The Proust Questionnaire is a questionnaire about one's personality. Its name and modern popularity as a form of interview is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust. At the end of the nineteenth century, when Proust was still in his teens, he answered a questionnaire in an English-language confession album belonging to his friend Antoinette, daughter of future French President Félix Faure, entitled "An Album to Record Thoughts, Feelings, etc. Proust answered always with enthusiasm. The original manuscript of his answers of 1890, at the time of his volunteer internship or some little time afterwards, titled "by Marcel Proust himself," was found in 1924. It was auctioned on May 27, 2003 for the sum of €102,000.
The Proust Questionnaire: Mariana Paola Vicente
She is a Wet n Wild Cosmetic's 2012 collection model; currently working in the web-series 'Illegal: Season 2' where she plays young Piedad. Recently Mariana was cast as one of the models for the new LMFAO single "Sorry for Party Rocking". It is an honor for me to have Mariana as our first interviewed for The HJ BLOG Proust Questionnaire.
What is your idea of perfect life?
Doing what I love surrounded by the people that I love.
What is your greatest fear?
Heights!
What historical figure do you most identify with?
Grace Kelly.
Which living person do you most admire?
My mom.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My inability to manage expectations.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Preconceived notions.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Going to the movies.
What makes you blush?
Complements.
What motivates you and why?
Setting challenging goals and doing what I love motivate me to do better.
What is your favorite journey?
Life itself.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Ambition. Blind ambition can be very damaging especially when the focus is on money, sex and power.
Which living person do you most despise?
This is a hard one. I don’t think I really despise anyone.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I’m cooking…”
What is your greatest regret?
Not moving to Los Angeles right after I finished high school.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My sister and two brothers are my greatest love. I’ll do anything for them.
What is the most important thing in life to you?
Family.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Hip hop dancing.
What is your current state of mind?
Hungry.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Having an allergic reaction to some dogs, because I love dogs!
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
That we’re not so far apart.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be?
I would like to come back as an Iron Chef.
What do your consider your greatest achievement?
As of today, my greatest achievement was having the courage to do the Miss Universe Puerto Rico pageant and moving to Los Angeles to pursue my dreams.
What is your most treasured possession?
A vintage ring my mom gave me as a gift. It makes me feel like she’s always with me.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Never leaving your comfort zone.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I have two dark lines below my pupils. My mom calls them “tears”; others call it “half-cat eyes”.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humor.
What is the quality you most admire in a woman?
Confidence.
What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty.
Who are your favourite writers?
Don Miguel Ruiz.
Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
I’m obsessed with Batman.
Who are your heroes in real life?
My godfather and godmother Jack and Linda Rodriguez.
What are your favourite names?
Isabel, Aurora, Ella and Paola.
What is it that you most dislike?
Cockroaches.
How would you like to die?
Of old age, surrounded by the ones I love.
What is your motto?
Accept failure; reject defeat.
Very Puerto Rican Questionnaire
What do you prefer, alcapurrias or bacalaitos?
Bacalaitos! Especially when they are extra crunchy!
What do you like the most, pasteles o morcilla?
Pasteles.
What would you choose between arroz con habichuelas with biftec encebollao and pizza?
Arroz con habichuelas with biftec encebollao, by far!
What do you prefer to drink over the holidays, pitorro or coquito?
Coquito! My grandma’s recipe is the best!
What do you prefer Burbujita & Bolillo or María Chuzema?
I used to love Maria Chuzema. Burbujita & Bolillo freaked me out a bit, lol.
Who do you like the most, Menudo or H2O?
I liked H2O but was obsessed with Menudo.
Vieques or Culebra? T
hough I love both, I prefer Culebra’s crystalline waters.
Salsa or Rock?
Salsa. Its in my blood.
Any Oscar's prediction?
The Oscars are pretty predictable this year. But, just to be safe, I’m going to say Meryl Streep for Best Actress in The Iron Lady.
What would you like for Puerto Rico in this particular moment in history?
Unity.
Mariana Paola Vicente was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1989. Mariana was exposed to the world of arts and entertainment since she was very young. At her 4 years of age she enrolled in the Yolanda Muñoz Dance Academy and continued her lessons with Vanessa Padilla. She took infant modeling classes with Nairda Hernandez, painting classes with Andy Bueso, participated in international collections of children paintings, won six consecutive years of a reciting poetry competition in Cupeyville School's week of the arts, took singing lessons with Fonava and experimented piano and guitar lessons. Her hobbies include writing, singing and photography. Reading and spending time with her siblings are part of her relaxation habits. When she was a child, Mariana appeared in various TV commercials but it wasn't until she turned 14 years old that she had the opportunity of participating in her high school’s fashion show where she got the attention of the media. Two weeks later she was already booked by Element Talent and Model Management, working as a runway model in the San Juan Fashion Week and posing for her first ad campaign photo-shoot.
In 2005 she was the winner of Imagen Magazine’s Face of L’Oreal contest. In 2009 she was elected as Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2010. She also won the awards for Best Runway Walk by Payless Shoesource, Best Body by Holsum, Best Image by JC Penney and Most Beautiful Face by L’Bel Paris. A year later, she qualifies in Top 10 in the Miss Universe 2010 competition held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mariana Paola Vicente is characterized by her enthusiasm, spontaneity and caring way with all that have worked with her. She has always left a great impression in everyone. Her future plans involve taking acting classes at Brian Reise Acting Studios in Hollywood and pursuing her acting career.
