Natalie Martinez

OYE OPEN YOUR EYES

OYE MAGAZINE

Que Buena!
Natalie Martinez steps out of the “J-Shadow” to make a name for herself.

PHOTOGRAPHY Rodney Ray

She’s an overnight sensation, literally. She’s also proof positive that fantasies do come true. In fact sometimes reality can eclipse even our wildest fantasies. Like when I got to stare at Natalie posing for hours in various bikinis…um, but back to the subject at hand. A little over a year ago Natalie could hardly have imagined that she’d be the national spokesmodel for arguably the world’s most famous Latina (that would be J-Lo), that her face and body would be on billboards and advertisements throughout the world, or that she’d be on the cover of magazines (she’s been on the cover of Maxim’s Spanish and English editions, not to mention Open Your Eyes). Yet that’s exactly what’s happened. And all because Natalie went along with her mother’s suggestion that she audition for J-Lo’s nationwide search for her clothing line’s spokesmodel. You see girls (or at least the few of you that are reading this) it does pay to listen to your mother sometimes—just not when she tells you not to go out with us.

Tell us how you were discovered?
My mother told me to go to a competition they were having at a local mall to find J-Lo’s spokesmodel. They were searching nationwide in six major cities. I did it for her. I went and really didn’t think much of it. But I ended up qualifying as one of the six from Miami. They picked six out of every city, and out of those six J-Lo picked one from each city. They flew us to New York. She got to meet us and interviewed us all. There was a big press conference and that’s when J-Lo announced the winner. I was picked out of 5,000 girls nationwide.

What were you doing before that?
I was finishing high school; it was my senior year. And I was working with my mother at our family’s beauty salon.

Tell us how you were discovered?
My mother told me to go to a competition they were having at a local mall to find J-Lo’s spokesmodel. They were searching nationwide in six major cities. I did it for her. I went and really didn’t think much of it. But I ended up qualifying as one of the six from Miami. They picked six out of every city, and out of those six J-Lo picked one from each city. They flew us to New York. She got to meet us and interviewed us all. There was a big press conference and that’s when J-Lo announced the winner. I was picked out of 5,000 girls nationwide.

What were you doing before that?
I was finishing high school; it was my senior year. And I was working with my mother at our family’s beauty salon.

High school!? Oops, now I feel like a dirty old cochino for staring at your photos with, uh, less than pure thoughts. Anyway, did you ever dream something like this would happen to you?
Never. I would’ve never imagined this in a million years. It’s just a very different lifestyle than I ever imagined having. I love it. I love traveling, I love working, I love taking pictures…but I never would’ve imagined that I would be right here, that I would see myself in magazines or on TV.

Are you limited from doing other things because of your
responsibilities to J-Lo?
No, I’m not limited, but for right now I do a lot of work for her and that’s my name right now: I am the J-Lo spokesmodel.

Do you think J-Lo might start getting jealous of you now that you’re blowing up?
No! She is so blown up, why would she be jealous of me?

But what if P-Diddy tried to date you to replace her? Would you go out with him? Would you give him your number?
I’m not looking for anything like that. I’m not very starstruck either. I have a lot of friends that are stars…

So you’re saying that you’d shoot him down?
I wouldn’t turn him down…no, um, I don’t know what I would do. I’ve met him. We hung out and stuff, but no, we’re just friends…I would be friends with him, just like if you came up to me and talked to me, I would talk to you too…

I think if I, or most guys, came up to talk to you we might have more than just friendship in mind. I mean, hypothetically of course. And since we’re on the subject of guys approaching you, what kind of guys do you like?
I don’t know, my type is so off sometimes. I don’t have one specific type. I have to get the whole sense of the guy for me to be turned on by him, for me to actually like him. I like someone that has motivation and is really dedicated to something.

What’s the worst thing a guy has ever done to you?
Cheated on me. I just find that to be a big violation. If you’re focused on being with someone and that person is giving you their all, then you should give your all also…Actually the worst thing you could do is lie. If you want to be with someone else, go be with someone else. I’m totally understanding. I’m not one of those crazy girls that go all crazy and psycho over you. Just don’t lie to me.

I agree. I would never cheat on you. So do you think that guy who cheated on you is really sorry now that you’re on the covers of magazines?
I’m sure.

Does that give you any satisfaction?
No, I don’t wish anything on him that would make him feel bad or regret anything, but HA, HA! [laughs]

That’s more like it! Say it, “SUCKER!” Okay, you’re Cuban, what’s so special about Cubanas?
Cubanas are very strong women. So don’t mess with us, don’t take us for granted!

What sneaky tricks do guys use to try to pick up on you?
I’ve had those random men that come up to me and say, “Hi! I’m a photographer. I want to take pictures of you.” They don’t even have a card. They’re wannabe photographers. I don’t fall for that.

So what advice do you have for guys that want to ask you out?
Don’t come off too strong. That throws me off a little if you come on too strong. Just be yourself, I can tell if you’re not being yourself. I can tell if you’re trying to impress, and that is one big turn off to me.

OPEN YOUR EYES MAGAZINE
THE HOTTEST LATINO MAGAZINE IN AMERICA!

© 2003 Tlahtoani Media Group, LLC
The Latin Magazine featuring hot Latinas, beautiful Latinas, Latina models, Latin girls, Latin women, Latin models



	OYE	OPEN YOUR EYES
OYE MAGAZINE
			Que Buena! Natalie Martinez steps out of the “J-Shadow” to make a name for herself. PHOTOGRAPHY Rodney Ray She’s an overnight sensation, literally. She’s also proof positive that fantasies do come true. In fact sometimes reality can eclipse even our wildest fantasies. Like when I got to stare at Natalie posing for hours in various bikinis…um, but back to the subject at hand. A little over a year ago Natalie could hardly have imagined that she’d be the national spokesmodel for arguably the world’s most famous Latina (that would be J-Lo), that her face and body would be on billboards and advertisements throughout the world, or that she’d be on the cover of magazines (she’s been on the cover of Maxim’s Spanish and English editions, not to mention Open Your Eyes). Yet that’s exactly what’s happened. And all because Natalie went along with her mother’s suggestion that she audition for J-Lo’s nationwide search for her clothing line’s spokesmodel. You see girls (or at least the few of you that are reading this) it does pay to listen to your mother sometimes—just not when she tells you not to go out with us.

	Tell us how you were discovered? My mother told me to go to a competition they were having at a local mall to find J-Lo’s spokesmodel. They were searching nationwide in six major cities. I did it for her. I went and really didn’t think much of it. But I ended up qualifying as one of the six from Miami. They picked six out of every city, and out of those six J-Lo picked one from each city. They flew us to New York. She got to meet us and interviewed us all. There was a big press conference and that’s when J-Lo announced the winner. I was picked out of 5,000 girls nationwide. What were you doing before that? I was finishing high school; it was my senior year. And I was working with my mother at our family’s beauty salon. Tell us how you were discovered? My mother told me to go to a competition they were having at a local mall to find J-Lo’s spokesmodel. They were searching nationwide in six major cities. I did it for her. I went and really didn’t think much of it. But I ended up qualifying as one of the six from Miami. They picked six out of every city, and out of those six J-Lo picked one from each city. They flew us to New York. She got to meet us and interviewed us all. There was a big press conference and that’s when J-Lo announced the winner. I was picked out of 5,000 girls nationwide. What were you doing before that? I was finishing high school; it was my senior year. And I was working with my mother at our family’s beauty salon. High school!? Oops, now I feel like a dirty old cochino for staring at your photos with, uh, less than pure thoughts. Anyway, did you ever dream something like this would happen to you? Never. I would’ve never imagined this in a million years. It’s just a very different lifestyle than I ever imagined having. I love it. I love traveling, I love working, I love taking pictures…but I never would’ve imagined that I would be right here, that I would see myself in magazines or on TV. Are you limited from doing other things because of your responsibilities to J-Lo? No, I’m not limited, but for right now I do a lot of work for her and that’s my name right now: I am the J-Lo spokesmodel. Do you think J-Lo might start getting jealous of you now that you’re blowing up? No! She is so blown up, why would she be jealous of me? But what if P-Diddy tried to date you to replace her? Would you go out with him? Would you give him your number? I’m not looking for anything like that. I’m not very starstruck either. I have a lot of friends that are stars… So you’re saying that you’d shoot him down? I wouldn’t turn him down…no, um, I don’t know what I would do. I’ve met him. We hung out and stuff, but no, we’re just friends…I would be friends with him, just like if you came up to me and talked to me, I would talk to you too… I think if I, or most guys, came up to talk to you we might have more than just friendship in mind. I mean, hypothetically of course. And since we’re on the subject of guys approaching you, what kind of guys do you like? I don’t know, my type is so off sometimes. I don’t have one specific type. I have to get the whole sense of the guy for me to be turned on by him, for me to actually like him. I like someone that has motivation and is really dedicated to something. What’s the worst thing a guy has ever done to you? Cheated on me. I just find that to be a big violation. If you’re focused on being with someone and that person is giving you their all, then you should give your all also…Actually the worst thing you could do is lie. If you want to be with someone else, go be with someone else. I’m totally understanding. I’m not one of those crazy girls that go all crazy and psycho over you. Just don’t lie to me. I agree. I would never cheat on you. So do you think that guy who cheated on you is really sorry now that you’re on the covers of magazines? I’m sure. Does that give you any satisfaction? No, I don’t wish anything on him that would make him feel bad or regret anything, but HA, HA! [laughs] That’s more like it! Say it, “SUCKER!” Okay, you’re Cuban, what’s so special about Cubanas? Cubanas are very strong women. So don’t mess with us, don’t take us for granted! What sneaky tricks do guys use to try to pick up on you? I’ve had those random men that come up to me and say, “Hi! I’m a photographer. I want to take pictures of you.” They don’t even have a card. They’re wannabe photographers. I don’t fall for that. So what advice do you have for guys that want to ask you out? Don’t come off too strong. That throws me off a little if you come on too strong. Just be yourself, I can tell if you’re not being yourself. I can tell if you’re trying to impress, and that is one big turn off to me.
OPEN YOUR EYES MAGAZINE THE HOTTEST LATINO MAGAZINE IN AMERICA! © 2003 Tlahtoani Media Group, LLC The Latin Magazine featuring hot Latinas, beautiful Latinas, Latina models, Latin girls, Latin women, Latin models