&B

In life, God giveth, and he taketh away. There’s no such thing as perfection, but once in a while you’ll come across someone that’s pretty close. In this case, the lucky candidate happens to be a resident of Louisiana, (Rayville to be exact) and even though the ‘The Big Easy” hasn’t had much to smile about in recent years, maybe Shan B. AKA Ms. Juicci can help to put a smile on a few faces with her assets.

Bell Biv DeVoe fore-warned men about trusting a big butt and a smile, but that advice is more likely to go out the window when you’re talking about this graduate student who’s on her way to attaining her Masters in Public Administration.

If you haven’t seen her in Smooth Magazine, The Source Magazine’s Dimepiece section, or B.G’.s video “For A Minute,” then odds are you’re not in-tune with the world.

With only two full years of modeling under her belt, she has the mental toughness to balance school and her ambitions of being a well-recognized face in the world of urban fashion and entertainment. The 26-year-old R&B lover is poised to bring a lot more to the table than just her all natural derriere, but if you come at her the wrong way then she’ll probably tell you to kiss it. And it won’t be in a friendly manner either.

So where are you from?

I’m originally from Rayville, Louisiana.

How were you like when you were growing up? Were you a tomboy or a girly-girl?

[Laughing] Pretty much I was a girly-tomboy. I played all kinds of sports, but I didn’t carry myself in that type of ‘home-boyish’ way. I loved my Air Max tennis shoes, but I always had to have my hair done, so it was kind of like—I was a 50/50 type girl. I didn’t get into cheerleading, but I did the band. I was the cool around the way type of girl, like the life of the party.  

Do you like being the center of attention?

Yeah I do like it, but its not something that has to be me all the time, you know? Everybody likes to be around me because I’m a real positive person. If someone is down around me, I’m always asking if they’re okay and things like that—and especially when people are going through a whole lot of things. People can always come and talk to me about whatever they want to, and I’m always there.  

How did you first get into modeling?

Two years ago in February. I was sitting in one of my grad classes, because I’m in graduate school as well, and a guy approached me about this clothing line that he had. Then he asked me if I wanted to model, and I said I wouldn’t mind doing that. I believed him right when he started talking about his clothing line, him and his partner. Then we started going to places, and I would wear the clothes for the women’s edition of the clothing line. And from that, I got so much of a positive feedback from the way I looked and my personality. Then that lead me to go on and do my own thing, and then I sat down with my manager, and I asked him, “What is the first thing you think about when you see me?” And he said, “Juicy, like juicy.” And then I was like, “Okay lets just go with that.” So we just changed the spelling of it, and I’ve been on my way.   

That’s cool. You said you were in grad school right?

Umm-hmm…

What are you studying?

I’m getting my Masters in Public Administration.

What are you?! Some type of genius?! [Laughs]

I wish I was! Oh my God I wish I was! [Laughing] It’s just hard because there are so many places I wish I could go, but because I’m in school, I can’t travel as much. But my manager helps me a lot, as far as getting things together like scheduling things on the weekends when I know I’ll be available.

Is there anything in particular you want to get out of modeling?

I want try and move up to television commercials and movies, and possibly get to the point where I can host my own fashion show or something like that.

Do you find the modeling world to be a little competitive and catty at times?

Yeah I do find it to be catty but with my attitude, I’m just like, “Okay I’m just going to take everything with a grain of salt.” I remember when I was starting out maybe a year ago, and I used to hit different models up on Myspace, and I would ask them questions about the business. Do you know what they would to me? They would not answer my emails, or call me back. There was this one model from Atlanta that gave me her number, and when I got to Atlanta, I called her and she never called me back. Then I saw her again at another event and I don’t think she remembered me. But I was like, “Oh my goodness!” “Why did you diss me?!” “How could you diss me?!” That’s what I was saying to myself, but she was wrong.

It goes both ways, but I never said anything about it, I just remembered how she did me. Then she gave me her number again, and it was the same number I had from two years ago. [Laughs] But I keep things like that, like all types of information so if anything comes up, I would know.     

What’s one thing that gets on your last nerve about the entertainment business?

The thing that really gets to me is if I’m speaking to a guy, he might present himself in a professional way, but then a second later he’s like, “I do want to get to know you better.” You can’t get to know someone personally in this business unless you’re ready for that, and right now I’m not ready for that. My mind is not even into things like that right now, I’m still trying to make my mark, you know? I’m still trying to be known internationally. So that would probably be my pet peeve. Guys approach me on the business side of things, then here comes the phone call around 11:30pm and they’re like, “So, what are you doing?” Then I’m like, “This is so not business hours!” 11:00pm is pushing it! But that would probably be one of them right there. [Laughing] 

[Laughs] What’s been one of your biggest jobs so far?

My latest was Smooth Magazine, and I’ll be coming out with my own spread. And I did B.G.’s video for his song “For A Minute.” It was actually shot last year, but I think it just came out in February. I had people calling me up saying, “I saw you in B.G’.s video!” And my part is really small, so I’m just thankful for that. I also did The Source Magazine Dimepiece, that was small but I was very thankful for that as well. Hopefully from there I get more calls and more interviews, and just more appearances.  

Do you have a preference between video modeling and print? Or is it all the same to you?

It’s not really all the same, but exposure is my key. Whether it’s a billboard, a print add, regular magazine, online magazine, video, You Tube, or BET. The more they see me is the better for “Juicci,” so I just want to do it all. So right now, I just take everything as a building block.

How did your parents react when you told them that you were going model, and some pictures might be half-naked?

Well some of the pictures, they were like, “Okay Shan, there’s too much going on.” But they can’t tell me not to do it because I’m in school, and I’m in my undergraduate program, I don’t have any kids, and I don’t hunt them down for money. I come from a small town, and my parents are well known so they’re like, “It better be something worthwhile that you’re doing, and not just showing the crack of your butt.” I have a lot of respect for my parents, and whether they agree or not, I’m going to do my own thing, because I’m meant to be seen all over the United Sates.

Don’t you mean the world?

Exactly! Exactly! Internationally known. [Laughs]  

Have you had any negative experiences with modeling so far?

I would say the negative part was just people saying that they would help me, and get me into things and get me parts, and it ends up not being true. So I think that would probably be my most negative experience. But everything else is just a learning process, like I said you just have to take everything with a grain of salt.

Have you found it tough to stand out in such a competitive industry?

Well I think my personality speaks for itself, and people can tell if you’re genuine or not. A lot of people tell me I have this wholesome face, or that I have a beautiful smile. So I’m just going to do me, like the song says. I’m not worried about competing with the next girl, of course this can get expensive especially being in graduate school but, if its meant to happen things will come true.  

Okay I’m going to get in your business a little bit. Who’s going to get your vote? Obama or Clinton?

I think right now just because Hillary is making all these accusations and things of that nature, I’ll probably say Obama. Because he has a great following as well, so I’m going to go with Obama.

Are you the takeout queen, or queen of your kitchen?

I’m versatile honey! [Laughs] I can get in the kitchen and bake. I’m from the South, so I can whip a pot of greens and cornbread. But at the same time, I still like to go out to a nice sit-down dinner with my girls or whatever and just enjoy each other’s company. And when you have the food brought out to you, if it’s not right then you send it back, and if its good then you eat everything like I do. Because I do eat! [Laughing]

[Laughing] Which brings me to my next question. How good are you at staying in shape?

I maintain and continue to just stay toned. Eat whatever I want

What type of music are you into mostly?

Right now what I’m listening to in my truck is “Biggest Boss.” I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, AND LOVE IT! Shout out to Rick Ross. If you need a girl to make an appearance in your video, please hit me up! [Laughing] But I’m more so of an R&B girl, I love old school Jodeci, Joe, and things like that. I love R&B.   

Any present R&B singers you have a small little crush on now?

He’s probably taken, but Chris Brown, oh my goodness! He’s such a young hottie! He’s cute! [Laughing] I like his style because he stands out. What six foot-something guy are you going to see pop-lock and do all the stuff you’ve seen him do? And he’s cute as hell.  

Are you single or taken?

I’m single but, if Benjamin Franklin wants to be my man, by all means Benjamin Franklin I want you to be my man. [Laughing]

[Laughing] What types of guys are more likely to get your attention?

I like a guy that automatically stands out without even saying anything—a person that’s not trying to rep with all the chains and big jewelry. I like the guy that has the soul brother aura, like he has his business game on, but at the same time he can also get down with the dirty-dirty. And he has to be tall and funny too.

How tall are you?

I’m 5’5” [Laughs]

[Laughing] I thought you were taller, since you were talking about wanting a tall man.

Well the shorties like the tall ones. [Laughing] I wear heels to work everyday, and one time I didn’t and my co-worker was like, “Okay either I’m tripping today, or you’re just extremely short!”   

[Laughs] What turns you off about a guy?

I thought you’d never ask honey! [Laughing] The guys that are EXTREMLEY flashy. “Yeah, you know what I’m saying, why don’t you come with me and we can take a ride in my Bentley.” First of all, you’re not going to take me anywhere and chop me up into little itty-bitty pieces. And second of all, NO! I don’t even like that kind of stuff, and I can ride in my own truck. It might not be a Bentley, but I love my jeep. [Laughing] And also bad breath and crunchy-looking shoes, that’s another turn off. [Laughing] 

[Laughs] Lets your man comes home from a hard days work. How would you make him feel at ease?

Well I would usually check in with him throughout the day to make sure he’s okay. Then I’d see if he would want to go out to eat, or if he would want me to cook him dinner—with me wearing an apron and heels, and nothing else. [Laughs] And then I would just get ready to oil him down after he eats. I would always make my man happy whether it’s rubbing head, feet, or giving him a manicure. And just handle my business in the bedroom point blank. Just like R. Kelly said, “Sex in the morning.” [Laughing] It doesn’t matter, whatever he requests, I will do.

For more pics of Ms. Juicci, check out Sixshot's Photo Gallery or visit http://www.myspace.com/msjuiccijeanisisclothing