Hana Hong

Racing and car show model Hana Hong is among the top ladies in her field in Korea. Her popularity as a model has even helped land her some parts in TV shows. However, since her exposure is pretty much limited to Korea, she's received practically no press outside of her homeland. Of course, models like Hana often have their photos posted all over the net by Korean and non-Korean bloggers alike, but it's very rare you'll see an article or blog post where the author has actually contacted and received a reply from her worthy of publication.

I sent Hana a message through Facebook and asked if she'd like to be featured here and if she'd mind answering a few questions. She gave me a positive response and asked me to e-mail her about it. Knowing it could have been a brush-off, I sent Hana some questions anyway, thinking there's always a chance of getting a reply. As it turned out, I was pleasantly surprised when Hana replied the next day with answers to some of my questions.

Sasa Leung

Sooner or later, I was going to interview the other Cave Girl from Creepy KOFY Movie Time, so I decided to make it sooner. The very next interview, in fact. Winnie Leung, known professionally and henceforth here as Sasa Leung, is the other half of the foxy duo of horror host supporters that San Francisco viewers can enjoy seeing Saturday nights at 11:00 PM on KOFY Channel 20 (and I hope you guys at KOFY are appreciating all the plugs!)

I first met Sasa the same time I met her co-Cave Girl Scarlet, which was last year at Reyna Young's Nightmare to Remember film festival. Despite her outward appearance, she seemed a little shy, which was something I was also told by a few of her friends, and that may have been the reason she didn't reply to my first request for an interview. However, seeing her colleague featured here seemed to be what it took to prompt Sasa to spend some time with me and talk about her travels, the history of the Cave Girls, and the upcoming launch of their new business venture.

Scarlet von Harlet

Scarlet von Harlet is best known as one half of the "Cave Girls," who appear on the Saturday late night horror flick show Creepy KOFY Movie Time on KOFY TV, San Francisco. She and her fellow Cave Girl, Sasa Leung, are sort of the cheering section for the show's hosts (Balrok and No Name), and much more. In addition to lending the show some eye candy and showing off her go-go moves to some great retro surf and rockabilly music (provided by house band, The Deadlies), during intermissions, Scarlet gets involved with such things as answering viewer questions, demonstration how to use Shake Weights as a distraction, and sampling unique cuisine.

After briefly meeting Scarlet last year at Miss Misery's Nightmare to Remember film festival, I made a note to later contact her about a feature here. I did, she graciously accepted and this is it. However, I actually didn't interview Scarlet, per se, but rather the lovely young lady behind the Scarlet persona, who willingly stepped out of character for our chat. (Sort of like Batgirl agreeing to talk to me as Barbara Gordon.) Still, out of respect for her privacy, I'm using her stage name here. Oh, and I give Scarlet very high marks for her punctuality.

Amanda Abrahamson

20 year-old university student and model Amanda Abrahamson was brought to my attention by Ryan Hurd, who sent me a compliment on the feature I did on his friend, actress Nicole Kruex. Ryan is the driving force behind the Minnesota-based clothing company "Bōbiam Artistic Streetwear." The company designs clothing that features the works of young artists. For every item Bōbiam sells, the artist gets $1 and the company donates $1 to a local charity called "Free Arts of Minnesota," a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing healing through artistic expression into the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk children and their families.

Since Ryan told me what a great job I did on Nicole's article, and flattery often works with me (and of course, because it's a great cause), I wanted to do something to help promote his company. I suggested I do a feature on one of the adult ladies that models the clothing on Bōbiam's website and in turn, give the company a nice plug. Knowing a great idea when he hears one, Ryan said he had one particular girl in mind who'd be interested in my offer, which brings me to Amanda.

After receiving a message from Amanda stating she'd love to be interviewed for a feature here, I checked out her Facebook page to learn a little more about her, in order to come up with some relevant questions to ask. (I don't have a list of "generic" questions that I use for interviews, like some do.) When I noticed under "employers" at Amanda's Facebook profile, she listed she was a "Princess at All About Fun," I was put off because writing about a spoiled rich girl who lives to party, was something I didn't care to do. However, I mistakenly jumped to conclusions there. After delving a little further into Amanda's profile page, I learned that wasn't a flippant comment at all. You see; Amanda portrays a Disney princess for a company she works for called "All About Fun," who cater children's birthday parties! So, after having a laugh over that, I came up with some questions that would give a little insight into the Bōbiam clothing model. I just wish I could have asked Amanda them in person so that I could have found out if she was as verbally enthusiastic as she was in her e-mails, where she ended almost all of her answers with an exclamation mark.

April Syrup

I recently caught up with April Syrup while she was visiting her hometown of San Francisco. However, as this posts, the graphic artist, fashion designer, and model is currently back in Tokyo, the city she's called home for the last few years. A Temple University of Japan alumna, April chose to remain in Japan for a few years after graduating in 2010, to begin her art and design career. She often holds her own events in and around Tokyo, where she (who better?) models many of her own creations, a sample of which is at left.

After catching the Facebook wall post of April's that revealed she was back in the States, I decided to shoot her a message to ask if she'd like to be featured here. She said she would just to see if her entry would get more hits than her twin (yes, twin) sister Aby's did when I featured her here last year. Just kidding about that last part. The girls are very supportive of each other and April was happy to answer a few questions for me, including why she chose the moniker "Syrup." Assuming that's not her real name is just as much of a no-brainer as figuring out what her real name is, since her sister goes by her real surname.

Whatever Happened to Morning?

Korean girl group Morning was a unique foursome of very beautiful ladies who, in 2003, scored a hit single with a dynamic ballad entitled "I'll Make You Happy," off of their one and only album; Return to the Innocence. Above is the official music video for the song. Exemplifying the group's uniqueness here is violinist Jang Min-kyung, whose solo adds an excellent embellishment to a part that would ordinarily feature a guitar or keyboard.

The other members of the group were Shim Seong-hee (Lead vocal), Kim Bu-yeon (Second vocal), and Baek Bo-ram (Rap, narration, and vocals). They couldn't be considered a band since only Min-kyung played an instrument besides sang, but they definitely weren't the typical K-pop female vocal group, either. Perhaps that's why they didn't seem to find their niche and disbanded after just the one album.

Kate Cloutier

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Kate Cloutier studied drama at the University of Minnesota but didn't start acting full-time until last year, when she decided to leave her career as an emergency medical technician. Besides knowing how to save lives, she also sings, plays guitar, substitute teaches, is a trained firefighter, and as you can see at left, is very serious about her workouts.

Kate jokingly said giving very detailed answers was part of her obsessive-compulsive disorder, but for anyone wanting to know what it takes to get in the shape you see she's in, you'll definitely appreciate the detailed rundown she gives on her workout routine. Oh, I should add the photo at left is from 2009 and Kate's appearance has changed since. Her hair's longer now.