B&B: How’d you handle all the fellas checking you out?
SP: Oh, boy! That’s another thing. [Laughs] That was different in a sense because some guys take it to heart and become rude. Others were cool. I’m a polite person, though. If you say, “Hi,” to me, I’ll say it back to you. I’m not rude at all. But, at the same time, it was overwhelming at times. You just have to listen to it, laugh, and smile and overlook it. If you let it get you down, then I don’t know how you’d be able to stay on your path without getting knocked off course. I’m dead set on staying on my path.

B&B: When black men come up to Canada for Caribana do they get the same type of response that you get in the States?
SP: Yeah, in Toronto, especially around Caribana time. It’s just a fun time. Everyone goes out to have fun. If you see something or someone that you like, they ain’t going to be afraid to holla at you. You get a lot of people from the States who come and celebrate it.

B&B: How do you differentiate a fan of yours from a stalker?
SP: A fan just gives a compliment. A stalker… they kind of… I don’t know. It’s kind of a hard question because I don’t think I’ve ever had a stalker. My interpretation is this… if someone gives you a compliment on a frequent basis, there’s nothing wrong with it. But if you’re a peeping tom, you’re going to get put on blast, period! Those type of individuals do instill some fear in you because they’re unpredictable and that’s not a variable that I want to deal with.

B&B: Where do you think that this career path will ultimately take you?
SP: Ultimately, I don’t like counting my chickens before they hatch. I have things in the pocket and a few things that have yet to come to fruition. I’d like to do some videos and print work, but all that comes down to setting it up and getting it done. Where it leads from there… only time can tell. I would love to do more work within the fashion industry. I absolutely love fashion, you know, dressing up and all [laughs]. If I can get myself well educated enough to put out my own line, then that’s what I would be doing.

B&B: With the 2008 Elections going on here with Obama and Clinton running, who would you like to see run America for the next four years?
SP: Even though I’m in Canada, I believe that Barack Obama can make a significant difference in America. I have had a chance to check out his book and he has the right type of ideas. It’s just up to America to put him in a position to implement a change. He would make it such a beautiful place. You’ve already had a Clinton in office; Bush has had his chance, as well. It’s time for a new and fresh beginning.

Interested in the beautiful Shawna Philip? Be sure to check her out at her MySpace page – http://www.myspace.com/smphilip.