Bay Area woman rents Highway 101 billboards to find husband

A Bay Area vintage clothes retailer has spent thousands to rent digital billboards along California’s Highway 101 in a last-ditch bid to find a husband, directing traffic to a personalized dating site where eligible bachelors can apply to be her partner. The effort, spanning a 45-mile corridor between Santa Clara and San Francisco, is financed entirely by the applicant herself and uses dynamic pricing to place different ads at different times and locations.

Catalano, a San Mateo resident, kicked off the campaign on Sept. 2 and has not disclosed the total cost, insisting the undertaking is serious and self-funded. In addition to highway signs, she is purchasing ad space on taxicabs to broaden her reach, aiming to turn curious commuters into would-be suitors.

The billboard campaign centers on MarryLisa.com, a site Catalano created to feature her profile, a series of details and submission forms for potential paramours. The seller counts a 35- to 45-year-old man who shares her religious and political beliefs, leads a health-conscious life, and is willing to commit to monogamy as her ideal partner. Catalano has also signaled she would not object to a partner who admires actor David Duchovny. She emphasized non-negotiables such as a clean criminal record and a non-violent disposition, saying she wants to fall in love, marry, and start a family.

The approach is part of a broader trend among singles feeling exhausted by dating apps and traditional matchmaking. The Post has reported similar, self-financed efforts by others: Eve Tilley-Coulson, a Los Angeles corporate litigation attorney, said she would pay a $5,000 referral fee to anyone who could help her find the right person. Mohamed Ibrahim, a New Jersey man also seeking love, has purchased billboard space in high-visibility areas, including Times Square, to find his soulmate. Catalano’s site likewise outlines details, fun facts and a submission form for potential partners, reflecting a growing appetite among app-weary singles for high-visibility, nontraditional matchmaking.

Despite online criticism labeling the stunt as eccentric or delusional, Catalano remains focused on the goal of finding love. She told The Post that she is not deterred by the cost or the public scrutiny and that she is “putting herself out there” in pursuit of a lasting relationship. “I want to fall in love,” she said. “I want to get married and start a family.”

The campaign has drawn attention from commuters along the Bay Area corridor and sparked conversations about the lengths to which singles will go to find a compatible partner. While success cannot be guaranteed, Catalano’s effort underscores a broader shift in how some people approach romance in an era of dating fatigue and creative, self-funded outreach.