M&F: You’re a second-degree black belt. What got you into martial arts?
GW: My father was a grandmaster in taekwondo, and he’s been my teacher since I was a little girl. I started when I was 2, kicking bags and stuff. I got my black belt at 9. Nowadays I’m just helping out and coaching. You tend to bulk up when you do those high kicks and stuff. I’m also a model, and I’ve been in the business for a while. I’ve been doing a lot of fitness model training so I can look taller and photograph leaner. I’m a trainer, too. My clients have included Mischa Barton—the girl from The O.C.—and Kate Upton.
How many men mob you and Kate Upton during a session?
[Laughs] I train at women’s gyms so men don’t attack us! I trained Kate when she was shooting a Guess campaign, before the Sports Illustrated cover. She was great. Kate knows what she wants and what she’s doing in the gym. I train some other models, too. You have to make sure their ankles and core are strong. We have to tone their inner thighs, make sure their boobs are round, their butts are up.
Are you an MMA fan?
I love it! I know a few of the guys— Frankie Edgar, Georges St-Pierre. They’re both friends of mine. I was also a ring girl for boxing. I remember one time during a match, when a guy got hit, his spit actually landed right on my lip. It was gross.
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
If I’m still alive, I want to be an action star. I want to empower all the women out there and let them know they can be confident and sexy at the same time.
