Still on a
hot streak
In 2010, when we went looking for a few beautiful people to grace the pages of our inaugural Hot Issue, we found some amazing personalities. (Remember Candice Crawford, the former CW33 reporter? Now she's married to a certain Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Coincidence? Perhaps.)
Two of our favorite subjects from 2010 were DD Johnson, a former SMU football player and motivational speaker, and Vivian Ta, an exotic beauty from Vietnam who had designs on becoming Miss Universe. Johnson and Ta joined us for the 2011 Hot Issue shoot, and we did a bit of catching up.
DD Johnson
Since last year, Johnson has stayed busy working in Los Angeles on a new project called Bang Bang Music Group (music and a TV show). He also signed with Wilhelmina Models and the Osbrink agency to pursue acting. Johnson has modeled for J.C. Penney, Dillard's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Macy's, to name a few. And he has made appearances on MTV, on VH1, and in movies and commercials. He also hosts musical events.
He continues to work out of Dallas as a motivational speaker with his friend Sterling Harris (www.brothersbychoicellc.com), telling the story of how Johnson went from virtually living on the streets to graduating in the top 2 percent of his class.
Follow him on Twitter: @devonric, or check out www.thedevonric.com
Vivian Ta
When we first met Ta, she was Miss Dallas United States. In June, she won Miss Texas United America -- not bad for a girl whose parents, natives of Vietnam, didn't let her enter pageants until she was 18. This summer, Vivian has stayed busy making appearances as Miss Texas United America (and squeezing in the occasional yoga and kickboxing classes). She is also going into her senior year at the University of Texas at Arlington, majoring in psychology. She volunteers with the Colon Cancer Alliance, and early detection of the disease is her platform during her reign as Miss Texas United America -- her father is a colon cancer survivor.
Next up, Ta will compete in the Miss United America Pageant in Austin in October. Don't bet against her.
Follow her on Twitter: @vivianta
