Stefania Bella
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If you think about Canada, you don’t think of three things: warmth, beautiful women and hip-hop. But for 21 year-old, Stefania Bella, also known as Bella Rocafella – she looks to rid the notion that it’s all snow and hockey in the land way up North. This mixed beauty recently moved to the States in hopes of taking her career to the next level. You’ve seen this stunningly curvaceous lady featured in various videos ranging from Xzibit’s “Concentrate” to Fabolous’ “Return of the Hustle.”
This sexy Sagittarius is all business as she joined the ranks of elite urban models through Big Tigger’s 2007 Kittens Calendar. She also linked up with fellow Beauty & Brains model -- Reesee Zigga Zagga for her 2007 calendar project. The model is indeed turning heads all over the place. Now gracing the online world, Ms. Bella talks with Beauty & Brains about her experiences with Big Tigger, why she would never date a celebrity and debunks a myth about models.
B&B: You were a part of Big Tigger’s 2007 Kittens Calendar, correct? How was that experience?
SB: It was a lot of fun. There were so many models there and a lot of them who I’ve seen before but never got a chance to work with. Everyone got along. There wasn’t a serious vibe with the shoot. My favorite moment was… I’m trying to think… I don’t even know. I’d have to say being around Tigger. He’s such a funny guy! Him and his friends were always joking around. It was so much fun. Afterwards, we all went out to dinner and had a grand time.
B&B: What did you take from it that you’ve used to enhance your career?
SB: I learned that you can either be really catty or you can be an individual. It’s better to be humble and work hard, trying to cooperate, rather than being the opposite.
B&B: How do you want to use the modeling game to advance your career?
SB: I would like to get more into acting. But if I do this, then I want to come into the game correctly. I’m going to do it right, if I’m going to come at all. I’m trying to get an acting coach. I’ve had a few offers to do some stuff, but I feel like I’m not ready for that yet. I hope that modeling will help me get a step ahead.
B&B: Now, Toronto is a cool place to be from. But you’ve recently moved to the States. Where and why?
SB: I did for a minute, but I’m back in Toronto now. I’ve been having some problems getting back and forth. I was in Brooklyn for awhile. I don’t feel homesick when I’m there. I love that it’s so crazy. As soon as you walk outside of the apartment, there are all the stores that you can go to that are right there in front of you. On a regular day, I wouldn’t have to leave the streets. I love BeBe and I love Marciano.
B&B: You’re also known as Bella Rocafella. How’d you get the nickname?
SB: [Laughs] I got it when I was in high school. A friend of mines just started calling me that because it rhymed. It was nothing more to it than that.
B&B: Can you remain happy knowing that millions of men are judging you solely based on your physical?
SB: You know what? It is what it is. I’m not the only one who does it, so I figure that it’s just the industry. I would never date a dude who’s involved in this type of stuff. When I’m not going to a shoot or going to an industry party, I just look like a bum all the time [laughs]! When I meet a dude on the streets, he wouldn’t have any idea. I don’t tell him that I’m a model, either. I see where it goes. I don’t want a person to go out with me because he can say that he’s dating a model chick.
B&B: You were in videos with Xzibit and Fabolous – what was the worst experience of working there?
SB: The worst experience was dealing with the cattiness that happens between women. I was experiencing a lot of hate. I was with my girl, but I was getting a lot of it from the women. My mom used to tell me all the time that if nobody hates you then you don’t have something that they want. I just take it all in stride. I was hearing tons of stuff, but it was nothing that I could say in particular. I could hear the other chicks saying stuff about me. My girl was about to fight someone, but a person was there to calm down the situation.
B&B: As more and more women try to embark into videos – will there ever be a time when there are no more celebrity video models?
SB: I almost find that it’s like that now. There are so many out there. Especially when I’m in NY, I run into the same girls over and over and over again at every audition. More and more people want to do it. I get at least ten messages a day asking me how to get into the business. I think that it’s a glamorous thing and women want to be that, but I think that it’s also happening now. I’ve always looked up to Melyssa Ford and Vida Guerra. When I first saw Melyssa Ford in Black Men’s Magazine and she was in Jamaica, I think, it was so beautiful. I thought that I could do that too. When Vida came out, I thought that she was the bomb! She’s definitely doing her thing.
B&B: Do you have to have a double life in order to have a regular one?
SB: Eventually, I tell people that I’m a model, so it’s not like a secret. So, yes, it’s almost like that. At the end of the day, I’m just me, but anywhere else I’m this model. I also have a 9-to-5 job that I work. The odds of a person who’ve seen the stuff that I did would say that I’ve see a girl just like me. But I don’t want people to get the impression that that’s what I’m doing. More people would find out, but right now, I just being low key.
B&B: How many models, in the industry that you know of, have boyfriends and stay faithful?
SB: Tons! I think that just because people see that they’re models that they’re promiscuous. A lot of them are married, but people don’t want them to know because it may ruin the fantasy.
B&B: …Are you…?
SB: I’m single [laughs]. Single life is good. I have my options and that’s what I like. I get bored easily. So, I like to keep my options open. I’m kind of a commitment-phobe. I don’t like to explain why I leave. But don’t get it twisted… I am very romantic girl.
B&B: What’s next for you?
SB: I’m trying to get myself involved in a variety of things. I would say that I’m trying to get into the acting, really soon, but I want to work on my website. It’ll be launching soon. After that I’ll be coming out with my own calendar.
B&B: Being in music videos surrounding by men who command millions makes it hard to settle for less. So, if a regular guy wanted to date you – how would that go?
SB: I only date regular guys. I don’t really get involved with the high society dudes. I like to stay humble. As long as they’re hard working and have a good head on their shoulder, it works for me. I definitely do not like that thug mentality. I see right through that.
B&B: Is there anything else that you want to say?
SB: I enjoyed doing the interview and thanks for having me.
Want to know more about Bella Rocafella? Check her out at her MySpace page – http://www.myspace.com/stephaniabella.
If you think about Canada, you don’t think of three things: warmth, beautiful women and hip-hop. But for 21 year-old, Stefania Bella, also known as Bella Rocafella – she looks to rid the notion that it’s all snow and hockey in the land way up North. This mixed beauty recently moved to the States in hopes of taking her career to the next level. You’ve seen this stunningly curvaceous lady featured in various videos ranging from Xzibit’s “Concentrate” to Fabolous’ “Return of the Hustle.”
This sexy Sagittarius is all business as she joined the ranks of elite urban models through Big Tigger’s 2007 Kittens Calendar. She also linked up with fellow Beauty & Brains model -- Reesee Zigga Zagga for her 2007 calendar project. The model is indeed turning heads all over the place. Now gracing the online world, Ms. Bella talks with Beauty & Brains about her experiences with Big Tigger, why she would never date a celebrity and debunks a myth about models.
B&B: You were a part of Big Tigger’s 2007 Kittens Calendar, correct? How was that experience?
SB: It was a lot of fun. There were so many models there and a lot of them who I’ve seen before but never got a chance to work with. Everyone got along. There wasn’t a serious vibe with the shoot. My favorite moment was… I’m trying to think… I don’t even know. I’d have to say being around Tigger. He’s such a funny guy! Him and his friends were always joking around. It was so much fun. Afterwards, we all went out to dinner and had a grand time.
B&B: What did you take from it that you’ve used to enhance your career?
SB: I learned that you can either be really catty or you can be an individual. It’s better to be humble and work hard, trying to cooperate, rather than being the opposite.
B&B: How do you want to use the modeling game to advance your career?
SB: I would like to get more into acting. But if I do this, then I want to come into the game correctly. I’m going to do it right, if I’m going to come at all. I’m trying to get an acting coach. I’ve had a few offers to do some stuff, but I feel like I’m not ready for that yet. I hope that modeling will help me get a step ahead.
B&B: Now, Toronto is a cool place to be from. But you’ve recently moved to the States. Where and why?
SB: I did for a minute, but I’m back in Toronto now. I’ve been having some problems getting back and forth. I was in Brooklyn for awhile. I don’t feel homesick when I’m there. I love that it’s so crazy. As soon as you walk outside of the apartment, there are all the stores that you can go to that are right there in front of you. On a regular day, I wouldn’t have to leave the streets. I love BeBe and I love Marciano.
B&B: You’re also known as Bella Rocafella. How’d you get the nickname?
SB: [Laughs] I got it when I was in high school. A friend of mines just started calling me that because it rhymed. It was nothing more to it than that.
B&B: Can you remain happy knowing that millions of men are judging you solely based on your physical?
SB: You know what? It is what it is. I’m not the only one who does it, so I figure that it’s just the industry. I would never date a dude who’s involved in this type of stuff. When I’m not going to a shoot or going to an industry party, I just look like a bum all the time [laughs]! When I meet a dude on the streets, he wouldn’t have any idea. I don’t tell him that I’m a model, either. I see where it goes. I don’t want a person to go out with me because he can say that he’s dating a model chick.
B&B: You were in videos with Xzibit and Fabolous – what was the worst experience of working there?
SB: The worst experience was dealing with the cattiness that happens between women. I was experiencing a lot of hate. I was with my girl, but I was getting a lot of it from the women. My mom used to tell me all the time that if nobody hates you then you don’t have something that they want. I just take it all in stride. I was hearing tons of stuff, but it was nothing that I could say in particular. I could hear the other chicks saying stuff about me. My girl was about to fight someone, but a person was there to calm down the situation.
B&B: As more and more women try to embark into videos – will there ever be a time when there are no more celebrity video models?
SB: I almost find that it’s like that now. There are so many out there. Especially when I’m in NY, I run into the same girls over and over and over again at every audition. More and more people want to do it. I get at least ten messages a day asking me how to get into the business. I think that it’s a glamorous thing and women want to be that, but I think that it’s also happening now. I’ve always looked up to Melyssa Ford and Vida Guerra. When I first saw Melyssa Ford in Black Men’s Magazine and she was in Jamaica, I think, it was so beautiful. I thought that I could do that too. When Vida came out, I thought that she was the bomb! She’s definitely doing her thing.
B&B: Do you have to have a double life in order to have a regular one?
SB: Eventually, I tell people that I’m a model, so it’s not like a secret. So, yes, it’s almost like that. At the end of the day, I’m just me, but anywhere else I’m this model. I also have a 9-to-5 job that I work. The odds of a person who’ve seen the stuff that I did would say that I’ve see a girl just like me. But I don’t want people to get the impression that that’s what I’m doing. More people would find out, but right now, I just being low key.
B&B: How many models, in the industry that you know of, have boyfriends and stay faithful?
SB: Tons! I think that just because people see that they’re models that they’re promiscuous. A lot of them are married, but people don’t want them to know because it may ruin the fantasy.
B&B: …Are you…?
SB: I’m single [laughs]. Single life is good. I have my options and that’s what I like. I get bored easily. So, I like to keep my options open. I’m kind of a commitment-phobe. I don’t like to explain why I leave. But don’t get it twisted… I am very romantic girl.
B&B: What’s next for you?
SB: I’m trying to get myself involved in a variety of things. I would say that I’m trying to get into the acting, really soon, but I want to work on my website. It’ll be launching soon. After that I’ll be coming out with my own calendar.
B&B: Being in music videos surrounding by men who command millions makes it hard to settle for less. So, if a regular guy wanted to date you – how would that go?
SB: I only date regular guys. I don’t really get involved with the high society dudes. I like to stay humble. As long as they’re hard working and have a good head on their shoulder, it works for me. I definitely do not like that thug mentality. I see right through that.
B&B: Is there anything else that you want to say?
SB: I enjoyed doing the interview and thanks for having me.
Want to know more about Bella Rocafella? Check her out at her MySpace page – http://www.myspace.com/stephaniabella.
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