"It was kind of a shock, the whole process of it, with the first 50 being an online vote and having the fans go online to see pictures and videos. And then getting the call saying you're in the top 8 to see if you can come back to LA, because they're going to film a show that's going to air on Spike TV. It was a shock. I was like, 'Okay!' It was exciting. I think once I was there on set and working with everybody from Spike, who's great, it kind of became a reality," stated FightHype's Knockout of the Month, Ultimate Spike Girl 2009 winner Renee Herlocker. Check out what else she had to say.
PC: How is everything going Renee?
RH: It's good. It's cold in Denver.
PC: It is a privilege to be speaking to the hottest woman in the world, according to Spike TV's contest.
RH: Thank you!
PC: How did that opportunity come for you?
RH: I was out in LA working on another project and I got a call from a casting director who asked me to stop by this audition and he told me that it would only take 5 minutes. I was actually on my way to the airport, but I ran in pretty quick and met with some of the producers and they interviewed me literally for about 5 minutes and I had to memorize a 5 or 6-line script. And then, that was it. I kind of just waited. I think I waited for 2 months.
PC: I'm sure it was an honor to be selected in the top 50, but what was it like to win the entire competition?
RH: It was great. It was kind of a shock, the whole process of it, with the first 50 being an online vote and having the fans go online to see pictures and videos. And then getting the call saying you're in the top 8 to see if you can come back to LA, because they're going to film a show that's going to air on Spike TV. It was a shock. I was like, "Okay!" It was exciting. I think once I was there on set and working with everybody from Spike, who's great, it kind of became a reality.
PC: What was the concept of what you girls had to do during the competition?
RH: For the initial interview, we were on camera and then when they got to the top 50, we went to LA and did a photo shoot and those pictures were seen on www.spiketv.com along with a little online video. From there, the top 8 flew back out and did kind of like a game show contest finale show. There were 4 judges kind of on a panel just asking us questions about pop culture and sports; mostly guy things. Obviously, Spike is geared towards men. They asked things just to see if we were a hot girlie girl, but could hang with the guys. From there, they went from 8 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1. And then the final episode aired on October 1st.
PC: You are an entrepreneur. Could you tell us a little bit about your business?
RH: Yeah, right now, RH Enterprises is basically my own entity; it's my brand. I freelance a lot all over the country; mostly print modeling. I'm a spokesperson for a lot of different companies, but I also do conseirge stuff on the business side of things. I deal with high-end CEOs, anywhere from athletes to lawyers and doctors. So if you're in a business and you can't do some of the personal stuff that a lot of people can do, like grocery shopping and taking your dog out, I have a business that will cater to those needs. It's basically a lifestyle management company.
PC: What made you start a business like that?
RH: Just kind of being in the sports area and being around people that I knew was super busy with their lives and needed somebody to help them out in different areas. They would call on me and be like, "Hey, I know you have a lot of connections or you have a network to where you know the perfect person to come and clean my house. Or you know somebody that can come pick me up that has an amazing car service." I would always get utilized for stuff like that and I was like, "Let me turn this into something a little more lucrative." It just kind of took off from there with my connections and people that I knew.
PC: I read your bio and one thing that caught my eye was you said you're not high-maintenance. Could you explain?
RH: I grew up with an older brother and a lot of guys and I think the high-maintenance...I like getting dressed up and going out and buying makeup and doing my hair. I like that stuff and I am a girlie girl at heart, but when it comes down to me having to get up and go or haul stuff in my car if we're going to go camping or if we have a flat tire and I have to get down and dirty on the ground to help fix it, I won't complain about it and I will be down and ready to go on a dime. You will usually find me in jeans and a tank top or sweats hanging out at my house with my dogs.
PC: What do you do to stay fit and are you on any specific diet?
RH: (Laughing) I enjoy food. Food is actually a huge part of my life. I love to cook. I'm almost constantly turning on the Food Network just for background noise. I grew up with an Italian mother and part of my family is Hispanic, so I have a lot of culturally diverse foods in my nature. Basically, I eat what I want when I want to, but I know if I have to buckle down and be good, I can be. I relatively eat healthy normally just because I like healthy foods, but cheeseburgers and that kind of stuff sneak in there every once in awhile. I mainly just take Yoga, that's my constant, and I enjoy dancing still, so I will take a few dance classes here and there, but Yoga is my constant.
PC: What is your relationship status Renee? Are you single?
RH: Single is such a...defining a relationship these days I think is difficult (laughing). I actually have somebody really special in my life and it's great right now. It's somebody that is a good person and a great friend and we enjoy spending time together, but we haven't actually defined what we are, so I can't say if I'm single or not (laughing).
PC: Do you have a type?
RH: I think it's just that connection. When you're talking to somebody, you can tell if you have that chemistry right away, so it doesn't have to be a specific type. I usually date guys that like to be active, have goals for themselves and have fun and like to do the type of things that I like to do.
PC: I will let you slide with being a Broncos fan because my Saints are doing well.
RH: I know right. Would you have thought that after last season?
PC: No, not at all. You have to be excited about what's going on in Denver. I think Josh McDaniels is great. What do you think of your Broncos' season so far?
RH: I'm a Broncos fan through and through and it's tough because you can become fickle with changes in the front office and coaching changes. You lose your franchise quarterback and it's like, "Oh my God, what's going to happen next?" And for the last 10 years, it has been tough. We reached the AFC Championship game in 2005 and that was the last time anything big happened here. So knowing that they are undefeated so far is exciting and Denver is such a football city that people are just waiting to see what happens next and people want to see if they can take it all the way with McDaniels and I think they can.
PC: You were one of the more popular cheerleaders for the Broncos. What were you days like as a cheerleader with the team?
RH: They were great. I made the team when I was really young. I did it for 6 years, so I basically grew up on that team. It was really intelligent, fantastic and fun women. Most of them that I met on the team are some of my best friends. The relationships that you develop are the reason why I am who I am. It was some of the best times and I did it for 6 years, which is a testament to how much fun I did have. I think the average is like 3 to 4 years. I was captain and I got to go to the Pro Bowl and I learned a lot.
PC: You obviously have great genes because I see your mom was a Broncos cheerleader as well. Did you want to follow in her footsteps or was this a natural thing for you?
RH: It was kind of a coincidence. I didn't really even know that she was a Broncos cheerleader until close to time when I tried out. I was coaching a dance team in high school and I was really going there to learn new choreography and take in the experience because I had never been to a professional audition. I wanted to bring it back and share it with my girls. I didn't know about her whole experience, but I guess it is good genes. She had a great time and it was back in the day. They were called the Broncettes. Maybe if I had a daughter, she would be a Broncos cheerleader as well.
PC: John Elway is my favorite quarterback of all time. Who is your favorite Broncos player?
RH: That's kind of a tough one. John Elway is like a God here in Denver, so he is pivotal in the back-to-back Superbowl wins, so John is definitely up there. My biggest influence when I was growing up would be the 3 Amigos [Ricky Nattiel, Mark Jackson and Vance Johnson]. I had a poster of them on my bedroom wall, so I really like them.
PC: I was checking out your Myspace page and maybe it caught me off guard because you look like an All-American girl, but what's up with you having Lil Wayne plastered all over your page (laughing)?
RH: (Laughing)! I love Lil Weezy! I don't know. I'm a big fan of music in general and just being a dancer, I think Hip Hop is kind of my favorite style too. But Weezy F man, he's just good. He's crazy, so raw, and he's a smart man. He is a lyricists and he's really good. Do you like Weezy?
PC: I'm from New Orleans. Of course!
RH: There you go. He's brilliant.
PC: It was great talking to you Renee. I look forward to speaking with you again soon. Is there anything you want to say in closing; any appearances you want to mention?
RH: I just want to tell everybody to make sure they watch Spike on October 27th, the Scream Awards. I will be doing some red carpet correspondence stuff for them. Tune in and check me out in action!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]