Being beautiful is the least of Krystal Michele’s problems. The 22-year-old Jacksonville, Florida resident has other things on her mind. A few of them happen to be promoting amongst her fellow jewels in the rough – the Duval Dymondz and injecting her Southern charms in up-and-coming “gutter ambassador” – Plies “Shawty” video. The scintillating Aquarius has been making heads do a 360 degrees all throughout the Florida state. But would also make heads turn and a few brains pop out of the skulls is the fact that Ms. Michele is going to school studying Radiation Therapy. Her body isn’t the only thing that could cause a nuclear meltdown.

The bodacious beauty has carved a niche for herself inside and outside of the limelight. Hoping to utilize modeling as a springboard into other avenues, Ms. Michele continues to network and promote herself through casting calls and by way of her MySpace page. In the digital age, this vixen is hot enough to yearn for the touch, but smart enough to know which one is golden. Ms. Krystal Michele sits down with Beauty & Brains as she discusses how it was working with Plies, how modeling affects her personally and professionally and she goes into her past and dishes about her own personal “shawty.”

B&B: Urban modeling is a very tough and sometimes lucrative business to get into. What have been the perks of the business and what are some of the pitfalls?
KM: The perks of this business are that by being in an urban industry, as an urban model, one of the perks would be that even without the money you get that fame. You know how Black people are… you’re going to know Ray-Ray from around the corner. The urban community as a whole, we have a connection about ourselves. Everyone is two degrees away from someone, you know? That’s one thing that I can say about the business. It’s all depending on the people that you meet. There are the ones who can help you get to that next level. The negative is that everyone wants something for free. At the end of the day, you have to pay a lot of dues to even get your foot in the door. Another good thing is that because you have to pay those dues, you learn very quickly how to navigate in the business. For the most part, I feel like I know what I am doing. I feel like I have only done this for a year and I learned more than what I thought I would learn at that time, so quickly.

B&B: Most women’s aspirations are to move from this and become a successful model. Why does that seem to be the profession of choice for most women in this business?
KM: I can’t speak for everyone else, but I know the reason why it’s my choice is because I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I have been trying to get into projects with acting for as long as I can remember. I’ve never wanted to participate in music videos until I met a director and he told me that there were roles within the urban modeling industries that would allow me to showcase my acting abilities. I just think that people look at Halle Berry and she’s beautiful. Hollywood is beautiful. Most actresses become models. She [Halle] is a model for Cover Girl. So is Queen Latifah. I think it goes both ways.

B&B: What is it about the prospect of acting that makes models or women in general not want to take the conventional approach to getting roles?
KM: I would have to say it’s probably because it’s easier. It’s an easier outlet for exposure. Anytime I get to go to a casting call, I go. In a slight moment, I would choose acting over modeling. I just feel like modeling is an easier way to get into acting. Most of these women who model want to do more than just that. But who knows… [laughs]. When they hear about people getting paid to do movies or television shows and its millions upon the millions – why not try and make that much money like Denzel Washington or Brad Pitt.

B&B: You were one of the girls featured in Plies – “Shawty” video featuring T-Pain. What was it like on the set?
KM: Actually, it was a wonderful experience. Plies is extremely cool. He’s very down to Earth. There wasn’t anything extra that happened behind the scenes. Everyone was just working trying to get it done. There may have been some things that didn’t happen, but nothing that I saw. It was just us sitting there and we talked for the most part. He took really good care of us. He made sure that everybody gave everyone – all the models – respect. If we were rubbing our stomach, he made sure that he brought us some food. There were some girls who were acting a little bit crazy on the set, but I didn’t see anything with my own eyes. I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. I was there for business and that’s what I did.

B&B: The subject of the song is something that most men can vibe with. Have you ever had a “shawty” of your own?
KM: [Laughs] Ooh, you’re getting into the juicy questions, huh? Let me think… I’m more into long-term relationships. I can’t say that I have been involved in a casual relationship – let me just put it like that. But, yes, I have. It lasted for about two months. I had just come out of a break-up and the guy was there for me. He helped me get through the stress and the emotions that came with the break-up. Even to this day, I have mad respect for him for being there for me. We’re still friends, you know… I’m a true believer of people coming into your life for certain things. I believed that he served his purpose. He helped me get back together with my boyfriend, who’s now my fiancé. At the end of the day, he taught me a whole lot and I saw a whole lot, as well. That’s why we’re still friends. He wasn’t one of those “I can’t believe he did that to you” type of guys. You know how you guys do…[laughs].

B&B: Everyone has dreams of being successful and has plans on achieving that. What plans do you have and how have you been implementing them?
KM: There are a lot of urban models who once they break into the business, they break out quickly. It’s not to necessarily say that they wanted to leave, but the urban community gets bored of things insanely fast. My key to success is longevity. That’s one of the reasons why I want to do acting – because I want to have longevity. I will continue to network and build relationships with people who can help me with my goals. “Never walk out of the house looking crazy” is one of my mottos. I may leave the gym and meet someone who changes my entire life. As far as school, I have to prioritize. This industry is not promised to anyone, so you always have to have a plan B. Also knowing how to separate the business from the personal is crucial to me becoming successful. If I was to walk around thinking that I was the shit, my friends would knock me off of my high horse. So, staying grounded is the thing to do.

B&B: Most people would say, “Who cares what this girl thinks! Let see her ass and titties and that’s that…” How does the objective criticism affect your personal life?
KM: There was one particular website where myself and this modeling group called The Duval Diamonds. I took some pictures with them. This magazine had the picture posted on their site. The first time I heard something negative about myself I was really pissed off. I couldn’t believe it. Now, I laugh about it. I thank the haters [laughs]. I wave to them. It actually helps me. I would see something and if I thought that there was a little bit of truth in it, I’d change it – so they couldn’t say it again. The worst thing that I have heard was that someone said that I looked like a little girl playing in my momma’s makeup [laughs]. Or it was something stupid like, “Her weave looks really greasy.”

B&B: How does it affect your career?
KM: They haven’t affected my career negatively at all. Actually, they’ve helped me a little bit. The Duval Diamonds and myself were picked solely because of how much we were being hated on. As far as right now, we’re getting ready to release a calendar. There are going to be some celebrity models featured as well.

B&B: With so much time devoted to getting your name out there – do you ever reserve any special time for a loved one?
KM: Yes, of course. I have to – otherwise he won’t be there any more [laughs]. Whenever I’m not busy, because I work a part-time job at a hospital doing insurance, I spend it with him. We went to the Bahamas a while back. It was beautiful. At first, he didn’t like me being a model, but now he’s growing to accept it. He did put the ring on my finger, so he knows where my heart is.

B&B: If all else fails and your career falls flat – what’s next for you?
KM: I would keep trying and most definitely, I have school. I love helping people so that’s the reason why I am trying to learn more about radiation therapy. I’ve always wanted to deal with people. That’s why I was a dental assistant. I loved what I did and I loved the patients. They were happy and that made me feel good, too. It helped me see that I wanted to do something within patient care.

B&B: With beauty & brains to match – do you have anything to say to the haters?
KM: I love y’all [laughs]. I think about y’all every time I’m making my money. Thank you! I don’t quote rappers but in the words of my boy, Plies, “You didn’t want to be a hater, but I made you one…”

Want to know more about that sexy “shawty” – Ms. Krystal Michele? Go check her out at her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/kmj211.