Las Vegas, known for its extreme desert climate, went through a cold spell the three days Leah Dizon crossed the Nevada border and rolled into Los Angeles for our cover shoot. She's the daughter of casino dealers and-through many years in high school theater-is a self-admitted nerd because she loves the acting community. Armed with the smarts and confidence of a girl years beyond her 18, this sexy beauty aims to get her degree in the arts and eventually pursue the Hollywood dream. She'll be Los Angeles-bound before the end of the year. She's a virgin to the import scene. Her baby steps include only a handful of Web sites and one other magazine cover. Her newness makes it difficult to find any real information on Google; it only teases with random candid photos. The interview will clearly be hard to come by. After ringing various cells around the office I ended up with an AIM screenname. I catch her online. Cake.
2NR: Will you be in the mood to do it with me in 15 minutes?Leah Dizon: I'll do it with you whenever ... and however.
2NR: U scare me.LD: Lol.
2NR: Back in 15 then. Warm up. "Get your eagle on" girl.LD: Haha. K.
2NR: OK here we go. U ready?LD: Yeah.
2NR: Name. Height. Weight. Ethnicity. City you represent.LD: Leah Dizon. 5 feet 5 inches. 115 pounds. Filipina/Chinese/Caucasian. Las Vegas.
2NR: Were you always from Las Vegas?LD: Yep. Born and bred.
2NR: How old are you? When were you born?LD: I just turned 18 on September 24, 2004.
2NR: What do you like about being from LV?LD: Being from Las Vegas is cool because the culture here is so different from everywhere else. Personally, I think it's just normal, but it fascinates other people, you know? Our economy is based around gaming.
2NR: Gambling. Drinking. Strip clubs. Hooteehooo!LD: As far as all the strip clubs and everything, I'm sooooo used to it. I think it's weird when I go somewhere and there aren't any. It feels like something's missing. Lol.
2NR: I feel the same way-and don't mention the fact you can smoke damn-near anywhere. Has the Vegas culture made you more open to things?LD: I don't think it's the culture as much as just my personality. I'm very open-minded.
2NR: Reeeeeally.LD: Geyeah!
2NR: So when was the last time you ... kissed a girl ... while dancing ... with both of you slathered in glitter lotion? Well? I didn't think so.LD: Hahahahaha. That whole bit about smoking anywhere is making me crave a cigarette. I just quit. Damn you.
2NR: What do you think I did with those 15 minutes before this interview.LD: Aaah you suck.
2NR: Would you say you are a good poker player or what I like to call "poker-er."LD: Hahahahahaha. I probably couldn't tell someone something they couldn't just learn form watching Rounders. Poker is universal; I just grew up with it here.
2NR: Mommy and Daddy don't gamble but baby girl can rack up them chips, eh?LD: Lol. My mom is awesome. I didn't even know how cool she was until recently. She can do all these cool shuffling tricks and tricks with chips and stuff.
2NR: Did your parents have to do some dirty work and dig a ditch in the desert for the boss?LD: Hahahahha! What the f--k are you talking about?
2NR: I dunno ... I guess I'm watching too many gangster movies.LD: Lol. Yeah.
2NR: So did they?LD: Dude. You watch too many movies.
2NR: What got you started in modeling?LD: I was getting my pictures taken by a photographer in the Bay Area while I was visiting family. The photographer suggested I go to a show with her. I just started getting offers and really followed up on them. A year ago I had no idea what "the scene" was. I thought an "import model" was a model who came from outside the United States. Lol.