AmpedAsia.com: What’s your ethnicity?
Vanessa Phil: To be specific, my dad is half White, quarter Chinese and quarter Viet, and my mom is Vietnamese, part French.

AmpedAsia.com: When did you begin modeling?
Vanessa Phil: I started modeling when I was 17. I signed with an agency in Dallas. I got into the car scene when I was 18.

AmpedAsia.com: What inspired you to become a model?
Vanessa Phil: When I was eight years old, I used to watch fashion shows, like the ones for Victoria’s Secret. Like any girl I really wanted to become a model. I prayed to God everyday that I could grow tall, like at least 5’ 8”, but in middle school I realized I couldn’t. Then when I was 17, an agency in Dallas discovered me and told me I could model for them doing other types of modeling like commercial and catalog and editorial. I decided to do it after that.

AmpedAsia.com: How did you get discovered by the agency?
Vanessa Phil: A friend and I were walking in a mall and we saw a booth that said,  “Sign Up Here and Get Discovered Today.” At first I thought it was completely bogus, but my friend wanted to sign up. So we both went to the open casting call. A woman there gave me a nudge to sign with them and then I decided to go ahead and do it.

AmpedAsia.com: What are some of your talents and skills?
Vanessa Phil: Talents and skills… hmmm. When I was younger I was talented in arts, I was skilled in drawing. I also can put my legs behind my neck.

AmpedAsia.com: What do you think the future holds for you?
Vanessa Phil: I really wanted to model to open doors for myself. Being able to network and meeting new people and learning new things. I feel that when people want to do just one thing in life, I feel that it’s boring. Don’t you want to explore?

I have girls come up to me and ask if I’m still modeling and I say, “Yeah, and I’m going to school.” Then they ask, “Why are you going to school if you’re just modeling.” I just feel that by going to school people give me more respect, so they don’t think I just pose in front of a camera all day. But I am really looking to do other things also. I’m really hoping to do work behind the scenes with other models.

AmpedAsia.com: What are your tips for aspiring models?
Vanessa Phil: Don’t expect highly of anything. Promises are going to be broken. You’re going to get disappointed all the time. If you feel like this is what you want to do, then keep doing it. But make sure you have a back-up plan.

AmpedAsia.com: Have you made any mistakes as a model?
Vanessa Phil: Being a cry baby outside in the hot weather. Especially because it’s so hot in Texas. It’s not really a “mistake” but I guess its something I need to own up to.

AmpedAsia.com: What do you like to do for fun?
Vanessa Phil: Most of the time I like to stay home, chill, relax. Otherwise I’d like to go out with my friends, maybe clubbing. Although it’s once in a blue moon that I actually go clubbing.

AmpedAsia.com: Are you currently single or taken?
Vanessa Phil: I’m taken.

AmpedAsia.com: What kind of guy do you like?
Vanessa Phil: The things I look for in a guy? Besides being able to make me laugh, he also has to be very patient and loyal. I admit I can be a difficult gal! Responsibility is also another big factor, I love to see a guy who can take care of himself and isn’t too needy. Also he has to be social yet respectful, it’s pleasant to see a nice man nowadays! And good hygiene. I don’t mean he has to go to the salon and get a pedicure, I mean he knows how to clean himself up just from his own bathroom.

AmpedAsia.com: Thanks so much Vanessa!

See more of Vanessa Phil at her Facebook page.

Written by kevinhype