Model: Nicole Ricca
Birthplace: Jamaica
Now Lives: South Florida
Birthday: July 20
Stats: 36-26-36, 5'9", 135 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes

See her video at SavvyTV!

This week's Savvy beauty has not only graced the pages of top magazines and appeared in some of our favorite music videos, but she's also a very talented artist as well.

"I have my own art business that is slowly but surely coming off the ground," said full-time model Nicole Ricca, who earned her bachelors of fine arts degree. "I'm really happy to know that there are people out there that really like my artwork. I will be selling my artwork on eBay very soon. Look out for that."

Nicole has been featured in Black Men's Magazine, XXL Magazine, King Magazine, and Smooth Magazine, as well as the videos for Nas' "Oochie Wally", Jagged Edge's "Where's The Party At", Sisqo's, "Can I Live", Nelly's, "Hot In Herre", Puffy, Nelly, and Murphy Lee's "Shake your Tail Feather", and Joe featuring 50 Cent "Ride with Me". Nicole has also appeared in videos by Ludacris, Project Pat, Trick Daddy, Lady Enyce, R. Kelly, Teddy Riley and Aerosmith.

Nicole was born in the beautiful island of Jamaica, where she lived with her mother and grandparents. Not long after she and her mother moved to the United States, a step dad gave her the last name Ricca. It's a name she's proud to carry. Not too long ago, Nicole finally met her biological father and three half sisters, something that she had been waiting for a majority of her life.

Savvy: How did you get famous?

Nicole: When I did my first music video, everyone wanted to know "who's that girl?" The agency I was with when I first started modeling gave me a good start, and now I'm represented by Jam Kam Inc. in Atlanta. Avery Mitchell told me about Savvy, and I heard you guys are doing very well on the web.

Savvy: That's what we tell hot women. (Laughs) If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?

Nicole: I wouldn't depend on others to make my career. I would not be so trusting. I would make faster moves.

Savvy: Do you get recognized in public?

Nicole: Yes. (Laughs) I like to go to stores when they're empty. I was recognized while shopping at Wal-Mart at 3 in the morning in my sweatpants. (Laughs) Your privacy is the most obvious sacrifice you make when you gain a high profile.

Savvy: Is there anything that kind of blows about being a celebrity? You've got looks and fame. So many people want that.

Nicole: It is great traveling to new places and broadening your horizons. The crappy part involves the stereotypes that come along with it. People judge you based on the image that they see, so I'm always hearing, "Wow, you are not just pretty, but you have brains!" Or "You're actually down to earth".

Savvy: Do people expect you to be mean because you've got it all?

Nicole: No matter what I say, people are going to think what they want. Plus, I don't care. Keep them guessing. (Laughs)

Savvy: If we were writing your "E! True Hollywood Story", what would be your high point and your crushing crisis?

Nicole: The low point of my life has been the adversities I faced growing up. My high point is the success from my career and using that success as a way to give back to charities.

Savvy: Have you ever been targeted by the tabloids?

Nicole: Yes. Sometimes they make up stuff.

Savvy: Anything really strange happen?

Nicole: I've had many people impersonate me, but this one girl did it for a few years and she would talk to people that I work with in the modeling industry over the Internet. It took a while to figure out what she was doing, but she made a lot of things difficult for me. I only have one Myspace page, Myspace.com/therealnicolericca .

Savvy: What's up with these dumbasses impersonating models? Can't they get a life? (Laughs) How did your Savvy photo shoot go?

Nicole: It was a pretty sexy shoot. Savvy treated me right and the photographer, Rick, was awesome, very nice. We all got sick eating at this burger place after the shoot. (Laughs) But it feels great to be selected to appear by Savvy. Thank you. I hope everyone checks out my website. I have a lot of neat things on there.

Savvy: Seeing more of you won't take much persuasion. What kind of guys are you into?

Nicole: I'm not too picky, but I prefer if a guy is older than me, taller than me and likes to be physically fit. I don't like guys who are too muscular. Wealth is not an issue as long as he can do for himself.

Savvy: An older man, eh? How much older is too old?

Nicole: I could date a guy who was 5 to 10 years older than I am.

Savvy: Do you like nice guys or the bad boys?

Nicole: The bad boys! It's the challenge.

Savvy: Do you need an emotional intimacy to have sex?

Nicole: No, but it is better that way. Not many women are able to separate love from sex.

Savvy: Do you think most guys know how to please a woman in bed?

Nicole: No. (Laughs)

Savvy: (Laughs) Well, school us!

Nicole: That would take too long to explain! (Laughs)

Savvy: When you do find a guy who knows how to use what he's got, do women brag to each other the way dudes do?

Nicole: It's not good to brag to a girlfriend about a guy's skills because she'll want to test him out. (Laughs)

Savvy: What's the key to a good relationship?

Nicole: You should never get into a relationship having expectations because you'll be let down. Don't ever try to change someone. Seek the change in yourself that you wish to see in others. I think so many marriages fail because people feel trapped and no longer able to be themselves. A lot of people get together for the wrong reasons.

Savvy: Have you always been outgoing?

Nicole: No, I'm shy by nature.

Savvy: Were you born this hot?

Nicole: I was a tomboy. I guess I blossomed.

Savvy: What'd you want to be when you were growing up?

Nicole: An obstetrician.

Savvy: I wanted to be a gynecologist. (Laughs) Just kidding. Is your family supportive of what you do?

Nicole: They are proud of me.

Savvy: What would you be doing now if your job wasn't looking hot?

Nicole: I'd be an artist. I am in the art business.

Savvy: You've had a lot of screen time on TV in these videos. Do you have the acting bug?

Nicole: Acting is a lot more challenging than modeling, but I'm up for the challenge! Fans can visit my website and check out my latest projects. My forum is fun and free to log on to. And if you reaaalllly like me, you can take me home with you, buying something from my online store.

Savvy: I'll take five of you! (Laughs)

Nicole: I have a lot of neat merchandise on there.

Savvy: What's your favorite place in the whole world?

Nicole: The Cayman Islands.

Savvy: How do you unplug from your celebrity status and relax as a regular human being?

Nicole: Well, being an artist, I enjoy being at home and painting and listening to music.

Savvy: Since you've been in so many rap videos, is rap your favorite style of music?

Nicole: My favorite music is actually reggae.

Savvy: Do you have a mentor or an inspiration?

Nicole: My inspiration is God.

Savvy: Ok.

Nicole: I read a book called "Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walshe and books by Wayne Dyer. They have really helped me to figure out who I am and my purpose in life.

Savvy: That's easy... You're here to inspire belief in divinity with your angelic face. Thanks for sharing your time with us and best of luck with your career.

_______

On the Web:

http://www.nicolericca.com

http://www.myspace.com/therealnicolericca

See her at SavvyTV!

Credits: Photos by Rick Hughes ; video by Frank Lee Roberts; make-up by Jodi Gross of Joditothemax; story by Steven Stiefel; model managed by Avery Mitchell of JamKam in Atlanta.