Lauren Jones gets what she wants. I mean, seriously, would you say no to her? Not to be too plastic, but after taking one look at Lauren, I was ready to walk backwards – to China – to accommodate her. So, when she expressed an interest in being on our cover, it had to be a done deal. Her will, enforced by her definition-defying appearance, is way too strong … way too strong. “I’m very excited about it. When I saw the magazine, I wanted to be on the cover,” Lauren told me. “What girl doesn’t want to be a hot babe?” Lauren, dear, cover or no cover, you already had that, if you’ll pardon the expression, covered. “One of the great things, is that when people see it they’ll associate me with poker,” said Lauren. “I play poker – and I love it. I don’t play that often, but whenever I’m with a large group of people, we play. Winning isn’t really important to me. It’s more about being with your friends. It’s a social thing." “It’s more about that than the actual game.” A native of Jackson, MS, Lauren played herself in Anchorwoman, a role that brought her into contact with one of television’s toughest customers. “I was scheduled to be on with Bill O’Reilly, so I was really nervous,” she said. “Then, when I met him, he was actually kind. We took a picture. He asked me about Anchorwoman."
“But when the cameras started rolling, he totally changed. That’s how he attacks his prey! Later, he actually sent a letter saying he was very impressed.” When guys get around Lauren, well, it’s hard, make that impossible, to resist. “Believe it or not, I get hit on more when I’m in my sweatpants,” Lauren said. “When I’m all dressed, less guys hit on me.”  What about when a fellow actually connects, and gets himself a date? “I’d tell that guy to be himself,” Lauren offered. “I want to see somebody’s true character. Have fun and don’t come on too strong. I can’t stand it if a guy’s sleazy.” If it helps my cause, neither can I … but enough about me. It’s a given that men are going get a bit anxious in Lauren’s presence, which may explain the above-mentioned behavior, but certain situations can make even a goddess nervous.  “Do I still get nervous in front of the camera? Yeah, actually I do,” she admitted. “If I’m rusty, and haven’t done it for a while, yeah, but if I’ve been doing it, I’m ready.” Lauren’s been, as she put it, doing it, since her teenage years. “It seems like forever. I think I’ve been modeling since I was 16 or 17,” she said. “That was in New York. I’m originally from Mississippi, but I moved there (New York) with my family. “When they moved back, I stayed to continue modeling, and also to go to school.”  In addition to studying in New York, where she graduated from the Parsons School of Design, Lauren also attended classes in the UK, at London’s University of Westminster. Along with Anchorwoman, Lauren has appeared on The Price is Right, The Guiding Light and in The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie. She has also been part of 28 episodes of Last Call with Carson Daly. Not surprisingly, where cameras are involved, she gets a lot of offers. “I’m pretty picky when it comes to magazine covers,” Lauren said. “Some really good ones are coming out.” Honey, and I’m speaking for an entire gender here, when you’re on the cover, they’re all good.