Model: Talla

Adelante: So, you feel cooking at home is better than eating out?
Talla: es, for sure. It is healthier because you’re always aware and have control of the ingredients which are not good for you. You can control the salt and oil. It may not be the best tasting but its better for you.

Adelante: What are the best types of foods to eat?
Talla: Lean meats. Chicken breast, fish and brown rice and lots of vegetables and fruits. Items that are high in protein and low in carbs.

Adelante: What are the secrets to staying in good shape?
Talla: It’s the food you eat. It’s better to eat several small portions every few hours than large meals.

Adelante: How often do you work out?
Talla: Four to five times a week. Twice a week I do cardio.

Adelante: How about sleep?
Talla: Sleeping is very important. I need at least 7-8 hours each day.

Adelante: How important is sex for good health?
Talla: Very important, good for stress relief. Now at my age, it’s the same as having good wine. It’s a question of quality.

Adelante: What do you think of the new U.S. President?
Talla: I love him. I think it’s a change, a new beginning. The world is changing and America needs to change as well. We need to trust in something different. I like his ideas. He does not fit the traditional mold. Everyone should have a voice – gay, straight, men and women. He represents a new voice. It’s all good.

Adelante: What are your favorite things to do?
Talla: Dance.

Adelante: What things don’t you like?:
Talla: I’m not a morning person and don’t like to wake up early.

Photo: Lorenzo Gomez

Favorite Actor: Brad Pitt – “Because he rocked-out in Fight Club.” I loved the book, then when I saw the move, I said wow!”
 
Favorite Music: “Anything but Country.”  “I just never felt it.  I’m not really down with the cowboy thing and the dysfunctional relationships they sing about in their songs.”
 
Favorite Band: The Doors – Classic Rock Group.  “They were ahead of their time.”
 
Born: In the Echo Park Community of Los Angeles at Queen of Angeles Hospital
 
Attends: San Diego State University
 
His Goals: John is near completion of a Master’s Program in Social Psychology, with a concentration in Influence and Persuasion.  He hopes to eventually acquire a Ph.D., some day become a professor, teach, conduct research and write books.
 
Adelante:  What makes people tick?
John: “Basically, their desires…the things they want.”
 
Adelante: Why do you believe you would be good in this field?
John:  “Because most of us are good at the things which we are pre-disposed or pre-inclined to do.  I think I’ve known this is what I wanted to do since I was young.  What will make me particularly successful is that I have always had the interest, the motivation for the work and I find people interesting.”
 
Adelante: What’s interesting about people to you?
John:  “Just the complexity of human behavior.  To ‘predict’ human behavior and to have a sense of why people do the things they do in life.  It gives us a good understanding of the type of individuals on the planet with us.”
Adelante: You’re a model and actually very smart.  Would you say that brains are just as important as good looks?
John: “Oh, yea.  Often those that are good looking have learned in life to rely on their good looks to get them by…but I tend to rely on my intelligence to get me by.”
 
“Intelligence and education are important.  This because although you may look good, does anyone really want to be around those that are boring or lack interests in life?   I think people that are intelligent and educated know that.  So, they become the type of people that others want to be around.”
 
Adelante: What are the major challenges for this country? 
John: “I believe it’s people’s thinking…a lot of times people live in boxes and develop limitations by believing the odds in life are against them.  But if you really want something, it is possible.  Look at president-elect Barak Obama; he grew up a poor ‘welfare-child’ and look where he is today.  Others are born with a lot, but go nowhere.”
 
Adelante: What causes that?
John: “It comes from a lot of social sources…perhaps parents that don’t encourage their children to go after their heart’s desires because they are trying to protect them.  Often, parents encourage their kids to pursue things which are more ‘practical’…they don’t want to see their kids fail, so they have them set lower goals.  That is harmful.”
 
Adelante: How do we change this?
John: “That’s one of the reasons I want to be a teacher…because by helping children believe they can do whatever they want when they
are young can cause incredible change.”

Photos by Paul Culver

Favorite things to do: Drawing, acting, modeling, to roller blade; likes to sing, but says, “I’m not that good at it – but I like it anyway;” hanging out at the beach, going to clubs and dancing.

Type He likes: Athletic, dark complexion, light hair, they have to be fun and sincere, honest and faithful; “I like to give people their space, but like to have my space also.”

Food He Likes: Chinese, Sushi, Argentinean, Cuban, Italian, “especially Lasagna,” Mexican Food – “I love tacos.”

Favorite places: South Beach, Florida, “because it’s beautiful and I love the sea and can relax and enjoy rollerblading.” “The other place I like a lot is the Epcot Center in Orlando.”

Q: Why do you like the beach?
A: “I love water. I like listening to the waves. I clear my mind and body when I go to the beach.”

Q: What don’t you like?
A: “I think I’m ok with everything. I can adapt to any situation you put me in. I’m pretty much fluid, like water and can adapt to any situation.”

Favorite singers: Shakira, Modonna and Britney Spears.

Favorite TV Stars: Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore; Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz, Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock; Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, “although she has not been looking so good lately.”

Goals for future: “I want to be a plastic surgeon or a psychologist. Plastic surgeon because, “I love the aesthetics of the human body and like seeing people achieve their personal goals. I think this is a good way to help.” “A psychologist because I believe I’m a person that can understand other people’s problems and I’m a good listener. I think I give good advice.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: “I’m going to be studying one of these careers. I also would like to see myself as a famous model – the biggest passion I have.” “Hopefully, very centered, helping my family in being successful. I would like to be a model, but there is a lot of competition out there.”

Q: What makes a good model?
A: “Well, the passion is the first component and the determination to do it.” “People think it’s easy to model, you have to put your emotions into the picture, depending on the shoot and there is a lot of discipline; you have to be cautious with your diet, and in exercising.”

Q: What makes you happy?
A: “Being around my family, because they are everything to me. They are all I have in this world. Being surrounded by people that love me and whom I love. Living in a peaceful environment. We Scorpions like to maintain a harmonious life.”

Q: What’s your advice – for the new President?
A: “Don’t make war, by any means; because I don’t believe in fighting. For me, I don’t think war solves anything. I would tell him to try to lead this county as peacefully as possible.”

Congratulations to Amhed Camejo-Diaz on being our December cover model.