Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 13, 1992                   TAG: 9203130094
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BETH MACY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THE LADY IS A CHAMP

Mother Nature was her mentor.

And her wand, incidentally, came from a collective quiver of wands.

Virginia Lotto's Lady Luck spread her magic in Roanoke this week as part of her statewide, two-week grip-and-grin tour.

The funny star of the popular commercials not only signed autographs and doled out luck, she even waved her wand over the belly of a pregnant woman who was four days overdue.

Whoever thought the Commonwealth of Virginia had no sense of humor was wrong. Luck's Lotto commercials are hands-down the wittiest on TV - even better than the Joe Isuzu gigs, according to Lotto groupies.

In honor of Friday the 13th and St. Paddy's Day, here are some notes from Lady Luck's resume:

Real name - Melanie MacQueen (she's got that luck of the Irish).

Hobbies - making glitter, collecting antique wands and bingo.

Favorite movie - "Saturday Night Fever."

Favorite TV show: (tie) "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and the "Lotto Drawing Show."

Favorite food - potluck.

Favorite sport - Ping-Pong.