Louis Epstein speaks to gorgeous model and future film star Whitney Perry.

I first met Whitney Perry when I was researching an article entitled "How To Be A Star In Hollywood And Not End Up In The Psycho ward." Whitney had already been a top model for six years and had just signed on to do her first movie, Kungfused, which releases 2010. Five minutes into talking with Whitney, I realized I was speaking to one of the most fun and wisest ladies in or out of Hollywood. I caught up with Whitney again shortly after her engagement to star ABA player and model Jason McPherson.

Louis: First, let me congratulate you on your engagement.
Whitney: Thank you so much Louis. My fiancé, Jason, (Jason McPherson Interview) really surprised me. He had to ask twice because I was so stunned! He took me to my favorite restaurant and my favorite place overlooking the city and popped the question while playing one of our songs in the background! So romantic! It was every little girl's dream!

Louis: Or big girl. At 5'9" you look more like an Amazonion princess then Cinderella.
Whitney: Ha! I know! Surprisingly, when I was in high school, I had to wear high heels to even be 5'6! I actually grew my senior year and after.

Louis: Everything really seems to be coming together for you right now.
Whitney: Thank you! I hope so! I'm working very hard right now. Between my personal life, modeling and acting, I'm being pulled in so many directions right now. I love it that way!

Louis: The movie Kungfused is a comedy. Was that hard to go from modeling to comedy acting?
Whitney: Not too hard. Really, I'm a goofy person. I love to joke around and I'm a big kid and very sarcastic, so comedic acting is somewhat a part of me.

Louis: Are there any similarities in your film work and your modeling?
Whitney: Modeling was harder for me to understand. There are really such depths to modeling and people just don't understand that. A great model has to reach deep inside to show emotions that come through in one shot and an actor has a whole scene to do the same thing. Modeling and acting are similar though, in that you are accustomed to working in front of cameras. I feel like modeling helped me when I started acting. It seemed like a natural transition.

Louis: Any differences?
Whitney: In acting you use much more than your eyes and expression to get an emotion across. Your body language is always important, even when you aren't saying a line. You're on camera even if you aren't saying a word. You have to stay in character.

Louis: You were at Penn State when you started modeling. How did your modeling career begin?
Whitney: Honestly, I was dining in a restaurant when my now agent, then a stranger, approached me and asked me if I had ever considered modeling. I had been approached before, so I was a bit cautious, but I checked him out and when I found out that he was legit, I signed on with him. He's been amazing ever since. I owe my career to him.

Louis: Did you finish college?
Whitney: Yes, I did. I feel like education is so important. And I don't just mean college. Some people just don't enjoy college. But that is no excuse to stop learning. I think no matter what you do, you can further your education! Graduate high school, go to college or trade school, or even just study a subject that you are interested in from home. Read books. Study gardening or cooking or the history of your country. It's important.

Louis: What was your major?
Whitney: I have a double major. I received degrees in Marketing and also in Psychology. I love both fields!

Louis: How hard was it juggling a modeling career and completing a double major?
Whitney: It was hard, but it was worth it. I took a majority of my classes online and it was so tempting to say "Hey, I'll just do this tomorrow." and tomorrow became the day after or the next week. I had to become VERY self- disciplined. Modeling requires so much traveling and I literally would study in the backseat of the car service or on a plane. I had to stay motivated.

Louis: It doesn't seem like you would really need to be a college graduate to be a model. Has it helped you in any way?
Whitney: I suppose you don't need to be a college graduate to be a model, but I didn't pursue my degrees for modeling. I received the degrees for myself. And honestly, I feel like I have applied the skills I've learned to my modeling career. It helps to know how to market yourself when you need to. When I make appearances, it has helped a great deal! Plus, I can use my Psychology background to be aware of some eccentric fans! Ha!

Louis: Oh! Have you had many eccentric fans?
Whitney: One time I was in Atlanta and a fan followed me back to my hotel room. One of my security team members caught him trying to use a credit card to break into my hotel room. The guy told my bodyguard that he only wanted a little bit of my hair, like that was completely normal! Ha! It was really scary!

Louis: Well I guess you have Jason McPherson to protect you now.
Whitney: I sure do! No one even attempts to bother me when he's around. Have you seen his arms lately? Ha!

Louis: I'll take your word for it. How is his career going?
Whitney: His career is amazing! Along with the ABA Kentucky Bisons league championship last year and his modeling career, he recently began an acting career too.

Louis: Do you ever get to see him play?
Whitney: Of course! I tried to catch every home game last year, only missing a couple for prior engagements. I'm his number one fan!

Louis: So who among you has the most fans?
Whitney: I really don't know. That's a hard one. I'd say he has a lot more younger fans than I do. It always made my heart happy to see little kids coming up to him after every game. We both love kids so much!

Louis: You have a pretty strong fan base in modeling. What are your fans like?
Whitney: My fans are the MOST AWESOME fans ever! They vary in age too. From younger children to adults and I appreciate each and every one of them! They always support me and send me such kind letters and emails! If I'm having a down day, it always picks me up to read their sweet words. I personally answer every letter or email myself too, and most people are surprised by that. But I feel like they are the reason that I am where I am, and they deserve my time.

Louis: The impression used to be that models weren't very smart, but with some models writing books, having double majors, and starring in talk shows do you think that perception is changing?
Whitney: I would hope so, as I personally am a self proclaimed nerd and I love to let everyone know it! However, I can't say that it is. Most people don't really think of models in the same way that they did in decades prior. The days of Cindy Crawford and Nikki Taylor are gone. Models were role models for the younger generation then, and they weren't perceived as being dumb. I think now the perception is more that models don't eat instead of whether they are smart or not. And I certainly eat! Ha!

Louis: It seems a lot of companies are using actresses instead of models to head their campaigns. Is this affecting the modeling business?
Whitney: Models are nameless now. Even if they have contracts with some of the top designers in the world, most people have no clue who models are unless they are involved in the industry also. So, I really don't think it has too much of an effect on the business.

Louis: Are models pretty cut throat?
Whitney: It depends on when you are referring to. If two models are going after the same job, but that's how any two people would be going after any job. If you're working a runway show or a shoot together, most models are friendly to one another and helpful behind the scenes. I've worked with a great deal of helpful models and I honestly think that I wouldn't be where I am now without some friendly advice from my colleagues.

Louis: What are some tips you got from other models?
Whitney: There have been so many! When I started out another model taught me how to get my perfect walk on the runway. I thought I knew what I was doing, but she told me if I didn't feel incredibly foolish, I wasn't doing it right. She taught me to walk as if my hip bones were being pulled by imaginary strings. That helped so much! Another time a friend and fellow model of mine helped me master the "over the shoulder" red carpet look. I can't tell you how much that has helped me at events!

Louis: What are some things you have done to become a successful model?
Whitney: I think the one thing that has helped me the most is studying. If I had the opportunity to work with a designer, I would do research before I met with their people and learn their past lines and collections. When they asked me questions, I could quote pieces from their own designs and I think that always impressed them. Also, my agent told me long ago that there will always be beautiful people. There will always be another girl who could come along and take my job right out from under me. He said, "The key to making it in the modeling industry is to stand out from the rest and show personality." I try to remember that every time I take a photo or do a show.

Louis: So what do you wear when you're not modeling? Are you trendy or are you more the track pants and t-shirt type?
Whitney: Well, I always try to keep with the current trends, so I'd like to think that I'm trendy when I go out. I love unique pieces. Like in jewelry, I found this AMAZING glass blowing designer called Lolipop Glass. I wear at least one of their pieces almost every day. It's so great to know that each piece is one-of-a-kind. But when I'm relaxing, you can always catch me in Juicy Couture. I live in it at home! I have so many of their track suits. I think it has to be the most comfortable brand ever made and they're still fashionable if you venture out for a few errands.

Louis: You're poised at a huge film career. How did all that start?
Whitney: I sort of just transitioned into acting from modeling. I had been sent scripts in the past, but never felt like it was the right move for me. Then when I was sent a script I loved, I couldn't turn it down! I think I just needed the right script at the right time!

Louis: What was it about Kungfused that made you want to do that film?
Whitney: I felt that the director, Ousa Khun, is a brilliant man and he takes his time making every detail perfect in everything he works on, so I knew he would really make things very comfortable for me. Plus, my character, Sky, is a lot like me when I was younger. She doesn't always see what's in front of her face. She grows as a character throughout the film.

Louis: Did you study acting? How did you know you could act?
Whitney: I had done some small plays as a child and I was a member of show choir in high school. I also toured with a group and performed plays at churches when I was a young girl, so I had a bit of experience, but nothing like what I needed to act in films. I started working with my acting coach, Brian McPherson(no relation to Jason), and he is amazing! He travels to meet with me once a week and he is a genius! He has helped me so much!

Louis: Have your fellow actors helped you?
Whitney: My fellow actors have been wonderful! They have rehearsed lines with me and helped give me their opinion on how to deliver certain lines. They really know what they are doing and they have been so kind to share with me!

Louis: Can you give us a sneak peek on some of your future movies?
Whitney: I sure will just for you, Louis! I'm currently working with writer/director and a close friend of mine, Ryan Tower, in a couple of amazing films, Yummy Beach and Midnight Losers. Also, I just signed on to work with director Lonnie Senstock and his team in a wonderful film about Lucille Ball and her first born granddaughter, Julia. I hadn't officially announced it until now, but I am so excited about working with everyone involved! It will be a different type of role for me, definitely deeper. But I am looking forward to pushing myself.

Louis: Are you the granddaughter?
Whitney: Yes, I play Julia. Julia and I have been chatting quite a bit lately and getting to know one another very well. I'm trying to pick up on her mannerisms and her tone so I can bring her to life in the film. It's not like other films where you play a fictional character. This is a real person and she's just amazing and I want to show that on screen. We've become good friends.

Louis: That's exciting! Were you a fan of Lucy growing up?
Whitney: To be honest, not really. I always appreciated her work, but never really sat down to watch her shows. I think that will help me in the film. I will read the script with no expectations or opinions on her or her family and I'll have a fresh and unbiased outlook on how to play my character.

Louis: Are you working just in Hollywood now or are you still traveling and modeling?
Whitney: I still travel! If you were to look at my schedule, your head would be spinning from all of the places that I will be traveling to in the upcoming months! I would really like to stay in place for a while, but in this business, that's just not how it works. I do appreciate some quality time in my hometown with my family and close friends.

Louis : Your kind of a small town girl. How does your family feel about your career?
Whitney: I'm from a small town, but I love large cities too! I need the shopping of New York City and the quiet serenety of Kentucky. It's hard to have both at once. I keep my fan mail address in Kentucky because it's still such a part of me. My family is so supportive! But at the same time, when I'm home, we hardly talk about my career. I don't really like to. It's the only place I can just be me. No matter what I do, I'm just Whitney to them and I appreciate that so very much.

Louis: Are you and your family ready to find yourself in the National Enquirer with reports that you're in rehab with an addiction to Flinstones chewables or that you and Jason are in a love triangle with a sock puppet?
Whitney: Ha! Well, I don't think anyone is ever ready, but I've already dealt with some rumors and gossip, so I think I can handle it. I try not to give them too much to gossip about, but sometimes it can't be avoided. I have a great support system and an awesome management team in place to deal with such issues. They can pretty much help me get through anything!

Louis: I'm guessing you're on everyone's party invitation list now.
Whitney: I have so many events and galas and parties coming up. Between that and work, I am booked solid! But honestly, I'd just rather be at home watching corny television shows or movies and playing board games with Jason and my friends. I really love being at home! Just a few weeks ago I brought out my favorite childhood game, Dreamphone, and played it until like 2 in the morning with my best friends. But I do enjoy a good party. I love to dance and I'm very social!

Louis: Any juicy gossip?
Whitney: Oh definitely! But I'm not sharing! A good friend keeps secrets. And I'd like to think I'm a good friend, so my lips are sealed! Ha!

Louis: Well with all the things happening in your life right now is there anything you are doing that stands above the rest?
Whitney: A few actually. I love being involved in charity work. Jason and I just recently signed a couple of feathers to be placed on an art project for Nataly Kimmel which benefited the Prince of Monaco's Foundation. I'm also signing a photo for Carolyn Withers Diamond's "Wall Of Fame" to benefit cancer. I feel that it is so important to give back and I encourage everyone to do so, even if it's just a few cents, every penny makes a difference!

Louis: And if anyone wants to find out more about what you're doing or join your fan club where do they go?
Whitney: I started using Twitter, and I recently made it available to my fans. They can follow me at: http://twitter.com/WhitneyPerry If they're on Facebook, they can join my fan group, Fans of Whitney Perry at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=50848628696&ref=ts They can always check out my IMDB page at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3358049/ Or they can send me fan mail at: Whitney Perry c/o Stacy Wells, P.O. Box 50948, Bowling Green, KY 42104