Gina Her - Miss May 2009
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Birth Place:  Thailand
Current Residence:  St. Paul, MN
Height:  5'0"
Weight:  116
Interview By:  Jerry Thao
www.hmoodle.com
 
This month's Hmoodle Girl calls herself and is best known to her fellow friends as Gina Her—we'll get to that in just a bit as the interview would unfold, as well as reveal the answer for you. She's has that flawless innocent appeal bonded by a hint of beauty mixed into a concoction of humbleness in her genes which stems from the old country's flare in the teaching of good ethics and morals done the old traditional Hmong ways.

She's come a long way from her days as a refugee immigrant in a little village in Thailand. With a fortunate turn of event her family was sponsored and now calling the United State of America, the Home of the Free, as their home sweet home.

Well, enough of me rambling about who she is, as she'll explain it to you herself, so here's the rest of the interview.

Jerry:   Could you give our readers an intro or bio on you, who is Gina Her?

Gina:  Well, first of all I am very pleased to be featured on Hmoodle.com. Okay, let's get started with my name. My real name is Mai Ia Her, but as I was growing up, there were too many Mais, so I thought Gina was a good name because I just liked it. From there on since 6th grade everyone has known me by Gina Her, the singer. Every person I meet assumes that I was born in the United States, but I was really born in a village in Thailand, and my family emigrated to the U.S. in 1993, settling in Minnesota since. So, basically, I have lived here for the most part of my life, calling St. Paul, MN my hometown.

As I was growing up, I enjoyed watching American Idol, and I was quite fascinated with music, which got me into listening to one of my idol, Britney Spears. Let's say I started to sing when I was in the 1st grade taking up school choir, band, and all others, to calm my curiosity.

My life is full of mistakes, achievements, and hopefully, success is my ultimate goal. Music gives me avenues in expressing my stresses, pains, angers, and loves without hurting anyone. I would either sing or play my guitar to soothe my emotions. I am not a pro as a real musician you see on television yet, but I would love to be as good as my brother because I'm not the only one with music talents in my family. My sisters are just as great, and I know I wouldn't get this far without them by my side, my family.

Jerry:   How did you hear about us?

Gina:  My friend from school told me about Hmoodle.com. Also, I've seen very talented and awesome people in every way being featured on the site, and I'm very glad to see such a website being developed just for us.

I was like that's cool. I thought—I know I'll never be on that site like all those beautiful people—but here I am being the newest feature for this month. I was very shock at first when my friend told me about Hmoodle wanting to feature me, so I'm humble and grateful, again, so thanks for having me on here.

Jerry:   So, you were born in Thailand and raised in the St. Paulie, great! If you can rewind back to the past, reminisce to recall your first time in the United States, how smoothly was your transition in assimilating to the Hmong-American community, or were you to young then to remember this?

Gina:  Well, actually I can remember some. I know it was definitely not easy to fit in. But somehow my dad managed to make sure we are safe and well fed. The transition was kind of rough because we were always moving from house to house. It was hard for my parents the most because they to worried so much about their 7 children. My mom couldn't take care of us because she is handicapped, and this meant that my dad was a real super dad playing the role of both mom and dad. With this being said, there are simply no words or ways that I can explain how much I love him!

Jerry:   You were explaining earlier about having a talented core of siblings with gifted musical talent just like yourself; my question is, have you thought of forming a family band for hobby sake, or maybe pursue something professionally?

Gina:  Aha, yes, we did! My sister and I were thinking about calling us the HerFam. My sister and I would be the singers, my brother would be either the guitarist and/or pianist, and my younger sister would be the drummer. But we were just joking around though, at that time. Let's see how that would turn out like in the future (laughs).

Jerry:   With American Idol just ending recently, what's your take on this year's season winner, Kris Allen versus Adam Lambert? And in addition, who's your least favorite out of the 8 season's winner and who's your most favorite?

Gina:  You know, to be honest, I didn't watch it at all this year. I didn't have the time due to schooling and working.

My friend, Jasmine and I were about to go audition for American Idol last summer, but nothing turned out like how we wanted, so oh well, it is what it is right. Hopefully, this year would become our year in getting something going and getting into the auditions.

Jerry:   Instead of music, what else do you do on your spare time?

Gina:  Well, I do play soccer and a little flag football for fun. I also love hanging out with my friends and my family. I like to watch movies, and yeah, I do lots of other stuff girls like to do, in addition to that I enjoy cooking too. That's pretty much it.

Jerry:   Last question, do you have any parting thoughts you'd like to share with Hmoodle.com or shout-outs to friend and fams out there?

Gina:  Yes, I definitely do! I would like to thank everyone who enjoys my music and photographs. Most of all, I want to thank my family because you guys have always supported me, especial my beloved grandma. She taught me so many things growing up. If I can rewind time, I would love to tell her much she means to me, but people leaves for a reason, so that we'll know how to stand on our own as individuals.

My last shout-out goes out to my best friend Bao Vang. I love you; you make my world crazy and fun, so thank you much. And yes, lastly, I want to thank Hmoodle.com again for having me here. Keep up with the great work!

I would like to thank Gina Her for her time with the interview, so much appreciated. Keep your aspirations alive, keep tabs on your goals to get to the top, and never lose sight of what you truly believe in, as the Disney's theme replays in my head over and over again: "A dream that you wish will come true."

Any girl out there wanting the next spot, one on one—I won't bite, as it does sound intimidating, but it really isn't—holler at me anytime at jerry@hmoodle.com or try my colleague ryanm@hmoodle.com, thanks, so long, and goodbye.

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