model citizen >>> valentina

Who is Valentina and why did you become a model?
It's ME, over here-LOOK!!!

Sometimes people don't have a choice, sometimes things are chosen for them. What would I have chosen for myself?

Forensics. I am finally studying and learning about what I want to do for a change. I want to help solve crimes and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Blood, fingerprints-everything.

What is Valentina's Secret?
Ha ha- Actually, there is NO secret. Victoria was taken so I had to come up with something else! (but I heard Madonna's got a Secret)!!!!

What is the most exciting thing about modeling?
For me, it is like playing "dress up" or being something for the moment. With modeling, anything is possible and what isn't ...they create.

I HATE people fussing over me , and when you have one girl powdering your nose vigorously while the other is pulling at your hair and a third person blinding you with test flashes-it can get pretty annoying!

It is fun to travel, but I start to miss home by the time the captain has turned off the "No Smoking" sign.

There is a certain MAGIC that has to be created by all people involved in order for the end result to be promising-that is the THRILL of modeling. Maybe people at the grocery store find that I model "exciting", I don't think I have ever really looked at it as "exciting". I think it is just a job just like everybody else-only the world is my office.

What is your favorite music video?
That I was in or just in general? The best one I was in was by a German rap group called "Soundcage", their back up singer had some passport problems and couldn't make it to America to shoot the video so I was hired to lip sync and fill in for her.

Anyways let's cut to the fun part: it was set in the 1940's so I sang into one of those huge old microphones (I've always wanted to do that)! In the opening scene I pull up in this 1938 Chevrolet Master Deluxe with suicide doors and whitewalls- it was beyooootiful! (You can see a pic of what it looked like here: www.cars-on-line.com I loved EVERY moment of the filming! I felt like I was Billie Holiday or something!

The only thing I couldn't stand was the two trucks creating artificial rain and dumping gallons and gallons down on me take after take. At one point, I got out of the car and accidentally dropped the antique feather boa in all that rain, so we all had to stand around and wait while the stylist blow dried it with a hairdryer!!

What do you do outside of modeling?
I donate personal items (photos etc.) to many charities to help raise money and I also give out books and toys to less fortunate children. I love gardening-roses are my favorite; I am also crazy about ANY flower that reminds me of Tahiti!

I am a singer and songwriter, so I do that from time to time. When I have the time I read a lot of Stephen King books, books on the Dalai Lama, and cookbooks. And of course, read and study everything on forensics!

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet and why?
I feel like for the first time in my life... I have finally met MYSELF!! Now more than ever have I finally begun to understand my life and accept certain things about myself. It's an exhilarating feeling to finally be able to say: "oh, NOW I see"!

But to keep from sounding narcissistic, I always wanted to meet Danny Elfman...really! He had that band back in the 80's "Oingo Boingo". Then he became a genius and started writing these incredible soundtracks (Spiderman, Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, BeetleJuice)-pretty much every hot movie you see out there the music has been penned by Danny.

Other than him, I would be honored to meet GEORGE LUCAS!! But I can stand in line with all the other 3 quillion fans of his! (and I probably would too)!

If you could change anything about yourself, what would be and why?
I hate how organized I am; sometimes I think it is a sickness. Plus, I will follow behind people and clean up the messes the leave behind or pick up whatever they might happen to drop (why can't it ever be a hundred dollar bill)?!

Who have been some of your main influences as a model and a person?
Should I be deep and say Gandhi? Ha haa! (To be honest once a month I stand at Blockbuster with that DVD in my hand and then I put it back and get something less "involving" and heavy)!

I never wanted to be a model, it just sort of "happened". I wasn't some starry-eyed girl laying on my Barbie sleeping bag with pictures of Heidi Klum (or whomever) plastered all over my walls.

I think I could safely say that my mum negotiated my first modeling job (at age 2), but she never locked me in my room and yelled, "You can't come out until you are a model." So I cannot credit anyone but myself for that choice. Even as a model, I have never tried to be like anyone BUT myself. Being mixed, I didn't feel there were many role models to choose from in the first place, even if I would have wanted to.

Years ago, I read the Bible front to back, I tried to use God's commandments and teachings as influences as to how I should "behave" on a daily basis. But even those people back then, messed up all the time. I just try to be a good person to myself and to others. I hope it is contagious and that people soften up a little.

I do admire Madonna, for being the "Queen of Reinvention", and being smart enough to last this long. So in a cheesy way, I guess I look up to Madonna a little bit. (I hope you are reading this Madonna)!

Ranch dressing on pizza?
Yeah, I LOVE it! I also like to dip my fries in my chocolate shake- but I am not into fries much anymore. I cover my food with black pepper , pour Raisinettes on my popcorn, and prefer JUST butter on pancakes.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
If I could actually SEE MYSELF- would that mean that I was floating and looking down at my OWN body? That's not a very nice thought! I see myself continuing to laugh at life and have a few more healthy and intelligent children. I can't say my life has been a smooth ride, but I do hope to make this second half the best ride I have ever had! I have the best husband and son anyone could ever ask for.

All photos and graphics courtesy of http://www.ValentinasSecret.com and published with permission.