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"Hmmm, I don't think so. You may not do too good with us."

Q: When did you start?
A: When I entered my first pageant, Miss American Train. The directors represented a lot of models. They got me several jobs. I used to work at Kahala Hilton and Hilton Hawaiian Village modeling jewelry with Miss Hawaii and Miss Teen Hawaii. We'd walk around the pool showing off things like $30,000 necklaces.

Q: So you were doing mostly live modeling rather than print work.
A: Then I did a few shows.

Q: Were you making a living from your modeling?
A: No. I was still in school then and I still had my sales job. It was on the side.

Q: So when you started here at American college were you modeling?
A: No, I decided to stop. When I left Hawaii, I had no intention of modeling. I wanted to go to school and get my degree and get into business.

Q: Why didn't you want to model any more?
A: I didn't think I was different from anyone else because in Hawaii everyone's Asian. So I came out here to finish my schooling basically.

Q: You didn't model the whole time you were at American College?
A: Well, the first year... I did. I think it was that summer or...

Q: You came out in early '89?
A: I moved out in January of '89.

Q: When did you start modeling here?
A: About five months into school. A girlfriend in one of my classes was taking a design class and they were going a fashion show. It was this girl from London. She asked if I wanted to be in the fashion show. I said it sounds like fun. She said all the models were meeting down in the John Casablancas modeling center. I went down there and they were doing a runway class. There were about 15 or 20 of us there.

The director saw me and said, "Who are you?" At that time the center was like a charm school. He says, "I don't want to sell you any classes because you don't need it. I totally am being honest with you. I want to take you to Elite." He used to scout for Elite. So I thought, Oh my god. I went there. They looked at me. I just had a few snapshots. And this one girl--I don't want to mention names because I get along with everyone there--she said, Hmmm, I don't think so. You may not do too good with us." Four months later, the director [at John Casablancas] Kevin Bradley called me again. He says, "They're having an open casting and I want you to come." I thought, If they didn't like me then, they're not going to like me now. He convinced me to go. I went there and saw this other lady. She liked me and called me in the next day and said, "Come in, I want to send you out to some clients."

Q: That wasn't until the fall of '89?
A: Actually that August, I think.

Q: What kind of work did you start getting?
A: At first I didn't get that much because my hair was long, down to a little above my waist. I had bangs and just not too fashionable.

Q: When did you cut it?
A: More than two years ago. It wasn't as short as now. It was a little below my shoulders.

Q: What was your first really good job?
A: I modeled for the Amway company for two years. They launched a campaign for cosmetics out of the country. One year they flew me to Michigan to shoot a video for them. Then last year they were out here in Malibu and shot cosmetics to take overseas.

Q: How much did you make?
A: It was basically rate, $2,500 per day. I do a lot of fashion shows and stuff.

Q: So runway work is your bread and butter?
A: Right. The last year and a half I've been going out on a lot of commercial calls and got me a few commercials.

Q: What kind?
A: I got a Vidal Sassoon commercial. I think it's for the Japan market. This fall a London Fog commercial is coming out. Yesterday I found out I got a L'eggs commercial.

Q: Who are your main competitors?
A: There's about a handful of us and we all know each other. I don't really have a chance to compare and see who's working and not working, but I do see a few Asians here and there. The market is so small for us, but I think that's changing, 'cause it used to be just Whites and Blacks. In shows there are always basically Caucasian and Blacks and they'll throw in an Asian here and there. Now I think it's our turn.

Q: Are there castings where they don't necessarily have in mind that it's going to be a black girl or what girl, where it's kind of a free-for-all?
A: That's what I do good in. Like this L'eggs commercial, for instance. It was a huge casting, all types. PAGE 7

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