Meet Cherry Hill’s F.air-H.aired M.aiden
Submitted by dtomko on Tue, 2006-06-27 20:53.
Meet Cherry Hill’s
F.air-H.aired M.aiden
By Joe Student
Philly EDGE Editor
It all started with a Polaroid picture.
Of course, it was no ordinary instant photo that Lauren Harris sent to the editors of FHM (www.fhmus.com).
“It was me and my best friend, Lauren, sitting by a pool… Just the two of us,” Harris said.
The savvy editors at the laddie mag knew talent when they saw it. They soon tabbed Harris to be a part of their NCAA-style elimination tournament of 64 ultra-hot women, with the winner being voted the inaugural Miss FHM though online balloting.
Thanks to people she called “die-hard fans” in South Jersey and Philadelphia, Harris, 22 of Cherry Hill, prevailed in fall of 2005.
“It’s been so much fun. I signed a one-year contract with FHM… I go on shopping sprees, sign autographs; I get paid to go to parties, really… I am supposed to appear in several photo shoots over the year. I have one (in the magazine) this month.”
Indeed she does.
The July 2006 issue of FHM features photos of Harris, some of which photographer Perry Hagopian and the magazine have allowed Philly EDGE to use for this feature.
After winning the title last year, FHM threw Harris a “crowning party”… in New York City. “But we hadn’t done anything (near Philly) yet. So with the new pictures, they thought it was time,” Harris said.
Tonight (June 28), Harris will be feted at an event at the newly restored Mansion at Rittenhouse in Center City. While she’ll be signing copies of her FHM layout, she said she’ll also be looking forward to meeting some of those fans who helped her win the crown.
Others she sees regularly.
At her job as a stylist at American Male on Haddonfield Road in Cherry Hill, Harris clips away at customers, some of whom come in just to have their hair cut by Miss FHM.
“My clientele has increased (since winning the contest). A lot of people come in just for autographs,” Harris said of the fervor that still exists around the salon.
“The owners have been very supportive though. They like the attention.”
Harris gets plenty of that. Sometimes, too much.
“There was one guy who wanted to fly me down to Florida to cut his hair. He offered me a lot of money… It got to be a little annoying. This guy wouldn’t leave me alone. He kept calling me at work, once or twice a day… That’s about the only bad experience,” Harris said, adding that the calls stopped after her employer threatened legal action.
Since winning the title, she has traveled to locations such as the Super Bowl in Detroit, where she was a red carpet host for FHM’s Super Bowl party. She has also shuttled to events in Baltimore, Vermont and New York for the magazine.
Harris is looking forward to doing more before her reign ends later this year.
“To me this has all been a dream come true. I always wanted to be in a national magazine, and I feel very lucky to have experienced it…It’s been nothing but a good time.”
What: FHM July Issue Bash featuring Miss FHM Lauren Harris
Entertainment: DJ Lee Jones and DJ KC
When: Wed., June 28
VIP 9 p.m.- 11 p.m.;Public 11 p.m.-3 a.m.
Where: The Mansion at Rittenhouse
121 S. 19th St., Philadelphia
215.563.1038
For more Lauren:
The Lauren File…
PE: What’s your favorite local bar?
LH: Top Dog, Cherry Hill
What’s your favorite drink?
Malibu Bay Breeze
What’s your favorite local restaurant?
Bahama Breeze
What’s your favorite food?
Pizza, and cheese fries.
If you had to change cities, where would you live?
I love it here, but I would move somewhere where it's always warm...like Florida.
Does Miss FHM have any special duties? Any singing? A world peace platform?
Oh, they don’t want me to sing. I just pose for pictures.
Are you single?
I am dating someone.
Has anyone famous ever hit on you while you have been Miss FHM?
Not really. (Actor/comedian) Rob Schneider was like ‘How you doin?’
Usually it’s the random guys who are around the football players or famous guys. Those guys have no problem asking girls to go home with them as soon as they meet them.
What’s the worst thing that has ever happened to you on a date?
Well, I wasn't on a "date" per se...I was out to eat with someone who was interviewing me for a local magazine when he turned to me and said, "You have the most beautiful neck I ever saw." …Then it occurred to me…all necks look the same!
What’s the fastest way to your heart?
I'm not sure. Ask my dog, Rocky; he's the only man who has it.
Do you have a celebrity crush?
I met (49ers QB) Jesse Palmer. He was on that show The Bachelor… He was really hot, but we didn’t get a chance to talk that much… Paul Walker is very attractive… I used to have an obsession with Vin Diesel, not as much anymore.
Any weird celebrity stories?
Don Vito (from the MTV show Viva La Bam) was the craziest person I have met. He was weird, and yeah, a little creepy…. I was on the show and everybody else was fine, but he kept trying to catch a feel, accidentally grab a boob… He had these blisters on the bottom of his feet and he wanted me to pop them. That was pretty gross.
Have you ever jacked up somebody’s hair - you know, cut it into a mullet - just for fun?
No! Unless the guy told me to do whatever I want with it, then I might try something… I want guys to enjoy their haircut. I don’t want to get a bad reputation.
What’s the coolest thing you bought in the last 30 days?
I just bought the new cyber shot digital camera. I love it!
What’s the last movie you saw?
The Omen...I loved it!
What’s your worst habit?
Biting my nails
What’s your secret guilty pleasure?
Stalking with my friends...hahaha
What’s next for you?
(Being Miss FHM) has opened a lot of doors for me. I am talking to agents… A lot could happen… I tell people I want to be the next Vanna White (laughs). That’d be great.
Photos: Perry Hagopian for FHM
