"So you ready for your interview and the subsequent thousand Facebook stalkers?" I jokingly rib.
"Oh my gosh, you don't even know. I've already been proposed to, like, 20 times! From teenagers following me around at the beach to crypt-keeper-looking old dudes promising to buy me houses, I've had them all," Sumlee laughingly responds, "But I can always use a few more!"
It's late in the afternoon on a Thursday and Sumlee Anderson and I are sitting in one of the dozens of cafes that line 6th Street in the Koreatown enclave of Los Angeles. Wearing oversized gold-rimmed sunglasses and a loose-fitting sheer beige top, Sumlee doesn't seem to notice the throngs of old Korean businessmen ogling. And why would she? Between her non-stop giggling (Sumlee's a self proclaimed goof), sipping on a banana-strawberry smoothie (not a fan of coffee), blossoming career (upcoming roles in CSI: Miami and Deep in the Valley, a film co-starring Denise Richards and Kim Kardashian) and the dozens of courters (newly single and down to mingle), Sumlee's impervious to attention. She's used to it. Thanks to the wanton advances of men before me, the closest I'll get to second base is a confirmation on my friend request. The thousand Facebook stalkers? Make that a thousand and one.
Interview By Carter Jung.
So what is this stuff about you almost being an Olympian?
I started playing rec ball when I was 10 years old, and when I turned 12, the girls in our league were going into travel ball or junior Olympics softball. I've always been uber-competitive and thought, "I'm going to do this and I'm going to kick major buttsicles." The next thing I know, my dad took it seriously and started coaching me like a he was a drill sergeant. What position did you play and what was your batting average?
I played short stop and center field thanks to my speed skills. My batting average was around .300.
Damn, slugger! You weren't messing around. Do you play any other sports?
I like to wrestle! [laughs] Just playing. I do love flag football and basketball is my fave. I go to Boomers and rock out on their air hockey machines . . . wait, is that considered a sport?
About as much as Street Fighter is MMA.
[laughter] I don't know about that, but I do rule the air puck! Bottom line, if I can compete in it, I like it. I like it even more if I win!
Did you pursue softball in college? What college did you end up going to and what major?
No, in college, I stopped playing softball and got more into modeling. Softball was more a hobby to me, and by that age, modeling became more than that. I went to Palomar College and studied biology to get into forensics. Forensics? Where did the interest in dead people come from?
Too much TV as a kid! [laughs] No seriously, I used to watch tons of crime scene and detective shows trying to figure out 'whodunit' before the plot was revealed. I was always like 'I knew it!' so I thought I should be an investigator but then actually having to touch smelly brains and hearts didn't sit pretty with my tummy. I'd be great at forensics as long as I didn't have to touch, look at, or smell the dead stuff.
And now you're in the mob?
[laughs] Yep, I come mobbing deep. I love video games and my Facebook fans got me started on Mafia Wars. It's fun collecting weapons, starting fights or wars and robbing people-I love it! P.S. to would-be rivals: my weapons and mob are bigger than yours!
What other games do you play?
I'm all into Madden and Call of Duty. It's become a ritual where I have to play Madden before my Chargers play, so they can be ready to win their game. No one can mess with my Hail Mary! I love the action of COD, except I kinda suck at aiming my gun. So instead of shooting, I'm like a ghost ninja hiding and slicing people with my knife-you won't know what hit you! If I'm starting to sound kind of violent, I'm really not. I'm a cuddle bug, I swear!
A sweet little cuddle bug who likes to shank peeps! [laughter] Sounds like you're a bit of a nerd . . .
If nerd means not caring what other people think, then yes. I'm a dorkus. I don't care if I'm silly or do silly things. I have some brains but I got a lil' more swagger and sexy than the average nerd. Do you date nerds?
[laughs] It depends-does he look like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp? [laughs] As long as they're not the full-on Dungeon and Dragons, living-with-mommy type of boys, I'm ready to mingle. Know of any?
Not many nerds here. Readers of other D-list car mags, maybe. What do you look for in a guy?
Someone who can be himself, confident and honest. Being athletic or talented at something doesn't hurt, either. I always seem to go for the bad boy-the talented guy with dreams. They are relatable but not always the best.
What are four major turn-offs for a guy?
Smelly. Dumb. Lazy. Insecure. The last trait sucks the most.
When you and your friends are on the prowl for men, where do you go? Facebook?
Usually we are the one being pounced on, but usually clubs, concerts or even a baseball game.
What's the worse pick-up line you've ever heard?
I've heard so many to the point I'm not surprised anymore. There was one that did throw me off: 'Girl, even your armpits are sexy! I would lick 'em for days!' I was like, 'Ew . . . really?' [laughter]
That's gross. Your toe-pits, maybe. The aluminum zirconium in deodorant is like licking a nine-volt battery. Yuck. How did modeling come about?
I was scouted as a kid but I didn't get the full motivation to do it until one of my exes and I broke up. After I took some photos and saw the look on his face, I fell in love with photography. The industry as a whole has taught me so much. I got picked up by HIN and won Miss HIN Arizona. From there I started doing fashion and glamour stuff. I landed print work, landing on several magazines and was a Maxim Hometown Hotties semi-finalist and was featured on fhmonline.com. Recently, I've been going back to doing more high fashion commercial work.