Name / Alias: Joanna Shari / www.JoannaShari.com
Where are you originally from? North-Eastern NJ
Occupation? Graphic Designer
How did you get into modeling? I was contacted by an agency for some design work. Eventually I was convinced to try a test shoot. I loved the results and took it from there.
What’s the biggest misconception that people may have about models/video vixens? Many assume that we don’t have brains to match beauty. Another misconception in this industry is that too many assume that a model or video vixen means some kind of groupie. I’ll be the first to prove both of those misconceptions wrong!
If you weren’t a model, what would you be? I’d be what I am now, a designer. I consider myself an artist before I consider myself a model.
What inspires you in your daily pursuit of life? My parents. They are amazing.
Top 5 songs of your play-list right now?
DJ Webstar – Dancin’ On Me, Dream, Mariah Carey – My Love, and a few tracks off Kelly Clarkson’s new album. Yeah, yeah, say what you want, lol. The album was dope.
Do you think it’s difficult to be in a relationship and model? Some guys may say at first they’re cool with their girl modeling, but there’s usually a point where he feels a bit inquisitive about the industry. Yes, it can get difficult, absolutely. A lot of people can’t handle it and I can understand why. But as long as there is established trust in the relationship, it can work. There needs to be an understanding of what it is and what it is not.
Here’s the flipside question to the previous, say you meet a guy you like and want to hit it off. Is it hard to gain his trust due to the misconceptions of being a model/video vixen? I don’t find it hard at all. The key is to just be yourself. Once a guy gets to know me, he can immediately see what he’s dealing with. He’d be able to see how the modeling has no effect whatsoever on me.
I’m sure all the male readers want to know…SINGLE or TAKEN? There is no ring on my finger!
What type of guys gets your attention? Someone who is sexy and confident, yet humble and down to earth. I love a man with a sense of humor, one who knows it’s okay to loosen up sometimes.
Tell me one of the lamest lines a guy has used on you? And keep it real! Believe it or not, a lot of the guys I come across are really sweet. Although I remember one guy hitting me up on myspace, about how he is my biggest fan and wants a free calendar. Well, if he was such a fan, why didn’t he just purchase the calendar himself? (laughs)
When it comes to the bedroom, dominant or submissive? Submissive… most of the time. I like my man to take control and show me he knows just what to do. Every now and then I like to flip the switch and get a little aggressive. Just enough to keep him wanting more!
Being a white woman with a voluptuous body, what’s the attention or response from women of other races? I get mixed responses. Some support me, some hate on me, and some don’t care for me. Many assume that I have had some type of surgical procedure done, or that I’m fake somehow. Hey, I can’t speak for every white woman with a voluptuous body in a magazine… but I can speak for myself when I say I’m all natural. No breast implants, no butt implants, none of that.
What books are you currently reading? I just started getting into “New Moon”, the continuation of “Twilight”. I wasn’t even up on the books at first until I saw the movie. It was incredible and it got me hooked. So I wanted more.
You’ve been featured in some of the biggest urban men magazine, what other publications are you aiming for it at all? I’m open to anything that comes my way; even it’s a magazine that features me, not my body… that would be hot too.
So when we see you at 50, what can we expect you to be doing? By that time I’m hoping to be happily married, ready to retire, children already moved out, and ready to really enjoy life. It’s always great to have big aspirations of fancy careers and such, but what I really long for is a happy family. It’s so hard to find these days and I just want to be able to give my children what my parents have given me.
What new projects are you building on right now? I’m getting ready to shoot for my 2010 calendar. Time flies so fast! I also have a couple of magazines coming out within the next few months as well!
What’s the most memorable moment of your career thus far? I’ve had a lot. If I had to pick one, it would probably be my shoot with Dipset, for Rap Fanatic Magazine. I’ve been a fan of their music for years, way before the modeling, so it’s just real crazy to me how I got the opportunity to shoot with them.
If you had superpowers, what would it be? If I had superpowers, it would probably be to be able to teleport myself. I love to travel, so if I could just think about being somewhere and automatically just be there… that’d be lovely.
Define success? Success is to achieve all that you’ve worked hard to achieve — and most importantly be happy and proud you’ve accomplished it.
