Name: Bhea Cruz

Born: Philippines

Lives: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Birthday: January 10

Statistics: 33B-24-34, 5’2”, black hair, brown eyes.

Ethnicity: Filipino, Chinese and Spanish

Check out behind the scenes video of Bhea on her shoot - Click Here!

Savvy’s “Is She Hot?” contest was her first dabbling with modeling and paid off big when she won it.

“I was afraid at first because I didn’t have any modeling experience and all my photos were ‘home-made’ snapshots,” she said. “I had a great time because a lot of people responded to me. I worked really hard to promote myself to get votes. There were times that I almost quit the contest, but the support of my loyal friends kept me going. Their comments really cheered me up.”

Her victory gave her the confidence to pursue other modeling jobs. She recently appeared on a bikini website and won another web beauty contest. Despite this and getting multiple offers for paid posing jobs, she still doesn’t consider herself a full-fledged model.

This pictorial may change all of that, however, giving a lovely girl who overcame poverty a real shot at the exposure needed to make her dreams come true...

Savvy: We loved your reaction when we told you that you’d won our monthly contest.

Bhea: (Laughs) Yes. I got dizzy and started to vomit.

Savvy: We have that effect on women. (Laughs) Just kidding.

Bhea: I wanted to win it so badly and it had been such a close race between the three of us. I was nervous and anxious, butterflies in my stomach. I hate that feeling.

Savvy: You sounded so shocked.

Bhea: I was! I entered the contest just to see what would happen, but because of the support of all my good friends and loyal fans, I was able to win. It was a complete team effort. I could not have done it without them. I will never forget them.

Savvy: We were actually prepared to offer you a pictorial whether you won or not.

Bhea: Really?!

Savvy: Yes, your personality was a winner and our readers obviously adore you. Even though your contest photos were amateur snapshots, your beauty overcame that handicap.

Bhea: You are making me blush now! (Laughs)

Savvy: You should be proud of what you’ve achieved.

Bhea: I worked very hard to support myself through college to get my degree. I’m proud because I worked full-time while going to school full-time.

Savvy: Where does that work ethic come from?

Bhea: I was born in the Philippines, which is a third-world country and very poor. We don’t have a middle class – you’re either very rich or very poor. I personally think it has a lot to do with corrupt politicians.

Savvy: Did you dream of escaping that and becoming a model?

Bhea: Modeling is something I always wanted to do since I was a child, but I didn’t think I was beautiful enough. I’d love to model swimwear and fashion. I’m interested in appearing in magazines and catalogs, as well as web sites. I hope the publishers, editors and photographers who are looking for petite models see this pictorial and want to hire me. I’m interested in legitimate offers.

Savvy: You did a terrific job at your Savvy photo shoot. You didn’t pose like a first-time model.

Bhea: I didn’t know what to expect, but I was treated very kindly. Everyone was very nice. I enjoyed my photo shoot with Rick Hughes, who is such a great photographer. I had a great time working with him and Jodi, the make-up artist.

Savvy: So you’d recommend the Savvy to others?

Bhea: Yes, of course!

Savvy: How did you find out about Savvy?

Bhea: Raquel Gibson. I saw her first in Playboy and admired her beauty. So I searched the web for web sites she is on and found she was on Savvy. I got curious about the site and noticed the contest.

Savvy: Would you ever do a nude shoot like Raquel’s Playmate gig?

Bhea: Not right now. I’m new to modeling and don’t want to do something that I might regret in the future.

Savvy: What if someone offered you a ton of money?

Bhea: Anything is possible, but right now my mind is set on modeling swimwear, lingerie and fashion.

Savvy: You said you lost a job selling jewelry because one of your coworkers told your boss about your contest photos?

Bhea: Yes! The owner did not approve of what I was wearing in the pictures.

Savvy: What a jerk! Do you pose as a model at the art gallery where you work now?

Bhea: No, because we paint seascapes and landscapes. I’m an assistant at my friend’s art gallery. I help teach and do sell my paintings at her gallery.

Savvy: You’re an artist?

Bhea: I like to paint abstract because it lets me show my emotions on the canvas. And it’s just a lot of fun. I’m working on an art show right now.

Savvy: Cool!

Bhea: Yes, I am excited. I’m planning a self-portrait of myself as a mermaid. They are so mysterious and interesting. At least I can be one in a painting.

Savvy: Have you always been creative?

Bhea: I started painting about 4 years ago, but I’ve drawn since I was a little girl. My mother told me that when I was 3 years old, I’d always pick up a pen or anything I could use to make a mess on the wall or the floor by drawing on it.

Savvy: Is your family conservative?

Bhea: Very much so. They were strict with me as I was the only girl in the family. I was raised to wait for marriage before having sex, but that would take me quite a while. I was very curious about it and in love with my boyfriend, in a serious relationship. So I broke the rule. I bet my mother would kill me if she was still alive.

Savvy: How old were you?

Bhea: I was 21. He was my first boyfriend, an American. I was so in love with him and thought that he loved me. But then he cheated on me and I cried almost every day for 6 months. I was devastated.

Savvy: What kind of moron cheats on you?!

Bhea: He said he made a mistake and was being an idiot. He continued to pursue me for about a year, trying to get back with me. He even proposed marriage to me, but he’d already broken my heart and there was no mending it. I did everything to make him happy. I bought a book about sex so I could satisfy him because I didn’t know what to do before. I enjoyed having sex because I loved him. Two people who are in love can do whatever they want so they can experience different things.

Savvy: Any man who has your heart and then pushes you away is a doofus!

Bhea: I lost my ability to trust a man in a relationship after that happened. Loyalty is very important to me. I need an emotional connection. I’m not interested in taking a risk of getting a disease from a one-night stand with some guy I don’t even know. I’m not that type of person. I would only sleep with the person that I’m in a relationship with because it would make it that much more special.

Savvy: But within a relationship, you aren’t afraid to get freaky, right?

Bhea: (Laughs) I’ve dressed up before. I’ve made love outdoors. It was exciting because of the possibility of getting caught, very sexy and thrilling.

Savvy: We can imagine! (Laughs) Your American journey sounds as if it has been turbulent and dramatic. You’ve been through a lot, it seems. What advice would you give to a girl out there reading this who has a dream of modeling but isn’t sure of herself?

Bhea: Be true to yourself and keep trying until you get there because it is a lot of hard work. And, of course, be nice.

Savvy: Thanks for entering the contest and being so nice to work with.

Bhea: Thank you! And thanks to all of my good friends and loyal fans. I love you!