CraveOnline: How are you today?? First things first -- Tell me how you got started in modeling??

Jessica Custodio: Well, it actually all began in San Francisco. No, actually, scratch that. I started modeling in San Francisco, but I started off doing acting when I was ten. I did a lot of musical theater growing up. Then, one day I was eighteen years old, I was in San Francisco, and a photographer took a picture of me. He was like, "We should do a shoot sometime." I was like, "Okay, cool." So, that's how I got my start in modeling.

CraveOnline: You've since migrated out to Los Angeles -- How come??

Jessica Custodio: It was just very casual (at first), and I decided (that) this [modeling] is kind of fun. I put my foot forward to getting in contact with different photographers, and trading services with them, and then I started building my portfolio. I realized I wasn't where I wanted to be (in my career), and I wanted to move to Hollywood to do acting and films.

CraveOnline: Along the way, when did you first determine that you wanted this as your full-time profession??

Jessica Custodio: When I was ten I didn't think so much career. I was just like, "This is what I want to do." Then, when I moved to Los Angeles (that's when I really decided). I've had different everyday jobs or whatever, when I was living up in the Silicon Valley. I worked at Yahoo, and a property management company and stuff like that, and I hated it. It was actually kind of fun, but I just didn't want the normal desk job. It was something that made me depressed. I didn't want to do that. So, I ended up moving to Los Angeles and doing a little bit of acting here and there, and decided (that) I could make money doing it -- This is what I want. 

CraveOnline: Since you are considered a 'Triple Threat' because you sing, act, and model -- Do you have a personal favorite of the three??

Jessica Custodio: Well, I used to do a lot of singing when I was younger, and I can still carry a tune, but like I can't go on American Idol or anything like that. In my shower or in my car is the only place you'd want to hear it. But, I can carry a tune. As far as acting and modeling, acting is what I'm going to do. Modeling just kind of falls in my lap sometimes. You know what?? It's (all) fun, so I just take it as it goes. 

CraveOnline: You already have a few roles under your belt so to speak -- So, what have you appeared in thus far??

Jessica Custodio: Yes, my resume' isn't like huge, but when I first moved here, I booked a series regular role on the TV show, Oblivious, that aired on Spike TV. It was (the) second season, but it got canceled after that. It was so much fun (though). I got to work with some great people. It was all improv, so there was nothing scripted or anything, so you just kind of did what you felt at the moment -- It was great, a good experience. I learned a lot. Then, there were some bit parts. You might've seen me in Monster In Law, you could've seen me in (the ABC drama) What About Brian, this is one of the most recent (things), or you could've caught me on CSI:NY. Entourage (on HBO), was one that I actually got a good credit for.   

CraveOnline: Tell me about me about this new venture, BombshellPoker.Com -- How did you get involved with this??  

Jessica Custodio: Can I add something to that list I brang up?? I just completed my first movie, and I was the lead in it. So, it was really (an) amazing experience. It was a horror film called The Slaughter. You can check out the trailer at www.productionHQ.com/theslaughter, and it just premiered last week. It was actually supposed to go straight to DVD, but we decided to have a couple of theatrical releases, such as the premiere for family, friends, and (the) cast. It's (also) going to (the) Cannes (Film Festival). It's not like one of the movies that they are screening, but it's going there, and it's gonna (be) played on a yacht. Then, also (it's) entered into (an independent) film festival called Hole In The Head, in San Francisco, on June 10th.     

CraveOnline: How was your very first starring role??

Jessica Custodio: It (is) what I want to do. When I was working (on it) everyday, I thought about it, and it was just funny (because) I just thought to myself, "This is exactly what I want to be doing in my career." This is exactly it. I mean, obviously, I had the lead role and everything, but scripted acting -- That's what I want to do. It's great. Improv is fun, too. I just liked working with the other cast members, the director, and the crew -- Just getting it done. Making a movie, that's exactly what it is, and that's exactly what I love doing. So, it was a great experience. And, it was crazy how I got the part, because I was actually on a model website, like I said, still trying to build my portfolio and everything, and somebody from the production found my picture. I missed one of the auditions because I had Strep throat, and I ended up going back and landing the role.  

CraveOnline: Tell me about your character in The Slaughter??

Jessica Custodio: My character, her name is Dana. She was kind of, how do you say this?? She's a rational, a very rational person. So, when it came to the spooky demons, and the zombies, she really was kind of in denial for the majority of the movie, and she kind of goes from denial to a lil bit crazy. There's a couple of times where she was caught off guard, but for the most part she tried to stay really rational. She's the leader of the group, she wanted to keep things in order. The (special) effects were amazing. I couldn't believe how amazing the make-up artists (were). The work that they did is just phenomenal. It was not an easy character to play (though), because I'm a lil quirky, and she was kind of more down-tempo than I am really.

CraveOnline: Let's talk about BombshellPoker.Com -- How did this whole thing come about??

Jessica Custodio: That show I was telling you about, Oblivious, I auditioned for another show that's from the same producer, but I didn't get it. One of the casting directors was like, "Hey, there's an agent that you should meet." So, I ended up meeting an agent in Redondo Beach, and he basically sent me on this audition. I just went into the interview, and they were just asking if I played Poker, and I didn't. I knew how to play Blackjack, and they were like, "That's okay." They just wanted to see if  I could answer questions, and if I was bright or whatever, and see if I was capable of learning how to play -- (Then) they got us some trainers.

CraveOnline: So, how exactly does this interactive game work??

Jessica Custodio: Well, I'm a part of the Los Angeles Poker Team, actually one of the original Bombshells, and basically we play on Wednesday and Sunday nights at 7 o'clock. And, you can play against us models, and they have different things going on. If you drag the cursor over our names, then a picture of us pops up, and you're actually playing with us. Some people think, "Is this really you??" or, "Are you really playing??" But, we actually are playing -- We're actually pretty good, too!! 

CraveOnline: This business, in itself, is known to be very competitive and pretty cut-throat as well -- What will keep sustaining you in this industry??

Jessica Custodio: Wanting to be in it. As soon as you don't want to do it anymore, you're not gonna do it. You just have to want to, and the ones that last are the ones who want to do it. That's basically (it). It takes a lot of hard work, determination (and), obviously, perseverance. It's definitely a desire. I personally am driven by my desire to do this for my career, and for my life.

CraveOnline: How difficult is it in becoming successful as a model??

Jessica Custodio: I think it's such an art, modeling. Not just every pretty girl can do it. You can be pretty, and (still) can't be a model -- It's crazy. You have to really take care of yourself, and take care of your body. You just have to be on-key, and you have to be able to stand there for hours. I'm talking high fashion, the other ones do like more the West Coast types of modeling, it's a little bit different. But, all in all, modeling is a lot of work. It seems like it could be easy, and being glamourous, but it's definitely a lot of work. Maintaining your appearance, and just being poked and prodded at all day trying to get the shot right, not being able to move, it's definitely a lot of work. I'll tell you, I've come home many times from a photo shoot for a modeling job where the next day I'm sore like I went to the gym the day before. It's almost like yoga. (That's) probably why a lot of models do yoga. 

CraveOnline: What is a typical day like in the life of Jessica Custodio??

Jessica Custodio: Once I pry myself out of bed, the first thing I do is make a lot of phone calls. I'm a budding actress, I'm a budding performer, so I don't have a manager taking care of my schedule or anything like that. So, I guess, I get up, make my phone calls, make sure I got my meetings in place, or if I have a meeting, I get up and go to the meeting, maybe an audition, and then come home, eat dinner, play some Poker online, and go to bed -- That's about it.

CraveOnline: And, for fun, what do you enjoy doing??

Jessica Custodio: I like to stay at home and watch movies -- I really do. I'm a very down-to-earth person. I like to keep it pretty low key, or I like to go out to restaraunts a lot -- I really can appreciate good food.

CraveOnline: What is your favorite type of cuisine??

Jessica Custodio: Well, it's a toss up. I have so many. The obvious choice, Sushi -- I love it. I really like Indian food as well. I also really like Filipino food. That's my background. I'm half Filipino, my father is Filipino and Spanish, (and) my mother's German, Irish and Cherokee. So, I really have an adoration for Filipino food as well.

CraveOnline: What's next for Jessica Custodio??

Jessica Custodio: Actually, I'm gonna be working on a, it's a scratch DVD, for DJ Q-Bert -- That's in the works. Possibly a catalog shoot for them as well, (since) they have a clothing line. I also, this is crazy, really interesting, I just got selected as the spokesmodel for a make-up line called Make-Up Studio Cosmetics. For the entire year, I will be their spokesmodel, and I'll be traveling around and doing interviews and photo shoots, going to exotic places, so it's really, really exciting.

CraveOnline: Any parting words??

Jessica Custodio: Let me think about this one real quick...Okay, this is kind of one of my favorite quotes, and I don't know who said it, but it's, "If you could dream it, You can become it."


For more information on Jessica Custodio, and/or Bombshell Poker, go to: www.BombshellPoker.com