If many American’s would say that Canada is our hat, then Ms. Shawna Philip is one who would I’d want to keep me warm for the winter. With all those Wayne Gretsky and Bret Hart fans up there, Ms. Shawna has bubbled quietly, selectively choosing where to place her talents. The beautiful bombshell hasn’t broken too many hearts, yet, on the scene, but as she pushes for the stars – Beauty & Brains is proud to showcase a great one in the making.

In her first ever interview, Ms. Philip speaks exclusively with Beauty & Brains as she discusses being a woman in a male-driven industry, why she spoke with us first before all and why Caribana is a fun time to be had by all.

Beauty & Brains: What would you say is the hardest thing about being a woman in the entertainment industry?
Shawna Philip: I really think that women have always been the underdog in this business. They do call it a man’s world, for a reason, but you have women who have exceeded any male or female expectations. You have an Oprah, a Hilary Clinton, you have something, so the ability to handle this business, or any business for that matter, when you’re a woman is underestimated. Right off the bat, a female’s abilities are looked at differently. If a man and a woman were up for an interview, the female would have to prove herself that much more valuable, going into the meeting. Overall, women compared to men, aren’t going into it on an equal playing field. Hell, in Canada, we’ve had to fight for a lot of the rights that men have naturally. It’s unfair to think that that would go on, but it does and it makes me and others all the stronger for it!

B&B: Would you say that it’s harder working with men who work the business or is it hard to associate with the women who help fuel it?
SP: I wouldn’t say that the problem is working with either/or. As long as you can keep it on a professional level and hold your own then I have no problem working with anyone, you know? No one likes a slacker on their team, right? Even though you can have a personality conflict with a male or female, you can work alongside them and get the job done. Realistically, I can’t say which is harder. Although, I get along with men better [laughs], I know that everyone plays their part and it’s always good for me to show respect to everyone.

B&B: Another Canadian, Ms. Melyssa Ford, had immense success and popularity from appearing in videos. Can women in the business still have that same achievement?
SP: Yeah, I think that they can have that same achievement. One must take the time to learn who they are and know what they want out of the business. I believe in setting your goals and with those in place, you set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. Ultimately, it comes down to your initiative. As long as you implement the steps in your plan, you’ll be able to make it through because you’ll always know what you’re getting yourself into.

B&B: Now, you have a lot of offers coming in from other magazines and whatnot. Why are you so selective about what you align yourself with?
SP: I guess the reason why I can give you that last answer is because I took the time to figure out what I wanted to do and how I wanted to present myself to the people out there. At the same time, everyone has to go through growing pains and I know I wasn’t able to give my all to modeling. It was something that I enjoyed doing. But now, I’m willing to act on it and try to see where it will take me. This is the first exclusive interview that I’ve given to any website, any magazine or anything like that. This is my initiative. This is me getting started on accomplishing my goals. Doing this Beauty & Brains interview is the first step and I’m glad to be able to speak with you, Kevin. I’ve managed to set up some photo shoots in Atlanta and I’m slated to meet up with some casting directors. I’m trying to put myself out there now. So, with the word out, I’m excited to see what’s next!

B&B: Are there any differences in the perks in Canada with models versus in America?
SP: Me. [Laughs] Honestly, the Canadian models have just as much to offer as women in America. I’m not taking anything away from the girls in America. I enjoy looking at their pictures. If they’re making their money at the same time that they’re doing it, it’s cool. I appreciate women doing for themselves, you know?

B&B: I saw on your MySpace that you took a trip to New York. It’s not a place for the timid, you know? What was one thing that you learned when walking around the Big Apple?
SP: One thing that I learned was that it’s a lot busier than it ever looked in any movie or on any television screen. It’s truly a city that doesn’t sleep. I love it! It’s so very active and it’s fresh. You can sense the history that New York has. From its sights and sounds to the people who you see constantly walking around in awe, New York is truly a place to be. I love it a lot. Just being able to go there and experience it was a blessing. I was able to see what’s going on in New York and learned a lot from what I saw. Continued on page 2 »