My “conscience” always screamed on me saying that I’d probably fall for a southern girl – word to Erykah Badu – but I didn’t realize how that may actually be true after talking with G.O.O.D. Girl/G.M.I. Records model/spokeswoman – Morgan Daniele. The 20-year-old forward-thinking down home vixen may tell out-of-towners that grits are the breakfast of champions, but her charming ‘twang will have fans all over falling for those beautiful brown eyes.

The baby-faced Taurus beauty and brain behind the G.O.O.D. Girlz’ Fourth of July Beauty & Brains explosion [click to view] sits her size 34-24-40 frame down to give advice on how skinny girls can become thick, how Lashontae Heckard inspired her career path and mentions a few things you should know before moving to the ‘A.’

Beauty & Brains: So, you’re a Georgia girl, huh?
Morgan Daniele: Yes, born and raised... I lived in Atlanta for a minute, but I go to Savannah State University for school. The city is nice, you know… for tourists. You have the beach, you can hang out over there, but the crime rate is still high. [Laughs] But, honestly, it’s like that everywhere you go. Times are tough.

B&B: I’ve always wondered what life is like for y’all southern belles down there. Is the “thickness” appreciation felt worldwide? Or is there nothing like the south?
MD: I wouldn’t know… I have a lot of people who approach me online from different places who love it. There are a lot of girls who have come from the north who have changed their eating patterns so they can become thick. They’d ask me how I got thick and I don’t think I’d ask anyone that question. [Laughs]

B&B: Well… for those who need some tutoring – what should they do to get thick?
MD: [Laughs] I don’t know… I just eat cornbread, chicken, collard green, work out and go to school. I guess it’s genetics, but I’m not the type of person who doesn’t appreciate the compliments. People don’t even have to compliment you, so I appreciate it. They don’t have to say shit. I had a guy throw a shoe bag at me. [Laughs] He wanted to get my attention, but you don’t do that! [Laughs] That’s not something that you do – I think that’s weird. I was 16. I was taken back. He apologized, though. One time in Augusta, this was when I was really starting to really develop, there was this guy was following me. I was so nervous. He was trying to talk to me. I went downstairs in the mall and he was throwing ice at me from upstairs. [Laughs] Dudes these days… they never cease to amaze me!

B&B: So, does the music videos of today offend you as a woman? Or do they do much to give you work?
MD: That’s the thing… I’ve done a music video or two… I don’t talk about ‘em. I wasn’t offended because I enjoy watching the videos. I dance, I draw and I play the violin. The music video, to me, is another form of art. I know what they’re saying may be risqué. If a girl wants to do something raunchy, that’s fine. It’s not directed towards me, individually, so I’m not offended by that. As far as work, it just depends on what kind of video you’re trying to do. Not everyone is going to do one where their ass is out and they’re naked, not everyone is going to want to do the one where everyone is classy.

B&B: How did Lashontae Heckard inspire you to get into modeling?
MD: I love her. She is so beautiful to me. The first time I saw her was in that Dru Hill video, “I Love You.” I thought she was so pretty. I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. I talked to her for a little while on MySpace – it wasn’t a deep conversation – but when she was in school she was doing what she was supposed to do. I respected that. You can’t model forever. When you get 80, you can’t model anymore. Like with Tyra Banks, you can do it still and because there are different types of modeling – couture, print, commercial, and so many different types – you can be successful in the end. I love Lashontae. She’s so positive and I would love to meet her one day. She’s a wonderful woman.

B&B: And you love the modeling life you’re living now?
MD: [Sighs] It’s fun… I’ll say that. I know that I can be doing more, but I’m in school, right now. I’m in Savannah. It’s small. It’s not like being in those major cities. It’s bigger than Augusta, but smaller than Atlanta. It’s hard to do the things that I want to do when school comes first. I enjoy modeling. I do hair, I do makeup, I style, but school comes first at the end of the day. When I get some down time from school, I can put more effort into modeling.

B&B: Does that make it hard to love in your personal life?
MD: My boyfriend is a singer. While I’m out doing a photo shoot, he’s out singing or in the studio. I actually do a lot for him. I do a lot of promotional modeling for him, as a way to help him out. He’ll go with me to photo shoots. I’d go with him to the studio, but a lot of people in Savannah don’t take too kindly to females in the studio. Continued on page 2 »