What do you get when you take someone from chilly Canada and let them run free on the hot streets of Fort Lauderdale, Florida? Well, for Ms. Soroya Mundy, you get an opportunity to bridge the gap between two worlds. With such a cool demeanor, Ms. Mundy has went from having pictures being used to promote Candy Land Models to appearing in music videos to being Canada’s “Sunshine Shine Girl” three times in a row.

The ever-changing model has brought her fun loving personality to Beauty & Brains. As she sits with us, the 5’6” cutie with dimples raps with us about the pros and cons of Canada versus Florida, how the increase of women wanting to be models doesn’t equate success and why T.I. is such a distraction.

Beauty & Brains: What brought you from Canada all the way to Florida?
Soroya Mundy: I was born in Canada, but I left the area when I was two-years-old. The first half of my life was actually spent living in Florida. Then, at 13, I went back to Canada. I’m not really a snow person and Florida is faster paced than it is where I was at. I liked Florida, a lot more; it’s hard as a child to live there, though. You can get into more trouble as a kid and Canada definitely isn’t like that. I can say that I was blessed though. Canada helped to raise me into a young adult, while Florida taught me about life. If I would’ve just learned about life in Florida, I may have been distracted by the bad influences that were around me and I would have been trying to fit in with the cool kids growing up.

B&B: Besides the weather – what were a few subtle differences that you had to get used to?
SM: Well, Canada is more diverse. In Florida, where I grew up, the ratio was 90% Black and 10% White. In Canada, it was pure opposite; like night and day. I mean, they’re two different areas and it took a lot to get used to. There is a lot less racism in Canada than there is in Florida.

B&B: How did those differences affect the way you went about handling your career?
SM: It helped me learn to not judge people. I accept people for who they are. It helped me to grow and love where they come from. I try not to prejudge people. I have had people do that to me. I am not going to let someone’s actions dictate what they think of me. I am 100% honest with myself and towards others. I know that I am shy person when people first meet me. It’s innate. But afterwards, when I open up, I become somewhat of a chameleon. People think that I’m stuck up because I keep to myself. But when you get to know me, you can understand who I am. Looks are deceiving. Beauty is more than skin deep, you know.

B&B: Do you think people like dealing with a smart woman in this business?
SM: I feel that men would be intimidated by a smart woman. I’ve dated people who have been intimidated from that. How I carry myself and how I live my life may intimidate them. I can always do for myself and I don’t look for anyone to help me, especially if I know that I can do the work for myself.

B&B: Does being emotional usually affect your working relationship with other?
SM: I would say that it can. I try not to let it. But I’d be lying. Dealing with boyfriend issues and then taking it into the workplace. My emotions stay on my face. Whatever mood I’m in is going to show on my face. It’s not a good thing. You have to know how to separate the personal from the business. Females shouldn’t date until they’re 35. [Laughs] It’s hard to focus when you’re going through your heart.

B&B: More and more women are throwing their name into the ring with being an urban model because they see where it can take them if they’re a success. How many success stories have you seen since getting into the game?
SM: Hmm… how many success stories do I know of? I’d maybe say two. Most girls just don’t branch out from under being just a model. They just stay in that one area. If you look at someone like, Melyssa Ford, she started in videos, but she was diverse. She didn’t let that consume her. You don’t want anyone to categorize you as a video chick. But no one thinks about that. The women who get involved in this game fall for the glamorization of what is on TV. I’ve personally done a music video and there nothing like what you see happens when filming. You may sit there [on set] for two days straight, just to do a five minute part. Ladies just see what they want to see on television and it’s not always that great.

B&B: Men are usually a perk and a distraction at the same time with this business. Since Valentine’s Day has passed – who is one crush you would like to date and how have men been a distraction, if any, when it came down to getting work done?
SM: Let me see… [Laughs] I don’t think that I have a crush. Oh, uh, you know what… I have a thing for T.I.! As far as men and them being a distraction, I really don’t get distracted by men, to tell you the truth. When men see a woman, it doesn’t matter, they’ll stop and get their looks in. I don’t really do that with men. I’ll look or glance over, but I expect a man to approach me.

B&B: What about T.I. though?
SM: If T.I. was to walk into my job… I’d be distracted. [Laughs] There’s just something about him.

B&B: So, you’re single?
SM: No, I’m taken.

B&B: How does your man handle seeing other men drooling over your pictures?
SM: [Laughs] That’s so funny you asked. He doesn’t like it. He doesn’t feel that a woman should dress any certain way. I say that he should be confident that I’m with him. People will always look. If they’re looking at your woman, as a man, he should take it as a compliment and leave it be. Bringing unwanted negativity attracts unnecessary attention.

B&B: On your MySpace page, it says one of the last books you read was “Diaries of a Video Vixen.” What did you think of the book?
SM: Truthfully, the first book, I wanted to read because of the hype. I wanted to know who she was doing and all that. It was a little too personal. But the second book, I didn’t finish it. There’s only so much of something not so positive that I could take. You kind of want to hear what she’s saying, but after a while, it gets redundant.

B&B: How does that make you look at the ins and outs of the entertainment world?
SM: Honestly, it makes me stop and think about the area of modeling I was going in. When you’re naïve and young, you end up putting yourself in situations that you can’t sometimes get out of. At that point, you need to stop and think about what I’m really doing. People will look at you in a certain way. Would I do a video? Yes… but would I do one when I’m 90% naked… never. It made me change the views of the type of modeling I wanted to do.

B&B: So, if a Chris Brown came up to you and had an ill rap game about himself, he could only get the industry hug and kiss on the cheek, huh?
SM: From me, personally, yes… I’m 25 and he’s like a baby to me. He’s a cute baby, but something like that doesn’t do it for me. I would want to be looked at like I’m not a groupie. Guys see that and they’re not going to think of you as if you’re anything but a groupie if they see it as such. When they speak my name, they’re going to say it in high regards.

B&B: Your career seems to be going on the right track, but what are a few things you’re looking to do in 2008 that you didn’t get a chance to do last year?
SM: Let’s just say that I had a lot of opportunities that have come my way. From Dime Piece Magazine to Rip The Runway – there are things that I have lost or done last minute. I’m really trying to push myself out to the public more. I’m making sure that I’m doing as much as I can to have a diverse portfolio. I have a lot more offers this year than I had last year so it can only get better.

If you’re interested more about Ms. Soroya Mundy, please check out her Myspace page [by clicking here].