Looking for Love? Meet the Woman Who Took Her Dating Life to the Billboards

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Love at first sight is getting a high-tech twist in California, thanks to one woman’s unusual search for a soulmate.

Lisa Catalano, a 42-year-old vintage clothing retailer from San Mateo, has rented a dozen digital billboards along Highway 101 — one of the state’s busiest stretches — to advertise her desire for marriage. Her month-long campaign, launched on September 2, spans 45 miles between Santa Clara and San Francisco and directs would-be suitors to her custom website, MarryLisa.com, where applicants can make their case for her hand.

“I’m putting myself out there,” Catalano told the New York Post. “People would be shocked if they knew how much this is costing me.” Though she declined to reveal the total bill, she confirmed the effort is entirely self-funded.

Catalano insists her campaign isn’t a publicity stunt. “This is not a joke. It’s not a gimmick. This is a serious endeavor. I just want to find my husband,” she said.

Her ads, priced dynamically depending on location and time of day, also appear atop taxicabs across the Bay Area. While critics online have called her “delulu” and “insane,” Catalano shrugs off the backlash. After a breakup in April and a string of disappointing experiences with dating apps, she said she’s willing to try something different.

Catalano is far from alone. Los Angeles attorney Eve Tilley-Coulson once offered a $5,000 referral fee to anyone who could introduce her to “the one,” while New Jersey’s Mohamed Ibrahim famously bought billboard space in Times Square to attract a potential partner.

As for her requirements, Catalano said she’s seeking a man aged 35 to 45 who shares her religious and political values, prioritizes health, and, ideally, resembles actor David Duchovny. Her online profile lists non-negotiables such as commitment to monogamy, no criminal record, and a non-violent personality.

Despite the mounting costs, Catalano said she isn’t worried about the money. “I want to fall in love. I want to get married and start a family,” she explained.

“He’s gotta be out there,” she added with optimism.