Q: When did you get your first tattoo? What is it?
A: I waited until I was 18. It's the only thing I waited for! I was on vacation with my two best friends, Rene and JemStar, in Miami and I had waited long enough! It is a tribal design on the small of my back and has my initial in the center, just in case I forget my name!
Q: What's your favorite kind of music?
A: I used to only listen to hardcore music when I lived in NYC: bands like Diecast and Hatebreed. Then I moved to Northern California where the music scene is a lot softer and tamer. I had never even heard of emo until I moved here. Now, I have a more mixed music collection.
My top 5 bands in order would be: Sublime, Diecast, Deftones, Slipknot, and S.T.U.N.
Q: How did you meet your husband, Papa Roach drummer Dave Buckner?
A: I met him a couple of years ago at a taping of MTV Icon. They did one on Aerosmith. Papa Roach was sitting behind me. I figured they knew where the after party was and asked them, but they ignored me. After the show, my sister, Liv, wanted to get a drink and found out where the party was. She dragged me in and we downed a glass of champagne and started to mingle. I saw Dave across the room, ran over to him and we started to chat. We were friends for about 6 months before we started dating.
Q: Tell us about your wedding.
A: Dave and I eloped to Las Vegas the first time we got hitched! It was sooo hard trying to get all the family together in one place, so we decided to take a trip to see my dad play in Vegas one night. When we got there, we told my dad we might get married at one of those little chapels on the strip. Then, as a joke, Dave said, "We might bum rush the stage with a priest during the show tonight!" My dad thought that was a great idea. Between "Walk this Way" and "Crying," Dave and I got married by a judge on stage at an Aerosmith show in front of 30,000 people. It was awesome! Four months later, we had a private ceremony in Sacramento for all our friends and families!
Q: How do you think your life is different being the daughter of an icon?
A: The door is opened a lot sooner and wider than most. It's how you choose to step through the door that sets you apart from everyone else. Here I am, the daughter of this huge rock god, and all eyes are on me, not because my father is Steven Tyler, but because I am a chunky butt and I have an awesome attitude about it.
I couldn't care less what people think about me, as long as I can help girls realize it's not about body size but the strength of your heart. I feel good! That is my job as an entertainer: to entertain your thoughts about big girls and how awesome we are! If you don't like it, too bad for you!
Q: When did you first start modeling?
A: I was 19 and staying in Malibu for the summer. I received a call from an agency that Lane Bryant was interested in using me for a modeling campaign. They offered me a lot of money. I wasn't doing anything at the time, so I flew to NY for the job. While I was there I met Kate Dillon, another plus size model, who introduced me to an agent. It just kinda went on from there!
Q: How did you feel the first time doing a runway show?
A: Runway is my favorite thing to do in the modeling industry. When you do a photo shoot you have to do what the client wants, but on the runway you can be wild and crazy. All runway models do the same stupid walk with nothing to make them stand out from the rest. Well, my goal in life has always been to stand out from the rest. When I am on that runway, I am free to be me which my favorite way to be!
Q: What was your experience being a model and plus size when you first started modeling?
A: It wasn't cool until we started making it a more positive experience. It's not about whether you are fat or slim; it's whether you have a strong enough head to hold you up. Everyone always makes plus clothes huge and ugly. Now, we have a store like Torrid that helps us look and feel good about ourselves.
Q: What's your favorite part of modeling?
A: Traveling and making people understand that us chunky butts want to look good, too!
Q: What do you see in your near future?
A: Babies!
Q: What new projects are you working on or do you have down the line?
A: I recently did a campaign for Levi's and I work for MXM exclusively in Canada.
Q: Tell us about VJing on MTV2.
A: It really wasn't for me. They wanted me to be cool with announcing a Britney Spears video and being all giggly. F— that! I'd rather eat my own arm than tell people to listen to pop music! Don't get me started!
Q: Other than modeling, what other work would you be interested in?
A: I'd like to do horror films that include vampires and gore. I got into acting when I was younger. I think I sucked but Dave thinks I am good, so I might try something out if the right thing comes along!
Q: Did you have any situations where you didn't think you were going to succeed?
A: No! That's a crappy way of thinking. You have to always think positive! That's what makes you succeed!
Q: How do you get over fear?
A: Fear nothing. Well, except clowns. I always stay away from them!
Q: When did you discover Torrid?
A: Jacoby Shaddix, the singer for Papa Roach, turned me on to Torrid. He bought a belt there and told Dave to tell me to check it out! And here I am, obsessed!
Q: What did you love most about modeling for Torrid?
A: Getting to keep some of the clothes I wore!
Q: What do you think of the new Torrid look?
A: The clothes are made much better now. You can go anywhere in a Torrid piece.
Q: What's your favorite outfit?
A: My black and pink dress. It has three layers of pink at the bottom and a big flower at the top. I love it!
Q: What style ideas do you have for Torrid girls?
A: Torrid has clothes for every style type. From rockabilly to punk to church, you can choose your own!
Q: What message do you want to leave with Torrid girls?
A: Always stay positive. Don't listen to anybody who tells you that you can't do something because you're full-figured. You can do and be anything you want to be.
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