Anne V was photographed by Yu Tsai in Cappadocia, Turkey. Swimsuit by Mara Hoffman.

Interview with Anne V

What was your reaction to getting into the Swimsuit Issue?

I was extremely shocked. I went to the casting for the first time and our conversation was so brief that I thought straight away that I did not get the job. I was very upset because shooting for SI was my longtime dream. I was honored and happy when I got the phone call about my first trip to the Bahamas. It was a long-awaited dream come true

In all honesty, is modeling really that hard?

Well I think every job has hard sides to it, modeling as well. We are extremely fortunate for having such great opportunities. We get to travel the world and meet the most interesting people, but being in this business at the age of 15 without family, friends and any moral support is hard. You don't have good mentors so you are forced to take charge of your life from a very early stage. We miss an opportunity to be kids and enjoy a carefree life. And if you go up and then fail, it's hard to deal with it at such a young age. So I would say it is a hard job but it is a dream come true for me, and it's worth it.

At what point in your career do you know you've made it?

I think it's still not enough for me, I'm still in the making process but I think an SI cover will do that.

Happiness is...

Happiness is being with the people I love and who love me.

If you could change one thing in the past year, what would it be?

I would not have had ACL surgery after skiing, that was not fun. I'd also celebrate Thanksgiving with my family instead of working.

What makes you feel sexy?

Waking up next to my man and having him tell me how beautiful I am.

Who is your dream guy?

Someone who is smart, educated, with good sense of humor, honest and kind and sexy, too.

Do real guys have a shot?

We are all people. At the end of the day, you fall in love with the person not the status. Everyone has a shot; life is full of surprises.

How much attention do you pay to nutrition and exercise, or is it all natural?

I pay a lot of attention to my health, I travel a lot and physically to be able to keep up with my crazy life you need to be in a top shape. At first it was a part of my job but then it became a part of my life. I enjoy working out. It helps me physically and mentally. It's also addicting. When you see your body change you just want to go forward.

If you had to play matchmaker for a day, what celebrities would you pair up?

I'm not a big set-up believer, because if it doesn't work out, you are the one to blame.

What meal do you miss from home?

Borsch, my mom's salads and all my godmother's cooking.

Every girl has her dating checklist. What are your top three deal breakers when dating?

I don't like rudeness, anger, sloppiness and bad manners.

What is your most memorable first?

I think the most memorable moment was when I traveled abroad for the first time. It was a trip to Milan for the Fashionably Loud MTV/IMG contest and I was 15-years-old. It was my first time on the plane and the first time in a five-star hotel, I did not speak any English but I was blown away. I was walking around with an open mouth for the whole week. On top of that, I won the contest, and when they announced my name I didn't realize it for a whole minute. I was just standing there not moving until no one else went to get the prize so I figured it was me. It was embarrassing and amazing at the same time! Also, one of the best moments of my life was skiing for the first time, I felt like I was flying!

People have said I look like...

Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman and Hilary Swank.

The world's hottest athlete is...

LeBron James.