All Hail Decesare: Carmella DeCesare

IT’S SUPER DECESARE; CARMELLA DANIELLE DECESARE TO YOU, PUNK. AND AT 5-FEET-8, SHE CAN LEAP TALL BUILDINGS AND PRETTY MUCH DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS, WHEN SHE WANTS.

Why? Not only was the Clevelandrocking native of Italian and Puerto Rican descent named a Playboy “Playmate of the Month” in April 2003, but because a lot of hard work (and maybe that dark, 34B- 24-27 frame) and good decisions (after some real weird ones) made the 23-yearold into Playboy’s “Playmate of the Year” for 2004.

Just what are these weird decisions? Like after being accepted as a Playboy centerfold, she balked. But she came back to the fold eventually – at the urging of Papa Bear Hugh Hefner.

That took some major cojones to turn them down in the first place. Maybe that’s why we like her so much – she’s a woman who has her own mind. Flies her own freak flag. (You’d have to, especially if you’re competing on WWF’s Sunday Night Heat or appearing, as she often has, on The Howard Stern Show).

Still, she’s got a level head – attending college classes even as we speak. I stopped her right as she was heading out of class, square in the center of the Motor City.

You’re hard-working, sexy and smart. Do you think you get the respect you deserve as a woman of beauty and intelligence? And if they don’t, will you kick somebody’s ass?

CARMELLA DECESARE: I am a hard worker. And I do take my job – every job – very seriously. Not only do I take my jobs seriously, but all other aspects of my life, too. I do feel like I get the respect that I deserve, mainly because I respect others.

You’re Puerto Rican and Italian – ai yi yi! I’m 99.9 percent Italian, with just a smidgen of Spanish. Who’s the hothead in your family? You?

CD: I’m not a hothead. I’m pretty easygoing – always more of a communicator. I would like to believe that I am a pretty fair person and not afraid to admit when I’m wrong. I always say, “Never go to bed mad.”

You grew up in Cleveland. Does it indeed rock? What were you rocking to as a kid growing up there?

CD: Cleveland was a pretty good town to grow up in. I lived in the suburbs, which were clean and nice, so I have no complaints. Living there as an adult was a completely different story. There are just some things that you grow out of. Cleveland was that for me. Living in a small town limits what you do. People become extremely evasive and it seems that your privacy becomes non-existent. Then, people will bitch and complain that they are sick of hearing about you. But if everyone would quit talking, then there would obviously be nothing to listen to anymore.

Athleticism. Am I to gather you weren’t any sort of tomboyish thing growing up, or do you have a sporty background that’s deeply covert? Were you super body-conscious as a kid?

CD: I was so very body-conscious as a kid. Every girl loves to tell their ugly duckling story, but that truly was my reality. It was really uncomfortable as a child – honest. So to be so successful is life’s sweetest revenge. And I am very athletic, yet feminine at the same time. I’m not afraid to sweat. I love to work out and I love sports, but I also love to feel cleaned up and look pretty.

I know you’ve mentioned that you want to be an actress. Did you get a chance to do any in high school, or were you mostly just modeling?

CARMELLA DECESARE: I would love to be an actress. I studied with an acting coach in L.A. for a while and I loved it. There are just times when you really have a bad day or you’re under a lot of pressure. Working with my coach would always take the bricks off my chest so I could breathe again. When you play a role and get outside of yourself … at times, it can be a really refreshing feeling.

Was modeling – heck, is modeling – good or bad to you? It’s not always the best experience.

CD: I feel pretty fortunate that I’ve accomplished many things in my career, and even more fortunate that I am still climbing. Are things always successful? Are they always fun? Are they always easy? Absolutely not. This is a tough business. You learn that quick. You have to have very thick skin and be able to take on a lot of criticism and a lot of rejection. It can be very rewarding at times, but there are a lot of ups and downs. Lots of things fall through. You can’t be afraid to take risks, but at the same time, you must be very cautious. There are snakes out there and many will try to take advantage. I take pride in working as a professional. You’ll find that you will get much more respect that way.

Stop. Who do you think is a beautiful woman?

CD: When I think of a beautiful woman, I think of a woman with class. Eva Mendes – I love her. That’s a true beauty.

OK. I wasn’t going to look at your Playboy issues. Too distracting. But I peeked. So I see your turn-ons were ambition, sense of humor, blond hair, green eyes, muscles and a handy man with great power tools.

CD: Funny! You read the book. OK, those were all turn-ons that I wrote when I posed for Playboy at 19. Just like anything else, you grow out of some things and into others. I am turned on by a man who can be himself. I will never look for a specific look. You need something about you that sets you apart from all the rest.

Have you ever been with – longor short-term – a man who suited all turn-ons and missed the turn-off boat? What wins your heart – at this point – in your romantic life?

CARMELLA DECESARE: You know, I don’t think you can pinpoint all of the things that are right and wrong, because half of the time it’s hard to distinguish good from bad when it comes to relationships. Have I ever been in a perfect one? No, but who has? There are ups and downs with everyone in every relationship. It’s all about how you work through it and how you handle things. I am seeing this guy now … but I won’t elaborate on what criteria he fits or doesn’t fit.

Are you a jealous woman? How and when do you feel the green-eyed monster most?

CD: I think I can be jealous in a way, but not a bad way. If I see a beautiful woman, I may admire her look. I would moreso say “Wow, she has amazing body,” but not something hateful like a lot of people would say. It’s funny when you hear someone knock someone else about being skinny because you know that they’re just spiteful.

Tell me about Playboy’s “Who Wants to Be a Playboy Centerfold?” search coming to Cleveland. What made you respond in first place? Ambition, friends, joke, dare?

CD: When I decided to try out for the Playboy reality show, it was more of a joke to my then-boyfriend. I saw this audition on the news and I told him I was going. I figured that he thought “yeah, right” so I went. Never thought it would go this far. And when I made the Fox TV show, I didn’t know what to do. I just screamed.

So why get out before the Fox Network special in 2002? What was running through your skull?

CD: I left – basically – because I was scared. I was young, 19, not very mature and very homesick.

What made you change your mind again to go back?

CD: I came back, thanks to Hef. He believed in me when I wasn’t sure of myself. He could have just written it off and said, “If she doesn’t want to be here, fine. Forget it.” But, he’s an amazing man with a sincere heart. He had a lot of patience with me. So then to get Playboy‘s Miss April 2003 so soon after – I was pumped. I knew it was really only the beginning of something great.

What do you give a photographer that no one else can when you’re in front of that lens?

CD: Shooting is all about your mood. Put on a hot CD and work your feelings through your body.

You’ve done the whole WWE Diva Search and the RAW thing. What’s your take on it all? That’s a whole ‘nother kettle of objectification, no?

CD: The Raw Diva Search was difficult because much of the fighting was true. I don’t like being like that, but it was a very tough situation. It was better toward the end because Christy and I really played a “role” and didn’t take things back stage. She’s a great girl and deserved her title. All in all, it was a good experience for me.

Talking about television, what do you say when people say you look like Eva Langoria. You’re totally hotter than she is.

CD: I know. Everyone says I look like Eva Langoria. But, hey, it’s cool, She’s hot. I want to be a soap actress someday myself.

What is one thing not many people know about you?

CD: There’s a lot that people don’t know ...

OK, mystery woman. How about this: As you get older, are there different parts of your body you like more or less?

CARMELLA DECESARE: As I get older, I like what’s on top more. (laughs) The true Playboy fans will understand that one.