, as well as a location to shoot a series of fascinating candid photoshoots and broadcast to YouTube, Daniels and her business partner continued to face uncertainty regarding their return as commercial flights remained prohibited. With thousands of travelers fighting for a route back to the U.S., any hopes of securing a seat on the weekly humanitarian flights were virtually non-existent.
Three months passed before Daniels eventually secured a flight back to America via Spirit. However, with her flight landing in Fort Lauderdale, she still faced the grueling journey back to Los Angeles. After nearly 100 days away from home, the Penthouse model finally found herself back in L.A.