See her video at SavvyTV!

When Shana Marie was in the fifth grade, her teacher asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up. Her response was not a welcomed one.

“I wrote that I wanted to be a computer teacher and a model. I was teased for the rest of the day because I chose two things. I should have known that you're only supposed to be one thing,” says Shana Marie. She has proved her classmates wrong, achieving her goals and living her dreams: she is a Senior Business Analyst by day (that’s the computer thing sorted – that, and a brief spell as a consultant), and a successful model on her days off from Corporate America. “Now that I'm living my dream I could stick my middle finger up in the air and say, ‘see I told you I could be two things at once’.”

Shana Marie hails from an urban NYC community close to Manhattan, “It’s the same place I have lived my whole life.” Since school, Shana Marie has dabbled in computer consulting, and now spends most of her days in “Corporate America”, wearing the badge of Senior Business Analyst.

“As much as I love my computer work, I would prefer to be a full time model,” says Shana Marie. “Modelling is my passion. It is the first thing I think about when I wake up, what I think about while I'm at work during the day, and what keeps me up at night!”

“I started modelling with the thought that nothing would come out of it except some fun,” she says. “Now a year and a half later I'm flying all over the U.S. to do photo shoots.” Since scoring the honour of July ‘07 Is She Hot winner, Shana Marie has booked in more than a few magazine shoots for the New Year. Of her recent Savvy shoot, Shana Marie says; “It has been the best so far… The whole experience was something I will never forget; the whole thing was enjoyable and the hair and makeup work that made me look like a sex kitten.”

Despite this, it seems her chosen profession and her hobby couldn’t be more different. When quizzed about how normal her hobby is, Shana Marie laughs: “I don't believe in things being ‘normal’ or not ‘normal’.” Instead, she explains that everything is relative to an individual’s experience, hers being a particularly interesting one. “I stand in front of photographers half naked to model and that is normal for me but may not be normal to someone else.”

Still, Shana Marie admits there is a downside to the modelling thing: “The worst thing for me about shoots is worrying about if my family or boyfriend will approve of my outfits.”

And Shana Marie’s advice for potential Is She Hot contenders?

“Network, network, network! Make sure you go on the blogs and introduce yourself. People are more willing to help you out if you’re a nice person and have something special that separates you from the other girls in the contest. The girl with the best personality will win over someone who is beautiful who doesn't take the time out to at least introduce herself. Beautiful women are a dime a dozen but beautiful personalities are rare.”

BREAKOUT:
Hot Tips from the Is She Hot title holder:
“Keep your photos on your profile fresh. Constantly update them and give people something hot to look at. If you have access to a video camera make a video blog too!”

Keep an eye out for Shana at savvy.com and in a couple of mags, before she takes on the world of reality television in the New Year. Stay tuned to her blog for more updates!

Credits: Photography by Barry Smith/Studio 8 Photography, interview and story by Ele Glass, makeup by Devon, styling by Arekah, video shot by Thom VanQurkerk, video edited by Daniel Parkinson, shoot produced by Candace Rae.