December 2009 ClubDistrict Starlet of the Month

Hey guys! Just wanted to start off by thanking Hans and Nicole as well as everyone at ClubDistrict.com for choosing me as the December 2009 Starlet of the Month. It was an awesome experience and I had a lot of fun doing it.

I always get asked who I am and it’s a tough question because I’m so many things. I was born in Northern California in a small town called Salinas, which is near Monterrey. My father is Italian and my mother is Guamanian. I have one older sister named Sarah and we both grew up with my Dad. Being Daddy’s little girl and living without my mom pretty much made me a tomboy. My Dad loves motorcycles and I remember as a little girl always helping him fix his racing bikes. We’d go to the races on the weekends and watch these guys go out on the track and kick ass. I always loved the adrenaline rush of it all. I guess that’s why I’m a huge adrenaline junkie now. Get me on a hot pink and black Suzuki “Busa” (or purple and black) and let me go…but I’d settle for the kick ass all white with red and black logo; I’m just saying.

I was a tomboy with my Dad but then I’d go in my room and play with my hair and makeup but I still craved that need for speed. It wasn’t till I was in high school that that need for speed almost killed me. My friends and I were racing and out of nowhere a semi truck plowed right into us. Nobody was killed but I was the most critically injured that night. I was rushed to the hospital with internal bleeding and a cracked spine. It was a pretty traumatic event in my life and it left me with a huge 6 inch scar on my stomach. Everyone thought I was going to die but luckily God had other plans for me.

After that experience I knew that I needed to go pursue my dreams and I had to get out of Salinas. I knew that I wanted to do something with modeling and acting and I always loved doing hair and makeup so I figured since I didn’t like LA that San Diego was the next best thing. I made the right choice. I moved down to San Diego and things started to take off. I became a hairstylist and started modeling and acting. I did print, commercial, and TV shows including a spot on Playboy TV with Jesse Jane, which was completely wild!

Many of you have seen me recently on the cover of DSPORT Magazine in November 2009 where I was on the cover and had a four page spread. I’ve shot the cover for Performance Auto and Sound Magazine releasing in 2010 along with a bunch of other projects coming out next year. Things have picked up and I’m very fortunate to be doing what I love.

To relax you can find me with friends having a good dinner somewhere like my favorite restaurant 'Oceanaire' in San Diego. You can also find me BBQing with friends by my pool or playing Nintendo WII with my friends. I love to dance and I love to party when I can. I’m a wild child when I can but I’m business when I have to be. I love that I can balance my life and for that I’m thankful.

I love to be fit and I love to work out. I’m in the gym working out almost every day and I definitely am no lightweight. When I go, I go all out. I love my sensual side but I also love my tough side. I’m like a cross between Jessica Alba and Sarah Conner from Terminator!

Most people don’t realize it but if they looked at me they’d never realize I was a bouncer in a nightclub in San Diego. I remember several times I had to take someone down, put them in a hold and take them out or arrest them. Ha! It was such an adrenaline rush. People were always surprised, but hey if I took you out I’d do it with a smile and in heels.

I’m very happy with my career and the possibilities. In the future I’d love to be in Sports Illustrated, Maxim and Playboy. Maybe even as a Bond Girl! I’d kick so much ass as one. I think that just being humble is a start for anyone with a little success. I do know that I’m kept grounded by my friends and that I do what I do because I love it. I love meeting new people and I love the different adventures I get called on. Hopefully in the future I’ll be able to own my own lingerie company. For now, I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can and I look forward to living, loving and laughing.

Thanks for the support. Again, thank you to Hans and Nicole for choosing me as ClubDistrict.com’s December Starlet. Thank you KimiKal Clothing for letting me model such awesome fashions. And thank you to my manager Damien for supporting me through it all. Love you all!

Xoxo
Melissa Riso

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