Sometimes the best things happen by accident. Whether you look down and see a $20 bill on the ground or just happen to luck out with a dime that you didn’t know you could get – things happen. Mysticism, fate, blessings or God’s will aside – has not stopped Ciji [pronounced cee-gee] Michelle from allowing her accident to be just that.

Currently an honor student at the University of Phoenix with a major in Business Marketing, Ms. Michelle has been a student on and off camera. Having already logged time booking events with G-Unit, The Simmons Brothers [Russell and Reverend Run], Free and Lil’ Wayne -- the [location] born vixen is utilizing her passion to its fullest extent.

From print to parties, Ciji Michelle is the “new” Jersey girl that everyone will be checking for. The lovely lady sits down with Beauty & Brains as she talks about why Joe Budden puts her in the mood, how she plans on becoming the next “it” girl on the scene and why Jersey girls are better than New York women any day!

B&B: In your bio, it said that modeling came to you accidentally. How so?
CM: I was working for Da Book Magazine and I was helping them find models. I would go out and have searches with them, in hopes of getting that next pretty face. The magazine predominately looked for light-skin models to feature in their magazine. A lot of the men were asking for different complexions and different sizes. So, what happened was the magazine was trying to cater to its readers and they had a dark-skin model who was supposed to be in the magazine. She was a no-show and I covered for her. At first, I was shy in front of the camera. Then afterwards they created a monster [laughs].

B&B: Your name is interesting… does it mean anything?
CM: Well, when I was growing up I thought it meant [clarify]. But when I did further research I found out that there were a lot of people with the same name and we were around the same age. [Laughs] It was actually a character’s name in Knot’s Landing. I thought we were all named after this character, but when I looked deeper I found out that it meant “bringer of light.”

B&B: So, what was the first gig that you ever did?
CM: We did a magazine shoot for the same magazine two weeks later. Free had her Free to Life foundation in New York and it was a pool tournament. They had models hosting it and that was my first little gig. I got to walk the red carpet and play pool.

B&B: You know how to play?!
CM: I used to be a pool shark, but I haven’t played in a long time.

B&B: Did you find yourself being nervous? Or were you comfortable with all the attention?
CM: I was nervous before the event started. But as it went on, I was more comfortable. It was our luck that the celebrities that were there were down to Earth. So, in the end, I was just laid back and was having fun.

B&B: So, you have no problem doing sexy things in public, huh [laughs]?
CM: No… not really. It depends on what it is. For the most part, no… I would hope that “being sexy,” would be a compliment. Sexy has its own meaning. Everyone wants to be sexy or have that sex appeal, so I hope that I exude that.

B&B: What’s the most riskiest thing that you’ve ever done to try and get someone’s attention?
CM: That’s crazy that you asked me. Last week was the first time in my life where I approached someone and gave them my number. I usually do the eye thing to get their attention. You know… that thing that women do, but he wasn’t catching on. So, I went up to him and gave him my number. I thought that he was going to be this smooth person, but he was loud and rowdy! I literally sat there and talked to him for about a half hour. His personality was so much different than what I expected.

B&B: So, did he call you?
CM: He called… he hasn’t stopped calling [laughs]. We’ve had a few conversations, but before I get a chance to call him back, he calls me right back.

B&B: You’re a Jersey Girl, huh? Joe Budden has those Mood Musik mixtapes… Does something like that get you in the mood? Or are you more of a Tank type of girl?
CM: To get me in the mood, it has to be something R&B. I listen to a lot of hip-hop, but I love Luther [Vandross]. Anita Baker is one of my favorites, so is – Alexander O’Neal. I love Ne-Yo and Beyoncé. But if you want me to dance, you can pretty much play anything. Well, everything but Pretty Ricky. I’m not a Pretty Ricky fan. They’re a little too raunchy for my taste.

B&B: Well, since you said that modeling came to you by chance – what are you doing to grow within the game and be a star?
CM: I am doing all of this work by myself so I started putting my pictures on all the online sites. I send out a lot of stuff. I try to get myself casted. It’s a struggle because a million people are trying to do the same thing. You have to have a product, same thing with modeling. You have to have a name built up with yourself. It’s just about getting marketing and making sure that people know who you are. I have ringtones, wallpapers, all that. One of my favorite things that I say to people is that I’m going to keep sending stuff in until they like what they see.

B&B: Aside from the regular cliché answers about being an actress or wanting to branch out into other various forms of entertainment. If this modeling gig didn’t take off how you’d like – what would be your passion then?
CM: I’d have to say that I would want to do something with dancing. The other is a fetish – shoes. I love shoes. If I could make my own shoe line or have my own dance studio, I’d be in Heaven. I come home after work or go to the gym and afterwards I would dance. I do it non-stop. I love it so much. I don’t know how to River Dance, I don’t know how to Salsa, either. I’m not as flexible as I used to be, but I used to do ballet. So, I want to learn how to do all those dances [laughs].

B&B: Now, I’m frequent New York a lot and here in Ohio, I know a few Jersey girls. There are subtle difference between the two, but how is Jersey girl better than a New York one?
CM: A Jersey girl is a little bit more suburban. A lot of them really have a high level of class. We get our fashion sense from New York, but you also have that Southern thing about us. A lot of us around here love to cook and enjoy doing it. It’s not something that we’re forced to do. So, we’re like the line right down the middle of what you may want in a woman.

B&B: What’s next for you and is there anything you’d like to say to the readers of Beauty & Brains?
CM: I’m very excited about doing Hip-Hop Weekly for their next issue. I just did a video for a new R&B singer called Jamie Knight. The song features Jay-Z, but they couldn’t get him to do the video. But how they worked around it was really smooth. I just did BET.com. It brought me a lot of views. I’m just working hard to get on more things. I’m trying to talk to a lot of magazine editors. Hopefully, a lot more is to come, I just wanted to say to everyone who supports me, “Thank you.” MySpace is a crazy thing. It has been such a blessing. I got a lot of photo shoots and interviews through MySpace and it’s the biggest support system. So many people want me to do well and I appreciate that, so much! It’s crazy because I don’t know these people from a can of paint, but these people genuinely show me some love. I don’t have any other words but to say, “Thank you.”

Want to show Ciji Michelle your appreciation? Check out her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/cijicarr. Or you can head to her personal site at http://www.ciji-michelle.com!