With the announcement of fellow eco-model/writer/23-year-old Gemini Summer Rayne Oakes as EarthFirst’s “Hottest Girl in Green” late last week, I’ve gotten many emails from friends and fans asking how she ended up at #1 while I was at #17. I must say it is quite flattering to have people asking. What I am bothered by are the rumors floating around for months about Summer and I possibly having some sort of rivalry or “bad blood” for each other. So … will you soon see a sustainable battle of the stylish kind?

I hate to burst your bubble - but no. There is no bad blood between Summer and I, at least not from my end. Why did she end up at #1 and not me? Was it her college degree? Her brown hair? Extensive appearances in the press? Who knows, but I’m not worried about it. I am more than delighted to see that Summer has come so far, so fast. Would I love to be in her position? Of course! That doesn’t change the fact that we both live separate lives and have developed different paths that we gladly follow.

It may come as a surprise to hear that I actually worked directly with Summer while I was still living in New York City. We did a winter fashion show together and while she seemed quite distracted, Summer was still enjoyable to be around. Even after only spending an evening with her, I had a feeling that would not be the last time I heard of Summer Rayne Oakes. Since that event, we have not come face-to-face again, but it would be interesting to see her and congratulate her on all her success - I bet she wouldn’t even remember me.

It should also be acknowledge that Summer and I are working in two separate green arenas. From all the work I’ve seen from her, Summer focuses on high profile and/or high fashion projects, while my focus is always on more DIY, cost-effective, creatively-focused options. No matter how hard I try, I will never walk an NYC Fashion Week runway - I’ve got woman hips. I’ve come to terms with that fact but still do love to express part of my creative passion in front of the camera as a model, along with my full-time sustainable writing work.

Will I ever reach the level of exposure that Summer has gotten, such as being mentioned in Shape, Body+Soul, GQ, Elle and Vanity Fair magazines, along with signing on to the Planet Green TV channel and soon releasing her first book? Who knows! Only time will tell, but there is one thing I am sure of - there is more than enough room for two eco-model/writer mavens in this big, green world (or what is left of it).

With blonde hair, blue eyes, a curvy figure, street experience, passion for crafts, middle America childhood, dedication to the power of words, tattoos, love for latex, personal inspiration for expressing my hard-learned knowledge, and constant drive for sustainable variety, I’ve got my own place in history to secure (wink wink).