Meet Mrs. USA UNIVERSE — PATTI BAKER

JUNE, tell us about yourself, how did you become a model?

I got spotted by Abercrombie & Fitch, and I did my first shoot with them. That led to signing with Dominique Models in Belgium which quickly got me signed in other agencies in different countries.

What do you like about your profession?

I love seeing my work in magazines and on billboards! It makes me & my family proud. Also, meeting the teams I work with is very inspiring – they are all very talented and creative.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

I express myself on paper with paint or just write my thoughts in my notes. I love reading motivational books and psychology books. I’m a little nerdy.

Here are some recommendations for you: The Power of Now, My Subconscious Mind, The Four Agreements, and The Art of Seduction.

You have been to many countries, which ones have brought back the fondest memories and why?

I like either very adventurous or very luxurious trips. For adventurous types, I would definitely recommend Thailand because there you can try many different activities and there’s a lot to discover. You can do some island hopping and just be in the most beautiful nature. Bali also has a huge spot in my heart.

Besides your natural beauty, you are in great physical shape. Share the secret of your beauty and youthfulness.

That’s very sweet of you to say! Well, I have a very healthy lifestyle as I am vegetarian. So no dairy products or meat. I never liked the taste or structure of these so for me it was easy to leave it out of my diet. Workout-wise, I do a lot of cardio and Pilates for flexibility and a more defined body.

Also, your mindset is very important. Always stay positive even in the most difficult situations because you will always come out of it and often even better!

‘You never lose, you either win or you learn’.