It's been a long time since we've had a good 'small-town-girl-makes-it-in-the-city' type story. We're especially glad that girl's innocently bubbly and unspoiled personality belongs to Sammi Maben. She's from Golden, Missouri-a town almost smack dab in the middle of the country. If she were a little taller she would have gone to test the waters of New York but it's the City of Angels that stole all 5-feet 4-inches of Golden's goodness. She currently hosts BlackBelt TV and recently signed on to be one of the Toyo Tires spokes models. When talking to her after the cover shoot, we discovered that this golden goddess has a voice to go along with those pouty lips. She took a little time to give us a quickie interview in-between shoots for BlackBelt TV.
2nr: You're among a handful of models that have come from a small town. Tell me about Golden.
Sammi Maben: A lot of land, a lot of trailer parks.
2nr: What's a place out here that I could visit that gives me the idea of what Golden is like?
SM: Norm's. It's like a family restaurant that are like the ones back home.
2nr: So if you ever miss home you can walk into a Norm's, it's like your own personal time machine. Tell me about your move to Los Angeles.
SM: I was doing a lot of modeling back home, and I kept missing class. I found out that I wouldn't be able to graduate on time. That was when my mom and I made the decision to move. We took on jobs at a movie theatre as ushers and also as housekeepers and saved up all our money for three months. Then we did it.
2nr: What's something from your hood that you won't hear in Los Angeles?
SM: "Howdy!" and "y'all"
2nr: Did you know that there was a YouTube video titled Sammi Maben and Nick Carter meet at Saddle Ranch. What's that all about?
SM: Where did you find that? I met him when they were filming his show. We didn't date. That place was my worst job. Well the job was fun-it was the management that sucked. I met my agent there. He came in a few times and kept asking me why I was working there. He kept telling me that he'd manage me. I was like, whatever. But he kept on asking.
2nr: Saddle Ranch is a western bar with a mechanical bull. Did you ever ride the bull?
SM: No.
2nr: It's just as well I think you inherited your Japanese bone structure-you are tiny.
SM: I know! All of my family is tiny. Everyone always thought that I was bulimic or that something was wrong with me. But it's just genetics.
2nr: What do you feed your 96 pound ass?
SM: I love food. I eat anything and everything...on a daily basis I eat Pinkberry.
2nr: Is there a food you don't like?
SM: Spicy food. Like Thai food.
2nr: Did you leave a boyfriend back at the ranch?
SM: We split up before I moved out here.
2nr: Do you have a boyfriend now?
SM: No.
2nr: Good!
SM: Jenga!
2nr: Did you just say Jenga?
SM: No I said single. I don't play games. JENGA!
2nr: What's a Sammi Maben man like?
SM: He has to have a great personality. I don't go for looks or what they drive or what they have. I want him to make me laugh.
2nr: Most girls your age would want a universally attractive dude that feels like a tall stack of bricks upholstered with warm wet towels.
SM: Looks can only go so far. If we can't talk then it's like...hello? Personality is more of a turn-on to me. As long as you make me laugh I'll love it. There's this man on Reba...he's so dumb that he's funny. That's what I want my boyfriend to be like.
2nr: You do realize that there is going to be a time when you'll have to take this man out in public, right? But, oh well. It's your career. If you were the type of girl that DID like physical appearances, what would be your type?
SM: Don't laugh. I like a little chubby. Not overweight but just a little chubby.
2nr: Ok. Put Sammi on the phone. You've wasted 20 minutes of my time.
SM: Ask my girlfriends. They're like "what about this guy?" And I'm like "he's not big enough."
2nr: What car do you drive and what car do you want to drive?
SM: I drive a Honda. The car I want next is a Range Rover or a Porsche, silver or black because I always end up parking next to a sprinkler or under a tree. They just get dirty. You can't really tell if they are too dirty. Then again I wouldn't care too much about the color if I actually had one of them.
2nr: When you get home after work what do you like to do?
SM: Check my Myspace.
2nr: What's your Myspace addy?
SM: It's kinda private. Friends and family.
2nr: Ouch. That's what you do to relax?
SM: I like driving. Sitting in traffic. In L.A. on the 405...it's amazing. Driving by the beach. I also like writing. Not to be a writer but to vent. I don't really tell people my problems, and I'd rather put it on paper than keep it in. I'm also a text fanatic. I'm always checking my phone.
2nr: You are a Sidekick person?
SM: I had a Blackberry but I broke that so I went back to my old sidekick and I broke that. So now I'm back to another Blackberry. I mean it's not like I'm angry or violent when I break them. I don't slam them because of an ex-boy or anything.
2nr: Right. Some call that clumsy.
2nr: You are a little psycho in relationships aren't you?
SM: No, I'm not psycho.
2nr: It's kind of a loaded statement. Psychos usually don't know they are, and if they know it they don't usually admit it.
SM: I am a very loving and affectionate person. I always want to be with them. I ask random questions all the time. Like what was your favorite gift on Christmas. I just want to know the person.
2nr: Well, there's two telltale signs right there.
SM: Also, what's the point of fighting? My ex cheated on me and I was like "Fine, you did what you did. You obviously want someone else," and I was done. You just gotta move on. I've had a lot of tragedies in my life. I've learned that life goes on.
2nr: I'm sorry.
SM: Oh no. Don't worry about it.
2nr: What was your favorite Christmas gift?
SM: Random! When I was 10 I wanted this red coat at Maurice's. It was on this mannequin and I begged my mom for it.
2nr: So this was at the local "Mall" back home?
SM: It would be like a Banana Republic. I was the only girl and I was a model so I needed this stuff! My mom told me that she had the hardest time looking for that coat. Shout out to mom. I love you!
2nr: Yeah mom. Thanks!
SM: She's done so much for me. She took me to Memphis all the time for experience. I actually owe my mom a car. There was a convention in New York that I wanted to go to, so I had to raise money and come up with sponsors. Golden's a small town and we didn't raise that much. So, she said that she would sell her car. The prize was like 5 grand.
2nr: Did you win?
SM: Yes.
2nr: What do you for fun?
SM: Go Karting.
2nr: Indoor?
SM: No! I grew up riding 4-wheelers, dirt bikes...until I ran into the house. I also like camping.
2nr: Using a cabin or a tent.
SM: Tent. Using a cabin is not camping.
2nr: Is working fun?
SM: Working is like playing for me. My dad worked really hard so I want to be like that.
2nr: I heard that you got hit by a car.
SM: How did you know that? It was last August. It was at a kegger at a field party.
2nr: Teaches you a lesson. No more field parties for you!
SM: This was back home. We were all in a circle and we were about ready to leave. We were standing on a dirt road and someone was coming. My friend got out of the way and the car hit me. The car ran over my left foot , I was screaming "Where's my brother!" The guy got out of the car and looked at me, he said a retarded "whut?" and got back into the car and drove off. They took me to the hospital and I came home on crutches. I found out later who it was.
2nr: Well I'm pretty sure that with a town of 10 people you can probably deduce who it was by figuring out who wasn't at the party.
2nr: You have a black dog?
SM: Yes. He has a Mohawk! Wait...how do you know this stuff!?!
2nr: OK, I gotta let you know. I found a blog all about you. You must have a superfan out there.
SM: I was thinking that you were stalking me. You wouldn't be the first!
2nr: Ditto!
SM: OK thanks for the interview I gotta get back on set.
Sammi Maben
Height: 5'4"
Measurements: 32-24-32
Weight: 96 lbs
Age: 19
Sign: Aries
DOB: April 1, 1988
Ethnicity: Japanese Irish
Hometown: Golden, MO
Reps: Los Angeles, CA
Most likely to run into her at:
Pinkberry