Up Close & Personal: Christina Becker

How many of you are thinking that the beauty that graces the cover of this month's issue looks kind of familiar?

Probably quite a few, only you're having a hard time placing exactly where you saw her, right? Well, let me help you out. I'll give a few clues. She knows how to use tools, looks great all oiled up and really knows how to get a grip on you. Remember? Oh, come on! Nitto Tires? The ad that used to put you on pause between stories as you stared in awe at that goddess bearing an air ratchet and daisy dukes?

That's right, meet Ms. Christina Becker, the very same girl that looked so great posing in front of that pile of Nitto radials. As you well know, Nitto has since moved on to a different ad campaign that unfortunately doesn't incorporate the Japan-born Becker.

On behalf of our readers and the staff here, we have devised a master plan to put her back on the pages of 2NR this month and give you the opportunity to get to know a little more about her. Is she really perfect? Well, for the interview, she sat down with us, shot the shit and helped us polish off the pizza and beer before the shoot and still came out looking like the bombshell that she is. It doesn't get much better than that!

2NR: How long did you live in Japan?

CB: I was born in Yokohama and lived there until I was four, then I moved back there when I was 20. That only lasted about six months, then I moved back to the States.

2NR: You didn't like it out there? I think it's a cool place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there either.

CB: Well, I like it there, but I just hated the foot traffic and taking a train everywhere. It's that kind of stuff that makes you miss driving a car. But I got around pretty easily 'cause I could speak Japanese fluently, so I never got lost. I think it's a nice place to live for a bit, I got tired of it pretty fast. I was out there for six months just modeling, before I moved back to the States.

2NR: What type of modeling did you do there?

CB: A lot of beer commercials as well as ads and some print work.

2NR: Beer promotions at age 20? That's kinda funny. They do have good beer there though. I was there at the beginning of this year.

CB: Oh, were you there for the Tokyo Auto Salon?

2NR: Yeah.

CB: I was supposed to go this year, but it was a decision between two places; Japan or Hawaii. Of course I chose Hawaii.

2NR: You chose Hawaii!? Just kidding. I don't blame you.

CB: Actually, it was a hard decision only because if I went to Japan, I would be staying only five minutes away from my relatives in Shinagawa. I have an aunt and some cousins that live in that area and I know my way around there really well. The problem was I would be out there to work and then I would have to make the time to visit them.

2NR: So you have a thing for animals, huh?

CB: I love animals. I would like to eventually make a big shelter for all different kinds of animals. I hate going to pet stores and shelters, looking at the cats and dogs all caged up--it's just so sad. I think getting pets at shelters is much better. I personally believe that they feel more loved and they're going to be more affectionate.

2NR: How many pets do you have right now?

CB: I have a cat named Rocko; it's a Bengal. I used to have a lot of cats, but since I've been traveling a lot more recently, I don't have the ability to maintain all of them.

2NR: When you're not playing with your cat, do you have a man to play with?

CB: No, not right now. That's why I got so descriptive when I was describing my man, because I'm looking. A friend and I actually went on that show "Blind Date" to see if we could hook up with some guys.

2NR: And the end result was...

CB: Well, my friend and her date hit it off really good, but mine was the opposite. I mean the date went OK, he was really cool and an extremely nice guy, but for some reason I didn't see him as a love interest. The cool thing was both of our dates were paid for by the TV show.

2NR: What would the perfect date be like?

CB: Fine dinning, flowers, courteous and romantic, but the most important thing is to just be a gentleman. I'm not the kinda girl that expects a guy to pay every time we go out to eat, but the first date is a given; the guy should pay for that one.

2NR: You want to go out sometime? Of course, I believe in an 80/20 ratio when it comes to paying for dinner--girl being the 80 (J/K).

Hot and single, just the way we like them. Ms. Becker has been there and done that--when it come to the modeling scene, that is. And the best part is she has other plans when the industry becomes old news to her. From Nitto girl to Tuner cover model as well as many other non-automotive magazines out there, Christina is considered a universal cover model. Some of her most recent accomplishments include being crowned Angel of the Month in Bold magazine, as well as appearing in magazine ads for U.S. Tobacco, which got her a free trip to Cancun, Mexico for two weeks. According to Ms. Becker, being in Cancun for two whole weeks made her appreciate living in her hometown of Los Angeles. In her own words, "A few days I can handle, but two weeks is way too long."