Josie Lee

Where were you born, and how was life growing up?
Josie Lee I was born in the Philippines, but I grew up in Southern California.

What is your ethnicity?
Josie Lee Filipina, Korean, Guamanian.

What would the average person say about you?
Josie Lee I'm very professional, generous, helpful, cheerful, self-sacrificing, nurturing, and considerate. I've always taken the time to help models who have asked me for help or advice.

What kind of stuff did you get into after high school?
Josie Lee I went to UCSD and I traveled the world. I've been to over 30 countries....

How did you get into modeling?
Josie Lee My family gently nudged me into it, but I resisted. I did not think it would suit me and I lacked the confidence. One day I capitulated and sent my snapshots to a reputable modeling agency. I was delighted and somewhat surprised to have assignments lining up for me. It was a hard road sometimes, but I have never looked back.

How long have you been modeling?
Josie Lee Ten wonderful years.

How did you feel about being in front of the camera for the first time?
Josie Lee I was very nervous. The experience of getting my hair and make-up professionally done for the first time and then stepping in front of the camera gave me butterflies. All those eyes in the studio watching me. Being inexperienced did not help my confidence.

How did you feel walking into your photoshoot?
Josie Lee Excited and frightened. Like the first day of school? LOL!

So would you say you are comfortable in front of a camera now?
Josie Lee Yes, it feels very natural to be in front of the camera now. I know what styling flatters me now. I understand angles, basic lighting, how to turn my face and elongate my neck, etc. I love to be in front of the camera, especially when I'm working with a top talent team.

Would you say that you are pretty comfortable with your body?
Josie Lee Very comfortable. Believe it or not, modeling requires a degree of body-kinesthetic intelligence. Those who don't have it are stiff, lack variety in movement and expression, and don't transition from one pose to another easily. But, it is something that can be learned. Practicing in front of a mirror, experimenting, using reference photos, etc. can improve ones skills. and then becoming comfortable with ones body inevitably follows.

What would you say is your best feature?
Josie Lee The general response are my eyes and cheekbones.

What's the best thing about being a model?
Josie Lee Some of my favorite things (in no particular order) are walking into a bookstore or any news stand and seeing my work published, turning on the television and seeing a commercial that I did, traveling to fun locations around the world, seeing the results of creativity, and working with talented teams.

What do you do differently to set yourself apart from other models?
Josie Lee I don't know if I consciously tried to set myself apart from other models. I think what I focus my energy on instead is understanding my strengths as a model and knowing how to identify my abilities and market it. I'm a business woman, and modeling is a business. It's not about just having "a look". It's about getting quality representation, keeping to a high standard of photography/ make-up/ hair/ style team, a strong and diverse book and comp card, networking, writing press releases, attending auditions and go-sees, taking care of myself (skin, hair, nails, fitness), always being a professional in my dealings with others, understanding contracts, syndication, recognizing if an assignment will help me toward long-term goals, and most important of all - not being passive about getting the RAD assignments. I find out who shoots what. If I target a magazine, who are the editors? I make sure they know who I am with well written introductory emails and links to my latest work. It's also important to be known as being reliable, and for replying in a timely manner to emails regarding work. I've been fortunate enough to get a lot of magazine covers and editorials, national commercials, billboards, international calendar shoots and cool advertisements. But this didn't happen by waiting for people to knock on my door. I'm very pro-active. So very often it’s not just what you look like, but how you communicate and the professional relationships you maintain.

Where do you hope your modeling will take you?
Josie Lee More international bookings. This summer I have another amazing syndication assignment that will be shot on a yacht in Panama over a two week period. There will be a private chef for the crew and everything!

Any highlights from your modeling career?
Josie Lee A few of my favorite highlights was being a character model for Sony Playstation video games, appearing in the pages of Playboy Magazine, and then transitioning into specializing in beauty modeling (beauty magazine editorials, make-up tutorial books, beauty product commercials, jewelry catalogs, beauty salon brochures, etc.)

Where can we find you on a typical weekend, if you aren't doing a photoshoot?
Josie Lee Watching Food Network television. Planning a menu and shopping for groceries to make some special new dish. I love to cook and bake.

What keeps you busy away from modeling?
Josie Lee Taking care of my house, which is a lot of work!

What do you want to do outside of modeling?
Josie Lee Travel the world some more.....I also have fantasies of attending Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Paris. I'm not planning to be a professional chef in a restaurant. I just want the training! I also would love to eventually acquire a pilots license.....but that would require a lot of time and resources!

Five years from now, where do you see yourself?
Josie Lee Maybe moving back to Southern California because I miss being near my family. I'd love to be married, have a fat puppy, live near a park and host Afternoon Tea Parties for my friends.

What is the coolest thing a fan has ever done for you?
Josie Lee Come out to support me at the autograph shows. It's a great feeling!

Any photographers you enjoy working with or hope to work with?
Josie Lee I love working with photographers who give me quality tearsheets and/or treat me handsomely. I am a princess, after all! LOL!

Which internet websites would you say you spend most of your time at?
Josie Lee www.modelmayhem.com, Facebook, Twitter and any cooking websites that have recipes.

Do you travel much for your modeling?
Josie Lee Yes, I am gone 2 - 3 months away from home every year. Sometimes more.

Do you like all the traveling?
Josie Lee Mostly, except when it's non-stop for weeks and I wake up in a hotel and don't know what city I am in for the first few minutes! That's when I know I need a break!

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
Josie Lee Paris!!!

If you could play lead role in any type of movie, What kind of movie would it be?
Josie Lee A News Anchor, or chef. I'd also like to be a superhero.

Do you have a favorite Car?
Josie Lee Hybrids!

Do you have a favorite drink when at clubs or bars
Josie Lee I don't like the taste of alcohol very much, so if I had something it would have to be very sweet and very weak. I used to like Silver Patron tequila, but not anymore! I'll just have an orange cranberry juice with a lot of grenadine and maybe lime soda.

What is your favorite type of food?
Josie Lee Spicy food such as Mexican and Indian.

What kind of music are you listening to these days?
Josie Lee "Walk Off The Earth", "Coldplay", "MIA", Britney Spears, One Direction, Weezer, The Dead Elvi, Rihanna, Pink, and I also love music from Broadway Musicals.

Tell us something you got away with?
Josie Lee It involves multiple traffic violations. I think I got away with it because I wasn't trying to get away with anything. I just had a bad driving day in a new and unfamiliar area of town. The police officer could see I was genuine and not trying to pull anything. He could also see I was having a lousy day.

Which celebrity would you like to meet and why?
Josie Lee Hmmmm? Christina Hendricks (Joan from Madmen). I just want to meet her!

Best pickup line you've ever heard?
Josie Lee I can't remember one that I would consider a good pick up line.

Worst pickup line you've ever heard?
Josie Lee I am not kidding.......this guy in San Francisco said to me, "Hi! I am your biggest fan and have read a lot about you. Are you marriage minded? If not, are the eggs in your ovaries available for sale? My church will dedicate a shrine to you!"

If you could be a super hero, what would that superhero be like?
Josie Lee Wonder Woman or a combination of Wonder Woman, Psylocke, and Black Canary.

What the worst prank you've ever played on anyone?
Josie Lee I have never played a prank on anyone.

What the worst prank anyone has ever played on you?
Josie Lee Hmmmmmm, a not-very-effective crank call. The caller forgot the punchline. It was really sad.

Find a lamp and out pops a Genie, you get one wish, what would it be?
Josie Lee It's my birthday wish every year, so I cannot share it or it won't come true!

Are you single now?
Josie Lee No, I'm in a relationship.

Tell us about the person your with today?
Josie Lee Very smart, funny, generous, loving.

Give us the dirt on your dating life. Any first date rules?
Josie Lee Be natural.

Do you kiss on the first date?
Josie Lee NO!!!! Bad idea! A gentleman will wait. If he won't wait, he's not worth it. Move on....

How many kids in high school have asked you out?
Josie Lee Quite a number, but not thousands, ha ha.....but I wasn't really allowed to date until senior year and then I had a steady boyfriend who was a detriment to those wanting to ask me out, lol!

Should a person call right away or wait a few days?
Josie Lee I think it's awesome if the guy is really into a girl and he doesn't wait at all. I don't like games.

What kind of guy bugs you?
Josie Lee A guy who gives me no space or personal time, is rude to wait staff or anyone else, brags, name-drops, takes two parking spaces to park his car, doesn't have impeccable hygiene, and slouches. If I see a guy litter, it is such a turn off.

What does a guy need to do to make you stay?
Josie Lee In general by being cheerful, tidy, ambitious, funny, generous, kind and demonstrative.

What's the worst place to meet a guy?
Josie Lee A club or bar. It's not my scene.

On a date... What does the person have to do to make it perfect for you?
Josie Lee Be generous, considerate, and fun. If he takes the trouble to learn my preferences, and plans well, that is a big plus.

Leather or lace?
Josie Lee Lace, but not polyester lace. Eeewwwwww. Venetian lace or in another high quality fabric.

Do you have any dreams or goals you're shooting for?
Josie Lee More commercials and acting. I've been a principal actor in a lot of commercials and I LOVE it! More, please!

Where can we expect to see you at in the future?
Josie Lee I was just added to Dial-A-Star: 888-695-4543 Ext. 108877 www.DialAStar.com Also check out this wonderful Photoshop Book written by expert Derek Lea: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Photoshop-techniques-integrating-Illustrator/dp/0240811909 Available at Amazon, Focal Press, Barnes & Noble, Chapters, and other major bookstores near you! That's me on the cover! This is also a textbook for many universities and technology schools.

Do you have anything to say to your supporters and your future fans?
Josie Lee Hi friends and fans! Thank you for your love and support! I'm very grateful! Please follow me at: https://twitter.com/#!/josieleemodel or call me at: 888-695-4543 Ext. 108877 www.DialAStar.com

Interview and images provided by Josie Lee