[Interview] Rosa Acosta: Making It Stretch

All men should remember the day Rosa Acosta stretched into our lives. I remember mine quite fondly. While sitting in my office at BET doing, you know, BET stuff, one of my co-workers called me over to watch a video of some unnamed chick. There was no nudity, no rap music, just a Dominican woman stretching. Really? Just stretching? That doesn’t sound too exciting. Then I watched it. Then we both sat in silence. Okay, I got it. Since then, Rosa Acosta has become the apple of every man’s eye. She’s graced a number of prominent websites and magazines and still remains relevant in an industry that washes beautiful women out as soon as a new big butt and a smile enters their vision.

If you ever get the opportunity to talk to Rosa Acosta, you’ll still feel the sensuality she oozes, but you also get a sense of self awareness that most “it” girls lack. She knows that she can parlay her beauty into celebrity but refuses to simply rest on that notion. Instead, Rosa continues to branch out and seek other revenue streams to stay afloat. She’ll be the first to tell you that looks don’t last forever and you always need an exit strategy. In an exclusive interview with TheWellVersed, Ms. Acosta reveals her other skill set that makes guys drool, spoiling her fans, the common misconceptions about her and her impending retirement from modeling.

TWV: Let’s start with that T.I.T.S. video. Whew! How did that come together?

Rosa Acosta: I did the T.I.T.S. “Sh*ts Bananas” t-shirt and we sold out. Everything that they had from the t-shirts to iPhone covers sold out. If I’m not mistaken, I’m the only person that sold out every single item on T.I.T.S. We wanted to do another collaboration because some people never got a chance to buy the first one. They wanted me to do one of their famous “Wifey” shirts. So we looked at what wifeys are supposed to do and I decided to do a 2.0 version of that. It was a great shoot. I love working with them and Estevan Oriol.

TWV: In that video you were cooking in the kitchen. Was that some surreal fantasy or can you really throw down in the kitchen?

RA: Of course I can! I have a talent for cooking. I think I’m pretty damn good.

TWV: What’s your best dish?

RA: I make a maple salmon that’s really, really good. I have a few side dishes to add to that like sweet potatoes and a salad. In fact, with my salad I make a homemade dressing. Anyone who has had my salad drinks whatever is left of the dressing.

TWV: So…they are drinking Rosa’s dressing?

RA: Yes! Some people say that I should bottle it.

TWV: Are you thinking about doing that? You could put a picture of you stretching on it and those things will sell like hotcakes.

RA: Maybe. I’m busy doing some other things right now.

TWV: Okay. So let’s talk about the last couple of years for you. There are a lot of girls that come and go in this business but you have been able to stay relevant. How does it feel to still be hot in this industry?

RA: It feels great. I have had the opportunity to work with so many people including one of the best photographers in the world, Terry Richardson. Actually a good friend of mine Vanessa Veasley, I was the one that sent her stuff to Supreme and they loved her. It’s an honor to bring two darker skinned girls to Supreme. They are amazing. I’m working with Pink Dolphin and a few other companies. I’m happy that I’ve been able to do all of these things. I’m about to retire from all of the urban modeling because we get old…

TWV: You don’t look old.

RA: It’s really easy in this business to spend ten years doing the same thing and not branch out. So in order for me to branch out I have to stop doing this and focusing on some other ventures. I’m not just going to quit totally, but little by little. But I think that this will be my last year doing the sexy shoots. I’m going to focus on fitness and Spanish TV.

TWV: Are there any shows we can see you in the near future?

RA: I can’t really talk about them but there is a project that I’m working on right now. It’s for Spanish TV and hopefully that will be soon. In the meantime I’m going to take some classes. I’m going to always try to do a few things. I may do a magazine occasionally, maybe not so sexy. Maybe I’ll tone it down.