From time to time we like to talk to some of the models who have helped make our magazine what it is today. This time around we decided to call our very popular model Natasha Yi (April 2001) to catch up with her. Okay, we actually see her at the shows every now and then, but with all of our busy schedules we rarely have time to stop and find out what she's been up to since our cover shoot. We were finally able to rearrange our hectic schedules and managed to get together for lunch and discussed how things have been since the last time we had the chance to talk. I think just by looking out these pictures, you can see somethings never change.
2NR: You know, I was watching "Rush Hour 2" when it first came out and in one scene I noticed your face in a crowd of women and then a real good close up. I thought that was pretty cool.
NY: That was really fun! I worked a week and a half for that scene--can you believe it! It's amazing how long it takes to shoot a scene for a movie. It was a great experience, though. I got to meet Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, and they were real funny and super nice. I had the opportunity to work on a few other big movies and TV shows since then. My most recent job was another movie we filmed with the Rock called "Helldarado." The Rock was super nice along with everyone else on the set! It's a lot of fun working on film. It's something I would really like to do more of. I absolutely love modeling, but there's nothing like motion pictures.
2NR: We've seen your enormous fan base at the shows and with our readers. How have they been treating you?
NY: My fans have been awesome! I can truly say that I have the BEST supporters out there! They are the sweetest and have given me much love and a big lasting smile on my face! I've enjoyed visiting all of your cities and meeting you all! You guys rock!
2NR: You were new to the industry when you first appeared in our magazine and, now that you've experienced it, tell us the good and the bad things you've come across in this industry?
NY: Good: I got to meet really cool people and even some who I can call my best friends. I also had the opportunity to travel everywhere and see places I've never seen before. I know how to modify a car now. Ha ha, just kidding, but I do know about some of the car parts.
Bad: I've realized there are a lot of two-faced people out there. I can't stand it when someone is real nice and friendly to your face, pretending to befriend you, but the minute your back is turned, they are bad mouthing you. I don't get it. Maybe they need to talk shit about others to make themselves feel better. Who knows? That's why I tend to keep my circle of friends very small; I am a very genuine type of person and I like to give my all in any type of relationship I make. I also believe in karma. Good things happen to good people, good people also find other good people and vice versa.
2NR: I take it you don't want to mention any names?
NY: It's not about mentioning names, it's about not stooping to their level. I'm not about talking bad on anybody even if they did talk bad on me. If I did then I would be just as bad as they are. I don't bad mouth others and I certainly don't appreciate it when people do it to me. I wish everyone would abide by this rule: Treat everyone how you would like to be treated. If everyone lived by this rule there would be less anger in the world and a lot more loving.
2NR: OK, If you don't want to mention people who have burned you, then who are some of the people you can call your best friends in this industry?
NY: I can say that Cherie Roberts and Rowena Galam are two people I call really close friends. They're like my sisters, we always make sure we take care of each other. We also do a lot of our traveling together, which is nice, so we don't have to travel by ourselves and we can watch each other's backs. They've really been there for me these past couple of years, through the good times and the bad! They truly are like my sisters.
2NR: When we did the previous interview, you had just moved to L.A. from Denver. How are you enjoying L.A. life now?
NY: Amazing and fun, this really is my new home now. Oh yeah, I want to tell all my friends from Denver to move out here already, and that I miss them. They're missing out on all the fun I'm having!
2NR: Tell us a little about you Web site?
NY: When I first started my Web site, I had somebody else maintaining and running the site. I felt that was kind of unfair, because I wanted to give my members more than someone else's work, so I went to school and learned all about multimedia and Web design.
Now I'm running my entire site myself, which is awesome because I have full control of everything and I also get to interact with my members at all times. I look at it as though I'm one-on-one with my members. I do live Web cam chats every week and even have an ongoing animated cartoon comic strip series called "Nat's Adventures," which is based on my daily life. I also have thousands of downloadable, full-size pictures, videos, girlfriends, guests, games, stories and a ton of other fun stuff! If you haven't checked it out, you should!
2NR: After all your many adventures, what is your most memorable traveling experience?
NY: I love New York, Florida and San Francisco. But the most memorable was the time when I flew to New York with Rowena and you were on our plane.
2NR: Oh, I remember that!
NY: It was fun cause we flew in early and hung out in New York City. I liked the whole sightseeing thing, and at night we went to a couple of clubs. Remember, we tried to go to the nudie bar Scores?
2NR: Yeah, I remember that. I also remember I had to drive us from New York to Atlantic City. Thanks for nothing JK.
NY: Oh yeah! It was fun harassing you and cracking jokes the whole way!
2NR: Well, I guess we should end it now so there is less reading and more looking at pictures.
NY: Sounds good to me...thanks for lunch! It was fun catching up with you.
Model: Natasha Yi
Height: 5 ft 5 in.
Weight: 112 lb.
Birth Place: Boston, Mass. (Raised in Denver)
Nationality: Korean
Measurements: 34C/24/34
Web site: www.natashayi.com