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Q and A with cyber celeb Somaya ReeceDec 15, 2009 (The Fresno Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The line is thin, these days, between Internet celebrity and good ol' fashioned fame. Tila Tequila, Kim Kardashian and a number of musicians have turned Internet attention into mainstream appeal. That's why model/singer/actress Somaya Reece can proclaim, "I am the future of everything." She can certainly make a case. Her MySpace page has more than 30 million views and almost 900,000 friends. Telemundo calls her "The Latina Jessica Rabbit," while the E! Network and Spike TV extol her status as an Internet hottie. Reece, 28, is in Fresno on Thursday, as the host for an evening at Bliss nightclub. We chatted with her via e-mail to learn about her cyber fame, her career plans and more. Question: How do you put into words the feeling of having close to 30 million people checking you out online? Answer: I don't think about it in a sense of, "Oh wow, look at all these people." I think of, "Wow, how can I use this experience to spread a positive message and share my story to inspire the world?" Was there a moment when you knew the Internet was going to make you a star? Before the Internet, I was working toward gaining jobs, such as acting and my music. I started working in commercials a lot but was finding it hard to get a legit agent. I had a friend tell me about the Internet and how it may be a good option to find an agent. So I opened up my Yahoo, Friendster and MySpace. And, well, it opened up doors to something I had no idea would be coming. I didn't expect to become a celebrity, nor was I looking for that. I was simply trying to find an agent and was blessed to say the least. I am glad MySpace exposed my music, which led me to all the deals I have today. It is a blessing. How many message, comments and friend requests do you get per day? All the comments are approved automatically so I am not sure. Prior to that feature I was receiving 1,500-3,000 requests a day. At this point it is so out of control. Do you manage your page still? Or has it gotten too big? I still manage my own page, except it is not as easy as it was in the beginning. I still comment [to] fans and write back to people. However, it has become a challenge. As a loyalty to my fans, I will not let anyone run my MySpace. They deserve the respect. People can make a lot out of cyber fame these days. What's your ultimate goal? The digital platform is the new selling platform for anything. I had no idea how ahead of everyone I was until now. All the record labels, television networks and media use the Internet to spread their news, shows and to sell their music. I don't have an ultimate goal, as I never got on the Internet for anything but to find better gigs. Now that I realize the viral marketing power behind it, I am just glad I am ahead of everyone. I am the future of everything. When you come out to do a nightclub hosting gig like you are here, what are you trying to give the people in that city? My goal is to always stay personally connected with fans! The personal connection I have through hosting clubs/personal appearances are the best way to keep your fans happy. They want to see you in person. It's like a little personal introduction. I love it. I will stand with fans for hours taking photos. I know what it is like to be "the fan," so I have to keep them happy. They deserve the respect as they stood by me along my struggle to [be] where I am today. And the road I am at now is just the beginning. I need them there for the long haul. The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6479. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com. To see more of The Fresno Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fresnobee.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Fresno Bee, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |