Mistress of the Universe
Twenty...uh, make that 19 questions with former Miss Universe Alicia Machado

PHOTOGRAPHY Rodney Ray

It’s one thing to be beautiful. It’s quite another to be crowned the most beautiful woman in the world. Yet that’s who Alicia Machado is: a former Miss Universe hailing from Venezuela. To the world she may be a glamorous, charming beauty queen. But to us young heterosexual Latino men she is so much more. She is alluring, exotic…seductive. In short, she is what our fantasies are made of. Which is what made Alicia Machado one of the hardest interviews I’ve ever had to do. You may not take me seriously, but it’s incredibly difficult to concentrate and gather your thoughts when you’re speaking to Alicia Machado. She just overloads all your male circuitry. On the outside you’re trying really hard to act like a serious professional and do your job. But below the surface your heart, soul—and every bit of your masculinity—is yearning to cry out, “I love you Alicia! Would you go out with me?” I guess beneath all the professionalism, education, and manners, what women say about us is true. We guys really do have a one-track mind.

MORE OYE GIRLS:

EVA LONGORIA

JESSICA BURCIAGA

PAM RODRIGUEZ

CLAUDIA MOLINA

JEN JOHNSON

CC FONTANA

NIKKI TORRES

Tell us what’s going on with your career?
I am recording my first CD in Spanish and preparing myself for the next stage of my career.

What kind of projects would you like to work on in the future?
I would like to continue making music and acting in projects that give me a lot of satisfaction.

Alicia, you’re an incredibly gorgeous woman, how much of an advantage is that in other aspects of your life?
I think being beautiful is only one aspect of your life. If you don’t have talent or preparation for whatever you want to do, you will not be successful in anything. Beauty is only temporary, but your mind lasts you a lifetime.

Most people still know you best as a former Miss Universe. Is that how you’d like to be remembered?
I know that people will remember me as Miss Universe because it was my first great achievement, but I still have my whole career ahead of me. Every day I am trying to improve my life.

Are men intimidated by the fact that you were once recognized as the most beautiful woman in the world?
Sometimes…it depends on the guy. It’s better if they don’t know so they get to know me as a normal girl—because I am a “normal” girl.

Women from Venezuela have been very successful in the beauty pageant world. Why do you think that is?
Because in my country these events are very important within the culture. We have a company that prepares girls for pageants.

So tell us the truth, do pageant judges ever hit on the contestants?
Not in my case.

What is the craziest piece of fan mail that you have ever gotten?
I’m always getting cute fan mail. However my most impressive fan would have to be a guy that serenaded me at my house in Caracas.

What do you consider the scariest experience you’ve been through?
When I was a child my hometown, Maracay, was attacked by the military because they wanted to overthrow the government.

What is one thing that you cannot live without?
My family.

Who makes better friends, guys or girls?
Both, because it depends on your relationship with each person.

Do you have more guy friends or girl friends?
I have more guy friends!

Is there a particular reason?
Well, I think it’s because I’m an only daughter. I have four brothers, a bunch of guy cousins, and so it’s like I was raised amongst men. So I’ve always gotten along really well with men.

Is it possible for men and women to be friends?
Yes, of course.

But what happens when you have a good guy friend who falls in love with you?
Well that’s actually happened to me a couple of times…but I really think that men, when it comes to falling in love, are less…I guess you could say less aggressive. Women are a little more assertive in terms of our ability to express our feelings when we fall in love. Men may have hopes and feelings for you, but as the saying from my country goes, el hombre propone y la mujer dispone. So a man may be interested in you, but it is the woman who decides if she wants to accept him. But as I was saying, from my experiences, I think men tend to be more timid in expressing their feelings for you. Regardless, I always prefer a friendship first and foremost.

You’ve traveled throughout the world, which country do you think has the best men?
There is no country that has the best men. A man is a man in every part of the world. It has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the culture and education that each man has received since he was a child, in his home. It has to do with how he was raised. BUT, in terms of attractiveness, speaking in terms of physical aspects only I think that Argentinean, Italian, Mexican, and Spanish men are among the most attractive men.

Do you think it’s true what they say about the size of a man’s feet and his…?
No way! It’s an absolute myth!

So you never notice a man’s feet when you meet him.
Para nada!

What do you think is the sexiest thing about you?
My legs and my smile.

What do men think is the sexiest thing about you?
My sense of humor and my butt.

What words of advice do you have for Latino men?
Try to understand women. I know that is very difficult, but just try.

I love you Alicia Machado! Would you go out with me? (Sadly, I never got up the nerve to ask her this last question.)