On a cool Summer’s day in New York City, I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Dria Emanuel. The sultry senorita was an absolute delight to speak with. Her captivating eyes were very attentive to the questions and her drive shone through in her personality. It was during this interview for Beauty & Brains where the self-described “hustler” laid it all out on the line. The former student at St. John’s University has utilized her smarts by becoming a certified real estate agent.

But with those brains and that ambition comes a beauty that is very rarely seen in the Big Apple. Subdued features with a sly hint of sensuality. Yet, that calienté passion is bubbling underneath the surface. The 21 year-old beauty has taken her entrepreneurial spirit into the modeling game and has been pushing herself heavy in the game.

The grind has taken her all across the U.S. and has introduced her to interesting characters. Having taken time out of her busy schedule to sit down with Beauty & Brains -- the Piscean talks about overcoming childhood racism and stereotypes, why New York is the place to be for modeling and talks about her hidden fantasies.

B&B: Latinas are usually described as passionate lovers. Is there any truth to that?
DE: I definitely agree with that.

B&B: So, how did you discover that you were passionate about modeling?
DE: I was actually walking down the street in New York City and a guy by the name of J. Nasdaq had discovered me. He turned out to be a casting director and a modeling agent. He persuaded me to get into the business. I gave him my number and he gave me a call. It was about business. Once he got me in front of the camera, I turned into a different person. I was sexy, sultry and passionate. This whole new person came out of me. Before I did modeling, I wasn’t too much into my sexuality, so whether I’m in a relationship to be sexy for my man or in front of a camera, I know that I want to be sexy through and through.

B&B: Would you ever role play?
DE: Never say never [laughs].

B&B: If Latin men are usually protective over their women – how did you father feel about you taking these provocative photos?
DE: I don’t have a father. Never have, never will. I never even had a male role model. I do me.

B&B: Does this shift your perception towards men?
DE: Oh, definitely because I always think that all guys have ulterior motives. I have never met that one guy who can just say that they love me unconditionally. It always teeters back into sex. I have a lot of guy friends who are like my brothers, but they don’t look at me in that way. It was always a bigger plan in their eyes with them.

B&B: In urban modeling, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on a woman’s “assets.” With that being so popular in magazines and music videos – is it a gift or a curse when regular men try to approach you?
DE: I definitely feel where you’re coming from. It’s getting a little sickening and out of control. It’s crossing the line of becoming plain raunchy. It’s got to be both a gift and a curse. It’s a new fad now. Women are going out and getting asses, even if they don’t have one. As a woman, you want to feel pretty and sexy, but it can be a curse when trying to pursue it.

B&B: You’re very goal oriented. On your MySpace page, you talk about how you wouldn’t be a stripper or have to sleep around to get where you want to be. Is it just the New York State of Mind that has you so focused? Or is it something else?
DE: My environment embodies the spirit of New York City. Once you see the billions that are generated here in the city, you want to go out there and get it. I know what I want out of life. I want to be established on my own, doing my own thing and having a name for myself that gets respect. I never thought that this is out of reality for me. So, I work hard to attain my goals. I know that it’s real hard to get into this business. I don’t have my foot in Hollywood. Just because I don’t have the connection that I need doesn’t mean that I cannot grind my way to the top. I feel like I am paying dues by doing what I’m doing.

B&B: Since you’re a real estate agent – what’s the prime location for a young, single Black professional who’s ready to live in New York and why?
DE: Money Makin’ Manhattan, baby! That’s where it happens at. The perks of living out here is just ridiculous. It’s in the middle of everything and you have access to so many different people in higher places. People come from everywhere to live here. I’m not being biased, but Manhattan is where it’s at.

B&B: Everyone has a story that shaped the person that they were set to become. What is one event that has happened in your life that made you the woman that you are now?
DE: I was a troubled child. I stayed in trouble. I was never promiscuous… I would trespass; talk shit, fight, steal and all that. I, one time, stole a candy bar from this store as a kid. I remember this Caucasian cop talking to me and I was being really rude back. He didn’t like that. He put me into this category of the Latina stereotype. He said that I was going to have rollers in my hair, ten kids and when I did that I still couldn’t go back into that store. I’m definitely not that and I didn’t want to grow up to be the mother of ten kids and all that. I’m more than that and I know that.

B&B: Would you say that it is harder to be a model in New York? Or does it work to your benefit being that all the record labels and magazine publications are based here?
DE: New York is where you have to be. If you’re not in Atlanta or Los Angeles, then I don’t know what you’re doing. Here, you have access to everyone that you need to have access to. This is the belly of the beast and you have to have thick skin to make it here.

B&B: What is a recent setback that you’ve experienced and how did you go past that?
DE: Besides the networking, there’s bullshit that comes with working in this industry. I’m really big about this ulterior motive thing. Sometimes they use that against you or to your power. They want you to do something for them. That’s the biggest setback.

B&B: Your fantasies, according to your MySpace page, are an interesting (albeit eclectic) set of white guys. Who are they and do you not love the Soul Brothas [laughs]?
DE: [Laughs] Basically, it is exactly what it is. It’s a fantasy. I’ve never been approached by a Caucasian man. I do think David Beckham and Johnny Depp are sexy.

B&B: Do you think that there is a prime market for Latin women to be a star in the world of urban modeling? Or do you think that the attention is solely placed on stallion built Black women?
DE: There is a role for Latin women because men like different things. They love that caramel, that Butter Pecan, you know… must I go on?

B&B: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
DE: I see myself in the next five years moving on to bigger and better things. I would love to do major motion pictures. I would love to be established in the modeling game. I always move forward, never move backwards. So, within the next five years, I would have already accomplished my goals and made myself into a viable name. I would love to be a James Bond girl, you know! Either that or be saved by Johnny Depp in a movie.

B&B: Are you currently single?
DE: I do have a special somebody, but I don’t believe in relationships, so you can just say that I’m single. I’m not tied-down, I’m not handcuffed. Relationships these days are credible. You can’t say that because guys and girls do their own things. They have these second lives that they live. I have commitment issue to work on. It’s hard to trust people, you know.

B&B: What would you say are the differences between men here in New York versus men anywhere else when it comes to how they approach you?
DE: I’ve been a lot of places. Men in New York are slick talkers. They’ll sell you a dream, you know? Down South is more open sexually. They approach you on the sexual tip a lot more. I can’t say that I like either of those approaches. I like it when you come respectfully and drop a few lines to make me smile and leave it like that. Don’t talk me into being into you. You shouldn’t have to sell anyone a dream, you know?

B&B: If modeling doesn’t work out for you – what’s your plan B?
DE: The plan B is definitely the real estate. But right now, I’m doing the modeling full force. But if it fell through, then I would always have something to hustle and I’m still about my business. If you want to buy a house in New York, then just hit me up. The MySpace is always crackin’, you know?! MissDria.com is coming soon, too!

Feeling muy caliente about Ms. Dria Emanuel?! Hit her up at MySpace -- http://www.myspace.com/dria_emanuel_nxtbrkthrucg.