I’ll be honest and say I was thinking of telling our friendly dissenter to go get bent. But the statistics on the blog are up. So instead, I am encouraging… “bring it on, Chica!” And please enjoy today’s interview!

 Miss Italy, Mavi Beck

Mavi: I am a down to earth person, I am not the typical fashion model I guess. I do like the clothes and the style and the glitz and glam of this world, but I am really someone who like to spend time with her friends above everything. I like the laughters and the fun, invite me to a dance party where there’s good indie music and you’ll make me happy. Friendship is very important to me and I am very loyal to my friends.

Kate: Wow! Stunning pictures! Is modeling your main activity in SL? Do you have other interests?
Mavi: Well yes at the moment modeling is my main activity in SL even if I keep one day of the week for myself where I dj at a friends’ club. You know, I entered SL to be part of a team of RL friend who had created a club here, it was called Korova Milk Bar. I started there as host, then I became Dj there, then manager and eventually owner. It was a great experience that lasted 2 years and that unfortunately I had to abandon because of lack of time. I was the last one standing here in SL from that original group and I couldn’t really do it anymore by myself, both financially and time-wise. It’s my dream, to be able one day to reopen Korova, it was a great meeting place for people of all countries in the world, to share the passion for music. Now modelling is my main job and I really love it, I started 2 years ago and I couldn’t live without it
Kate: Is indie your favorite type of music? What groups are you listening to right now?
Mavi: I am an indie kid. I was a goth in the 80s, but I don’t listen only to gloomy dark music. I like a bit of everyting. Right now I like Interpol, IAMX, Editors, Kings Leon, Sigur Ros and of course, Nine Inch Nails is my absolute favourite. I could go on forever listing band names really. I used to host a radio show in RL, music is a very important part of my life and I love finding new bands
Kate: I just started listening to indie for a change of pace. The music stands on its own… no record label hype, no lavish production, no rules.
Mavi: Yes, I don’t listen to the radio or watch MTV much, it’s not my genre really, it all sounds the same to me. I like music that says something, that when you put on the earphones you can hear the work behind it, layers and layers of different sounds….
Kate: I notice that you speak a lot of languages! Is that something that comes easy to you?
Mavi: Yes. it kinda is. I learnt English when I was 11 or 12 and all the grammar I use now is the same I learnt then. I am a grammar and typo tyrant in both Italian and English. It really pains me to see languages distorted badly just to make things simple, just because people are too lazy to stop and think. I took 3 foreign languages in high school, German, English and French and I had no problem with learning any of them.
Kate: But there are no rules to English!
Mavi: There are! OMG! Yes!
Kate: Well… for example… through, though, tough, trough
Mavi: It’s such a crazy language but I love it. I know I am not perfect, and I make grammar mistakes quite often, but I take pride in my spelling.
Kate: Let’s talk about modeling. I remember last year, you really were following closely what was going on with MVW.
Mavi: Well last year I was still very new to modelling and I didn’t know all the names and I didn’t know much of what was going on really, but I did try entering a few times. I remember reading your blog as well, it was very inspirational. I had just entered Runway back then and I was picked for one of the show with all the misses. And you girls were so beautiful and graceful and omg I was really looking up to you all.
Kate: I’m blushing! This year it seems like you all have taken MVW to a new level.
Mavi: It is amazing really, I really do love the ladies I am competing with, we often IM each other asking for suggestions, or exchanging comments and impressions, I thought it would be much more competitive you know? And to be honest I was very scared about this. So far I must say that it is all running so smoothly it’s almost unbelievable! It’s almost a zen experience! I am honoured to have been chosen and my wish has already been granted, being in MVW is a great accomplishment to me.
Kate: Yes!
Mavi: I use my modelling attitude for this, that is to be relaxed, to enjoy the rush and to keep it fun. That is my secret. I love the fact that SL gives me the opportunity of changing my character so much, I like to interpret the designer’s dream. I like to be the person they created their outfits for, I want to look the best and make their work look the best.
Kate: To be able to do that, to enhance the designers vision, yet still be Mavi… your personal interpretation of beauty… I think you have something there.
Mavi: Yes, those are the right words. Yes that’s what i meant exactly
Kate: Okies… what would you say to the fan closely following MVW this year? Maybe someone who may get called to be a finalist next year?
Mavi: My advice is, keep it real. Dream and dream big if you like but do realize that winning or not winning will not define you. It will not make you any better or worse than anybody else. I wish on everybody the luck that I am having now, because it is really an amazing experience, but be prepared to lose, because there can really be only one. Do your best, be the best person you can absolutely be, be empatic and keep your heart open, you’ll make wonderful friendships.

The Grand Finals for the Miss Virtual World will be held at the Patch Thibaud Auditorium on December 19, Saturday. See you there!

Kate Stockholm is a senior staff writer for Best of Second Life Magazine and a Miss Virtual World Organization executive. She was last year’s Miss Sweden and winner of Miss Congeniality.