The one thing I'm absolutely obsessed with lately is...
Work. I'm starting my own production company, so I'm writing a lot of films. I know that has nothing to do with Sports Illustrated but that's the one thing I'm obsessed with. No, you know what: love. Love, I'm all about falling in love now. I'm over my ex, and I'm all about dating again. It's nice, very nice to be thinking about someone else.
On a quiet, rainy day I usually...
I like the rain. I like to just sit and lounge and watch the rain actually. I'm one of those people. It's soothing to me. I like the windows to be open and to listen to the rain. I like to just sit, lounge and watch the rain ... maybe watch a good movie on the couch, anything from a romantic comedy to The Godfather; it just depends.
If I were giving a tour of my home, the one place I wouldn't show anyone is...
I'm a neat freak, so I keep everything clean. I make everyone take off their shoes because everything in my house is cream colored and the carpets are white, since my favorite color is ivory. Sometimes I can be a little OCD.
The sexiest thing a man has ever done for me is...
I had a death in my family and the guy flew in just to be with me, which I think is really sweet and sexy. Just to show that you care. He surprised me at my home by flying into Buffalo from London just to be with me and I thought that was really sweet. I think that's kind of sexy, just to show you care in a time of need.
And the sexiest thing I've ever done for a man is...
I don't think I can go on record with that [laughs]. Cook. I'm a really good cook, but I don't cook for just anyone; you have to be somebody really special. I like to cater to my guy, once I really feel comfortable with you. I'm definitely an I'll-please-you kind of woman. It depends on the guy. What do you want? I've made steak before; I can make oriental, Mexican and soul food. I like to feed them, too.
I feel a secret connection with...
Angelina Jolie. I feel like we have similar personalities. It could be because we're the same sign, we're both Geminis. Every time I see her, I just really feel connected to her for some strange reason. I don't know what that's about. She's really sexy and intelligent. I've wanted to adopt since I was 17, and she has adopted. Way before she was adopting, that was something I wanted to do. I'm starting on my own charity events and I'm going to be the Goodwill Ambassador for the girls in Somalia and Ethiopia, so I'll be putting time in over there. Since I'm a Goodwill Ambassador to Somalia and Ethiopia, it makes sense to adopt and get a baby from there. Those girls are really sweet, and for me, it's about empowering them because they're so brainwashed in those countries. Men dominate and that's it. Women are in the shadows. I'm not going over there to preach for them to get in trouble, but just for them to feel a secret empowerment within themselves, and know they're not second fiddle to a man. I'd love to meet her someday.
In a past life I was...
This life is so crazy, I don't even know if I can think about a past life. In a past life I was definitely an old soul. I listened to rhythm and blues, and to be honest with you I'm young, but I'd rather stay home and be a mommy and cook. If I had a job I was probably a ballet dancer.
If I didn't have any responsibilities tomorrow morning, I would spend tonight...
I would get on a plane and fly somewhere. I'm a busy body and I like to keep moving. I would go to Maui. I've never been and I've wanted to go, or maybe India. I've never been to either place. I would rather travel alone, I'm a loner. My mom traveled with me until I was 17. My first trip alone abroad was actually with Sports Illustrated in 2003. I was 18. I went to Africa, and it was perfect. After that, something went off in my head and I was like, 'You know what? I have to travel alone.' It's nice to have people there, especially if you're going to be gone for a long time, but I personally like to do things alone.
If I didn't have any responsibilities for a week, I would go to...
It's the same. I would travel, just go away. Go on a sabbatical without a care in the world. I would just take a lot of money with me. I really want to go to India. As a matter of fact, last year I was going to take a month off and travel there alone. My grandmother is half Indian. I wanted to explore that different side of my culture that I'm not familiar with. I was going to do it like a resident. I didn't want to stay in a great hotel; I just wanted to live the life.
If you asked my friends about me, the first thing they would tell you is...
I think too much. I never complete a full sentence because my mind is busy. I'll say one thing and I won't finish it, and then I'll start another conversation. They'll also say I'm a really good person, really loyal. Work-driven. Nowadays, they would probably say I've come into myself. I'm really content with myself. I've grown up so much and I'm really happy with the person I am. I feel like I'm entering into a new phase in my life and I don't have to wonder. I'm over the BS of my childhood and I'm really settled.
The last thing I really splurged on was...
Clothes, I went on a shopping spree two weeks ago. I spent $20,000. I called my business manager and told him I'm going shopping and make sure I had enough money on my card. I'm buying a house, so he has me on a budget. He only puts enough on my card so I won't shop. I needed to shop for spring and summer. I'm planning on being on a yacht for my birthday this year and it's coming up very soon, so I needed everything. I went on a really big shopping spree and I bought everything I needed. It was a crap load of money. He called my bank and made sure I had enough money because I don't like to be declined. I told him this is what I'm doing, so put this amount on the card and I'll see you on Monday. I got a car and I went with my stylist. We picked out some Jackie O-type styles. I'm obsessed with the '60s fashion. I love the music, the whole rock and roll era, I love it. I'm a bit Bohemian chic at times. I picked different eras that I like.
If I were going to a costume party tonight, I would dress as...
A genie, because the costume would be really sexy. I've never done that before. I don't usually do anything for Halloween since I'm usually working.
When I get dressed to go to the grocery store, my clothing inspiration is...
You wouldn't want to see me when I go to the grocery store. I'm in oversized sweat pants, a big T-shirt, and a hat because I have to be comfortable.
When I get dressed up for a party, my clothing inspiration is...
I don't know, something sexy.
One thing I do only when I'm home completely alone is...
I love music, and I would never do this in front of anyone or tell anyone else about this, but I stand in front of the mirror and put on different costumes, do my make-up, and pretend I'm on stage performing. I love Beyonce as a performer. When you really break it down, she's an amazing performer. I love Tina Turner; I play her music and her DVD. I even love Michael Jackson. But you know, I dance! I'm a ballet dancer, so dancing is something I love to do.
The one thing I hate for people to know about me is that I...
I have a blanket that I sleep with and I cannot sleep without it. I don't think I've ever told anyone that. I've had it for years. It's very old and I won't let any of my friends -- not even a boyfriend -- touch my blanket. They can't smoke around it. It has a certain smell that I love. I can't sleep without it, I travel with it. Do you know how big this blanket is? It's a big blanket! If I'm sleeping with a guy, he can't touch it, he has to be behind me and I'll sleep with it in front of me. It's a comfort blanket. It reminds me of my childhood.
If I had to spend $1 million right now, I would...
At least half a million is going toward clothes, let me just tell you that right now. I would give the rest to my mom.
If I had to spend $10 right now, I would...
I was going to say a pack of cigarettes, but I quit. Well, since we're out, I'd get you a cheeseburger.
And if I had to spend $1 right now, I would...
I'd give it to someone who needs it.
The sexiest I've ever felt was...
I always feel sexy. Friday I was in Vegas and with the guy. He had this whole weekend planned for me and I didn't have to do anything. It was weird because he had my dress picked out, sent it to me, had my hair and make-up done. I felt on top of the world. We went out and had a lot of fun.
The one place I've seen that I'll never forget is...
Marishes, the food is really good and the island is amazing. The people are really sweet; you're treated like royalty over there. There's really great weather. There wasn't one day we didn't have great weather. We were shooting swimwear. The flight's long, but it's worth it. Also, I had a lot of fun in Croatia. Most of the time we were on a boat, but I liked the old feel of the country. The people were great, but the weather was awesome. It's all about the weather for me. If I have bad weather I'm not happy, especially when I'm shooting swimwear. I felt a special connection to Jamaica. The food, the beach, the water, for me, its very tropical, and that's what I adore. We usually shoot in the streets, but I went to a lot of different caves in Jamaica, and a lot of these behind-the-scene places that I'm sure a lot of people don't necessarily go to, but it was great places to shoot there and I got a lot of amazing pictures out of it, like waterfalls.
I won't date a man if he...
I won't date a man if he's an athlete. I have a lot of friends who have dated athletes and it never turns out well. That's a lesson I've learned from them and it's not a lesson I need to learn on my own. I'll never date an athlete.
When I open my eyes in the morning, the very first thing on my mind is...
My day. I have to prioritize right away so I don't put too much on my plate.
My favorite thing to do in the comfort of my own room is...
Read. I love to read. Right now I'm swamped with this movie, so I'm reading all these books on Ronnie Spector, which isn't bad. But I have a book I'm going to start reading on Ancient Greek Mythology and Literature.
An athlete I have a secret crush on is ...
Kobe Bryant. I like his game and I think it's pretty sexy for a guy to come into a game and shoot 60 points in one night. That's pretty hot.
How about an entertainer?
Justin Timberlake because he's cute. I like the way he dances.
And name one surprise crush who most people wouldn't find particularly attractive.
Barack Obama is cute. He's hot in a weird kind of way. A man of power is always a turn on. The fact that he could be the next president ... I have a thing for politicians.
If I could be anything but a model, I would be...
I like my job. I wouldn't mind being a princess, although that's not a job. I wouldn't mind being royal. I really, really admired Princess Diana and everything she stood for.
If I could be anywhere else in the world right now, I would be...
In India, like I said, I've always wanted to go there.
In a group of people, I'm always the first to...
I'm always the first to do everything. I am very spontaneous. I'm the first to leave the party, to start the party. I've always been that way. I guess I'm sort of a brat, so I'm always like, 'this is what we're going to do, and you guys are going to follow me.' The blind leading the blind.
The worst lie I ever told was...
I got a lot of those but I'm not going public with them [Laughs]. Well, I'll tell you one. I overslept and I had a job. I woke up really late and knew the client would be really pissed off, so I thought the best way to avoid facing the music is to not show up to the job at all. So I didn't call my agency, I refused to call them and they were calling my phone like crazy. This was two years ago. I was with another agency at the time. I had my sister call and say that I was in the hospital and I had emergency surgery the night before, and of course my phone was off. had to go to the doctor that day and have him write me a bed rest letter; we're really good friends. It turned out to be such a big lie. It started off small and then escalated to this really big lie and I had to go on with it for two months, acting like I was recovering all because I overslept. I couldn't believe it.
To impress a cute man at a bar, I would...
I don't want to say most guys are into me, but a lot of guys are intimidated, so they won't come up to me. So I'll just go up to them and tell them to buy me a drink. I'll just say buy me a drink and they do and one thing leads to another [Laughs].
The last time I saw a woman and thought 'I wish I looked like her' was...
Halle Berry, of course. She's drop-dead gorgeous. Even the most beautiful woman looks at her and thinks, 'Wow, she's flawless.'
The one thing I'm superstitious about is...
Putting my purse on the floor. I'm afraid to be broke. I used to put my purse on the floor all the time, and then my friend's mom told me -- she's Brazilian and they're so superstitious -- 'No Jessica, you can't put your purse on the floor, if you do, you'll be broke.' I started picking my purse up, and I noticed I started keeping money. Maybe it was all in my head, maybe I just got smarter and stopped spending so much, but I won't put my purse on the floor.
My personal hero is...
I have admiration for a lot of people, but not any particular person because I realize they're human. I respect a lot of people for their work ethic or how honest they are, how driven they are, but nothing where I would hold them at high esteem and think that is the ultimate person to be like. I just try to be a better person myself.
Where's your hometown?
Buffalo, New York
Do you have any sort of special connection with your hometown?
My family. They're the reason I go back. It's no special city, but it's authentic in a way. It's a great place to raise a family, to be honest with you. The food is really good, the Buffalo wings, obviously. They are the best wings! I've never had Buffalo wings as good as the wings in Buffalo. The people there have really mastered it.
Where's the one place you have to go when you're in your hometown?
Niagara Falls, its one of the seven wonders of the world, baby, you have to go there. It really is amazing. Clifton Hills, it's on the American side of Niagara Falls. They have a lot of haunted houses there, the best in the world. In the summer, it's very popular. Actually, I can't wait to go back. I should go home this weekend as a matter of fact. I love to be scared! I have this thing about horror films. They have this one haunted house that's the best and its called The Screamers ... it has the music from Michael Myers, from Halloween and Michael Myers is actually chasing you, you fall into this tunnel, and you have to crawl. Its terrifying, it can be a bit weird, but it's a lot of fun.
How do you feel about environmental issues such as global warming or pollution?
I'm just trying to be active and do everything that I can; turning off my TV, because I have a problem keeping on electronics. For me, its being personally active, making sure you do what you have to do. It's a very serious problem and people should take it very seriously. There are some people very concerned about it. Getting celebrity spokespeople to get it to become a well-known thing is good. Americans are so clouded by other things; we're living in a whole other world. There's so many tragedies going on around the world, and our earth could possibly be coming to an end, and nobody really seems concerned. They're more concerned about US Weekly. I'm not going to be involved in something I don't believe in. I'm not going to do something just because Beyonce or Jay-Z is involved. It has to be something that's important to me.
