I once overheard a conversation, that addressed the tenacity of a certain individual. The two gentlemen spoke rather highly of this individual, remarking on his spirit and unwillingness to give up. It was a defining moment in my life, knowing they were speaking about me. "I think what makes me a hidden treasure," says New York City model Sheila J, "is that I don't give up." In that case, maybe I should just consider myself a hidden treasure too.

As I look at Sheila, combining her answers to my questions with my overall impression, I sense purpose beyond the simple desire to model. She is smart, something she has heard from the very lips of her admirers and probably a few haters. "I did one shoot and I was hooked," she admits about her start in modeling, "I really just want to become a supermodel."

"I have a love/hate relationship with the modeling industry," Sheila confesses. "While it is a passion of mine; I do not like how they have the industry today and I would very much like to help change it." With super modeling, there come responsibility and sacrifice. "I've sacrificed working a good paying job for this industry," she recalls. "I have put [in] a lot of blood, sweat and tears."

Well, here she is. Through the blood, sweat and tears Sheila has arrived to make a name for herself in modeling. Aiming for the top spot in Maxim's Covergirl search is when we ran across our angel. Of mixed heritage, something not uncommon to New York City, she has a look that can fit various campaigns directed at other multi-nationals or just people of varying backgrounds and nationalities.

Sheila now lives in the borough that birthed my son as well many of my life's experiences; Brooklyn. However, the rising cost of living is slowly pushing her out. "Honestly," she denotes, "I am looking to move out of New York. It's becoming way too expensive." I hear this all time, yet it wasn't always like this. For Sheila, it was a little quiet growing up in New York City. The friends she grew up with are still around though they don't talk as much as they used to.

Being a champion of love, I take special note of the hero in her life. "My boyfriend is my number one supporter and I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for him," she confides. Sheila's boyfriend is also the reason she gets to smile so often. "My boyfriend makes me laugh all the time," she tells me. That has to be great having a partner in life that genuinely makes you laugh and smile regularly. I could get used to that.

Perfectly Pisces, Sheila says everything you would know about the sign fits her exactly. She regularly falls asleep to the animated series South Park; an old favorite of mine. Recently she learned that she is a huge fan of Anime and she is a gamer-chic. A Friday night in a short black dress doesn't compare to a sexy, comfortable Sunday morning in an over-sized tee-shirt.

Sheila, same as many of our angels before, has her requirements for Heaven on Earth and they are pragmatic to say the least. "Being stable," she affirms, "and financially able to do the things I love and live life." One of the things she loves comes as a bit of a surprise. "I am an extreme-couponer and I love doing it so much that I created a blog about it," she confesses. "Frugalandpretty.com."

iamsheilaj.com

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