#a lot of elizabeth’s conflicts around marrying robert in this verse are like

[mihrsuri]

Thinking about OT3 Verse Elizabeth’s potential husbands like: okay so Denmark in this universe is out because OC Crown Prince is younger and betrothed to her younger sister but there’s Norway, Spain (her godmother KOA is actually semi dubious about depending on the candidate), Portugal, France….

[sevendevons]

Devon Aoki has single-handedly revamped the pretty paradigm. She is one of the newest faces in the family of Lancôme’s new millennium muses (“I definitely wasn’t the safe choice”), along with Uma Thurman, Mena Suvari and Elizabeth Jagger. Prior to landing that ambassador-of-beauty contract, the New York-born, Malibu-raised model sauntered down countless catwalks (for Balenciaga, Fendi, Givenchy and Thierry Mugler) and starred in numerous advertising campaigns (for Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, Versace, Moschino, and currently Baby Phat). Born of a German-English-American mother and Japanese father (Rocky Aoki, the Japanese Olympic wrestler and founder of the Miami-based Benihana Japanese steakhouse chain), the freckle-faced 20-year-old will soon work her elegant schoolgirl look on the silver screen. In June, she debuts opposite Paul Walker, Tyrese, Ludacris and Eva Mendes in 2 Fast 2 Furious, the highly anticipated, shot-in-Miami sequel to the 2001 street-racing smash, The Fast and the Furious. And when she’s not capturing international imaginations as the new face of beauty and fashion, this raw talent keeps busy with plans to launch a record company and a fashion line, compares and contrasts the political philosophies of Edward Said and William F. Buckley, quotes Robert Frost and gushes about her greatest fans—especially the one who tattooed her face on his arm.

How did your mother and father meet?

My mother, [jewelry designer] Pamela [Hilburger], moved to New York from Buffalo when she was 18. She was this adventurous, whimsical young lady who wanted to discover the city. She met my dad while she was working as a coat-check girl at Genesis, a nightclub he owned. They dated for a while, fell in love, got married and had three kids together.

Are they still together?

No, they both have been remarried. My mom lives in Los Angeles and designs jewelry. She’s an artist and is really into feng shui. I appreciate how she really knows how to minimize clutter and open up the space.

Do you speak Japanese?

A little, but I never lived with my father until last year and my mother does not exactly speak Japanese! I took French in school.

Tell me about the character you play in 2 Fast 2 Furious.

I play Suki, a racer who drives a Honda 2000 supercharged and is part of a community of street kids who live and breathe for cars.

What car do you drive?

I don’t. Isn’t that terrible? If I did, I’d think about an SUV. But they’re such gas guzzlers, which doesn’t make sense to me right now, as we’re faced with war.

What are your views on the Iraqi conflict?

I’m a peaceful person, and war isn’t the answer. I have a lot of views about politics and am reading books to learn more about the subject.

Which books?

Representations of the Intellectual: The 1993 Reith Lectures, by Edward Said, who has some beautiful ideas. I’m definitely a Democrat and very liberal, but I can appreciate and understand things about Republicans. I’m also reading about the conservative party: Buckley: The Right Word, by William F. Buckley.

Talk to me about a political issue you feel strongly about.

An agreement called the Kyoto Protocol was implemented a few years ago, when many nations met to discuss how to save the world from [greenhouse] gas emissions and other pollutants. Unfortunately, the Republican Party [Bush Administration] has decided to no longer contribute to it in any positive or negative way. Problems with the environment aren’t going to go away; they’re on a downward spiral and are only getting worse. The U.S. is the biggest contributing polluter, and if we do not decide to curb output, the Protocol won’t make as much sense as if we did. Other countries have agreed to be consistent with gas emissions, but we’re no longer participating; it’s disastrous. I imagine a world where animals are not in danger, where people respect the planet. I’m not attacking the president; one man is not the seed of the problem. In fact, both Democrats and Republicans are a part of the same machine, the same economy, the same world.

You seem well-versed in world events for a 20-year-old.

I never really had to think about politics before, but it’s our era. There’s a tendency to forget about it and go on with your life. People don’t always take the time to learn about what’s going on, but I want to know what’s happening. I don’t want to be happy in my ignorance and accept that other people are making all the decisions. At this time in my life, it’s critical to have a better understanding of the politics that rule and regulate the world. I was watching the [Grammy] Awards and remember hearing Bono say something like, ‘You have to read. You have to look. You have to search and formulate your own opinions about the world around you. You can’t just regurgitate and accept.’ He’s right.

How is acting different from modeling?

Acting is a new thing for me; I’ve just started getting into it. While I’m a veteran model, which probably sounds ridiculous, now I’m going [to] castings, meeting people and starting all over again in a new field. Acting is about listening and staying present in the moment—really believing it and trying to maintain the natural process that is life. The more organic it is, the more convincing, because it’s mimicking what truly is. It’s important to be consistent with your own ideas and the collaboration process, because everyone on the set is such a vital part of the whole pie. It’s great to be involved with something so much bigger than myself.

You filmed 2 Fast 2 Furious in Miami. How do you like the city?

I love South Beach, and lived at The Shore Club for three months. What a great hotel! They were so nice to me.

How does Nobu compare with Benihana?

Benihana has been around for 40 years. It’s the best restaurant, and people who don’t think that don’t understand the experience.

Was there a time you didn’t like sushi?

Yeah, when I was younger I wouldn’t touch the stuff. You can’t ask a kid to eat uni [sea urchin]—that would be a little weird. I started with California rolls and grew to have a greater appreciation for sushi from there. It’s funny, I just went to Benihana with Tyrese and Ludacris the other day, and Tyrese ordered a fried chicken roll with ketchup! That sort of thing sounded more normal to me when I was little, but now I’m so used to eating traditional dishes. When he asked for that, I said, ‘Are you serious?’

Was your model-to-actress transition intentional?

I was never one of those people who know what they want to do from day one; I was always confused. I can’t see myself being a model when I’m 50, but I don’t have everything mapped out. There’s no blueprint of how I want things to go. So many different things present themselves to me, and it’s just about making decisions and going with what feels right. It’s like Robert Frost said: ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.’ It’s about going one way and staying confident about your decisions regardless of the outcome. And anyway, who cares about the outcome? It’s all about the experience. You’re here on this planet, so you might as well take everything as it comes—really breathe it all in and make it your own.

Tell me what you’re doing besides the acting and modeling.

My father just got remarried and I felt like it was time to leave the nest. I’m living at the Trump Hotel for the time being, but I’m house-hunting, which is like a wild goose chase. Real estate agents keep showing me these really commercial buildings and high skyscrapers, but I just want something cute. I think I’d like something small—wait, not small. Definitely not small. But it’s hard to say. Do I want a two-bedroom with a marble bathroom? I don’t know. I have to just see it. I’m also working on a clothing line, a film-production company and a record label. But my dad always says to walk 10 steps in one direction as opposed to 10 steps in 10 different directions, so I need to focus.

Are you Daddy’s little girl?

Oh, yeah. That’s a big thing for me. I want to impress my father and follow in his footsteps. He’s so incredible. And I can say the same thing about my mother. She’s a survivor whose character inspires me.

Do guys get nervous meeting your dad?

Well, it’s not like I have a bunch of guys I’m bringing over. My dad does play a part in my life in every way.

You probably meet guys who are much older. What’s your dating age limit?

What is age, anyway? I used to think there was a list of things I’d need in a boyfriend, but the truth is, I just want to be comfortable and trust the person. I don’t care how old or young the person is. Actually, there is a limit on how young. I wouldn’t want to date anyone younger than me; it would be weird if he was still in high school or something. But I’ve seen couples where the guy is 70, the girl is 30 and people are scratching their heads; they don’t get it. But what is there to get? Who cares what other people are doing? Just concern yourself with yourself.

People do seem to care about what you’re doing. Have you seen ‘Devolution,’ a Devon Aoki fan website?

No, I haven’t seen it. But it’s cool.

I heard you were freaked out by a fan who tattooed your face on his arm.

That was a lie! Can I please set the record straight for once in my life? It was the worst thing, ever. After reading that article, I got so upset. A publication had asked me about my ‘craziest fan encounter,’ and I interpreted ‘crazy’ as ‘great crazy,’ or ‘weird but insane in a good and positive way crazy.’ I was so hurt when I read that they had changed my words from ‘craziest’ to ‘worst.’ Not only was it a bad reflection on me, but it would break my heart to think I had hurt anyone’s feelings.

Who got the tattoo?

A guy who went to school with my sister.

You didn’t think it was psycho?

No, not at all! I happen to think that someone inking my face onto his body is the highest form of flattery. I’m honored that people out there are interested in me; I appreciate that. I’m not scared of people who come up to me and ask me for my autograph. I’m not scared of my fans. It shows everything I’ve done is not in vain, and that there are people who see me, recognize me and support me. It’s a beautiful thing.

How would you characterize your style?

I’ve been wearing sneakers a lot. I used to be so into wearing heels and never went for comfort, but Jay-Z has a line of Reebok sneakers and they’re really cool. I also have [Cesare] Paciotti shoes, Adidas and some Puma. I’m really into sneakers these days, whether I’m going to the gym or not. Overall, I like to mix it up. I’m usually the last person to wear one designer top-to-bottom. I’ll wear an outfit that’s made up of vintage pieces, stuff from my mom, and things I’ve been given in the fashion industry.

What’s the best free thing anyone has ever given you?

Probably a couture Chanel coat that I wore on the runway, so it fit me perfectly. It is such a great piece. I get a lot of beautiful things, and try to wear pieces by newer designers, too.

Which up-and-coming designers do you like?

Benjamin Cho and Zac Posen.

What handbag are you carrying right now?

I just carry a little Chanel; it’s the greatest. You can look terrible, but if you’re carrying a nice bag that’s all that matters. It somehow makes everything so much better.

Tell me about your craziest fashion moment.

I wore a gorilla costume during a Thierry Mugler fashion show. Once I reached the middle of the runway, I ripped it off to reveal my hair and this beautiful silk dress. It was like a scene from a movie! This was probably one of the best fashion experiences I ever had on the runway. The designer came up to me and basically told me I could act because of what I did during that show.