dj booth SOMAYA REECE LATIN LOVE WORDS BY ANDREW BESS
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he’s appeared in movies (American Psycho, The Scorpion King), on television (“Entourage,” “Dr. Phil”) and emerged as a fixture in over thirty five national ad campaigns with the likes of Ralph Lauren, Pepsi as well as a throng of lingerie and swimsuit catalogues. Recently rated with the number one Latina profile on myspace.com, Somaya Reece also hosts her own satellite radio show – “The Buzz.” Somaya’s beauty and tireless efforts have naturally landed her the number one Hip Hop show on nowlive. com and believe it or not, she’s just getting started. How did you get started doing “The Buzz?” I was offered a couple of spots on larger radio stations from appearing on Wild 96.1 FM in San Bernardino, but “The Buzz” gives me freedom. I actually don’t have to go into the studio. This show allows me to interact with listeners and fans. There is an interactive chat room for the listeners, so it’s really involved. The great thing about that is you really get to know your fans and interact with them. So what kinds of topics do you get into on the show? My show is about everything you can think of. Free giveaways, whatever is on your mind, all the latest celebrity gossip and freestyle battles judged by hit producers. Also there are interviews with celebrities and undiscovered talent. There are also fun segments like my prank calls to your mom, dad, your boss and the “Hot or Not” show! How has the internet helped you get to where your radio gigs and music are at now? I already had experience before I promoted on the Internet with ads with Colgate and Pepsi. But at the time I didn’t have money for a publicist so I used the Internet. I never knew it would blow up to be what it is. The Internet has been a really great vehicle that has helped me with publicity. By the time I can catch up on Myspace I will have over 750,000 friends. Being easy on the eyes, do you find that using sex appeal works in your favor? No. However, it depends on the individual looking at it. There is nothing wrong with having sex appeal. It’s how you carry it. You said that it doesn’t help. Could it? I don’t flaunt my sex appeal, nor do I use it to gain things. Some people think I don’t show it off enough and others like the little I choose to show. I believe that I do what is comfortable for me. The sex appeal I choose to have is being 32 // OZONE WEST
an independent, yet family-oriented woman. I believe people are drawn to me because of that. Have your looks ever effected how guys would approach you? I never give off the vibe that I am looking for someone, so most men are scared to talk to me. It may be my height or figure, who knows? I’m a no-makeup, jeans and hoodie kind-of-girl, so I am not too intimidating. I don’t get it. I consider myself pretty friendly as long as I am approached in a respectful manner. So what are you waiting for? (laughs) Do you think you have gained any jobs off of looks alone? You definitely don’t get by with looks. If it was that easy I think everyone would be famous. There are so many beautiful women out there. I think many people get very confused with me personally. They can’t believe a package with talent can exist, but it does. I am no one’s Barbie. However, beauty is a blessing! You have over 600,000 friends on Myspace. Why do you think you have such a strong following on the internet? The reason it began is due to my commercials on television. One in particular was a Pepsi commercial. Naturally the web is based on surface beauty, and that isn’t always a bad thing. I self-promote my television appearances, music, magazines and radio. Have you ever used your looks to get what you wanted? I once used my looks to get a free bag of oranges for a homeless person. Does that count? I’m serious. (laughs) Do you feel female artists have lost their sexiness in Hip Hop? No! Sexy never left. There are many women in Hip Hop who are beautiful. It’s different these days though. I think that Missy, Mc Lyte, Eve, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, and Trina are very sexy. Their lyrics matched with their sex appeal equals a powerhouse! How do you feel about video vixens using their looks and bodies to sell sex in music videos? Videos all look the same to me these days. I think that every woman in these new videos has a choice. They probably want to do it, so I don’t judge them. Some of the vixens these days will do anything to be in the videos to get with the rappers or singers. So they go all out and the video ends up looking like a short adult film. Sex sells and I doubt it will change anytime soon! //