I grew up in Arizona. I love it. I’m a part of the desert. I feel like, really, I’m from the Sonoran Desert, which is – extends to both sides of the border. I’m really from that part of Mexico, also. And I hate that there’s a fence, you know, running through it.
After ‘A Perfect Storm’ came out, I heard from a young reader, who had suffered a similar background as ‘Arizona,’ that I had helped her to find peace. That was the most amazing thing in the world to me.
For example, in my own State of Arizona, an Israeli scientist is working with an Arizona company on a demonstration project involving a very fast-growing algae which can be used to power a biomass energy plan.
I grew up in Arizona, but I moved to L.A. when I was 18 to model. I was doing work for American Apparel and then got cast in the Yeezus tour. Vanessa Beecroft did the creative direction, and they hired three American Apparel models and nine dancers – it wasn’t a lot of dancing; we were mostly just walking.
Well, I think it’s real important that people understand, first and foremost, those of us that have lived in Arizona or in southern California, we have a very diverse population. The Hispanic population has been part of all of our lives since we’ve been born here or since we’ve grown up here.
I took an oath to protect the people of Arizona, and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to keep pushing in that direction.
Arizona really has been a trailblazer in discouraging illegal immigration.
For my band’s debut tour in 2011, we road-tripped across the country in a 15-passenger van. It was the first time I’d left Alabama. I drove through scenery I’d only ever seen in calendars: auburn leaves falling in Vermont, the sun setting over purple mountains in Arizona. It was incredible.
I went to Phoenix, Arizona for ‘Angel Unchained,’ and they’d hire the bike gang from Phoenix to be extras in the movie.
