Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

For Month of Love who better to represent romance than 2010′s Mr. Romance? So everyone please welcome Mr. Romance Jamie Ungaro to Paperback Dolls!

Mona: I’m going to start with a couple of questions you’ve probably answered a hundred times. What made you want to model and how did you get your start?

Jamie: After my dreams of having a football career ended, people convinced me that I should get into modeling, so I did.

I started pursuing modeling in 2004, and I’m still going after the dream of success. One day I hope to be in a position like some of the top movie stars, to be a positive role model – especially for the younger generation.

I just always want to try to be a light of love for people that I’m around. I believe that will get you farther with people than anything.

Mona: What led you to take part in the 2010 Mr. Romance contest at the RT Book Convention in Columbus, Ohio?

Jamie: I was going through Barbizon modeling school, and after doing a commercial for Jesus as an assignment, this boy went home and told his mom about it. She just thought that it was awesome! We became friends then she introduced me to my friend and now manager, Loretta Rodgers.

Loretta told me about the convention. She hesitated to tell me about the Mr. Romance Contest at first because she feared that this small town country boy would get taken advantage of. Ha, ha, ha! So at first, I thought it would be a good idea to just go and network to see where it would take me. This was only 2 weeks out from the contest. Somehow I was talked into entering the contest. (Laughing)

Here’s my little testimony about the convention and leading up to winning Mr. Romance. I was led to this opportunity by keeping Jesus before me. I took a huge chance with only $37.00 in my pocket when I went, but I just kept my faith strong in Jesus that everything would be taken care of and he would make a way for me. By doing so, he kept me fed and blessed me financially through some great people I met there.

Not only did I win Mr. Romance, I guess I’m the only one who has won all three trophies ever – the reader’s choice, contestant’s choice, and the judge’s choice, Mr. Romance. Best of all, I got to stand on stage and be a great witness for the true love of this world by pointing straight up and thanking Jesus for it all!

The fact is, if I had stayed silent and not done the commercial about Jesus, none of this would have happened. Anything is possible by putting God (Jesus) first! He can open doors no man can shut and he can close doors that no man can open.

Revelation 3:8 says, I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.

So I’m not worried about anything. My testimony is on how God blessed me and how he works through others. Mark Johnson, a former Mr. Romance, is a brother in Christ, and God placed it on his heart that he was supposed to give $100 to someone, but he didn’t know who. My sister in Christ, Loretta, was telling him how she was at the bank and they gave her an extra $100. She caught the mistake and gave it back.

Then Mark knew who to give it to, and he gave it to Loretta. When Loretta met up with me, it was on her heart to give to me. God keeps his children blessed that keep his word first in their life.

My roommate at RT, Jay Milutin, is a Christian, too, which was awesome to find out. He was my competition and knew that I didn’t have any business cards to give to people, so we walked down the street to a Fed – Ex store and he bought me 500 business cards. I told him that I was so thankful for the help and said that I would try my hardest to get all those cards passed out. I only had around a hundred left when RT was over. It was work talking to 400 people! Ha, ha, ha!

One day, after finding out that Jay was a brother in Christ, we were going into our hotel room and I realized that our room number was 316. What that meant to me was a reminder to be very thankful! In the Holy Bible, it says in the book of John chapter 3, verse 16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” Amen! I just felt really blessed and still do.

I also really like the verse right after that one; verse 17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” What the heck. I feel like preaching a little. Here are the remaining verses 18 – 21.

18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

19. This the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil.

20. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

21. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

I challenge you to check yourself and look into your own heart. What lives in your heart? Beyond a shadow of a doubt do, you know where you are going after this life? My prayer for everyone who reads this is that if you don’t know Jesus and his love can save you from whatever you may be battling in your life, that you come to know him one day. God bless you!

Mona: How has your life changed since winning the title?

Jamie: I have done a few photo shoots, and I did a live action book trailer for the company Zondervon. It was produced by Circle of Seven Productions with Sheila Clover English. If it weren’t for Loretta, I wouldn’t have met my wife Meshella.

So yes, my life has changed a lot, and yes, I recently married. Besides that, it hasn’t changed much. Just had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people and still looking for that great full-time job. Anyone need an actor for an upcoming movie – who needs the experience to be that star one day? Ha, ha, ha!

Mona: Are you expanding your horizons with other types of work such as acting?

Jamie: Yes! That is my main goal – to make a breakthrough in the acting world. Just trying to keep my feet moving forward with one step at a time and taking the necessary actions.

Mona: Since winning the title of Mr. Romance, has the resulting attention adversely affected your personal life?

Jamie: No not really. My friends and family still love me for me and not because of my title. Thank God! (Laughing)

Mona: Are you able to remain under the radar or do people recognize you? Do you even want to stay under the radar?

Jamie: Well, growing up in a small town with what God has blessed me with and my athletic ability, I really was never “under the radar,” ( laughing ) which got me into some trouble when I was younger. (ha, ha, ha) But now my eyes have been opened and Jesus has shown me what is more important in this world than self fame. No, I don’t want to stay under the radar, but I want to use that for a greater purpose than me.

Mona: What has been the professional highpoint for you since winning the title?

Jamie: Having more friends to witness Jesus’s love to and how it changed my heart. Also, I had my first professional acting job on film for a book trailer. The book is called “Eye for Glory.” It’s about the Civil War and how two enemies discovered they were brothers in Christ. I had a blast my first time acting on screen. I hope and pray that I’ll be in that position many more times and eventually turn it into a career.

Mona: Are there any drawbacks to following your chosen career path?

Jamie: Just being put under a magnifying glass. But that’s ok, because if I just stay true to my faith in Jesus then everything will be fine.

Mona: What are you planning in the foreseeable future?

Jamie: The main thing is to be ready for the RT Convention in L.A. with my portfolio and my body. I’m going to be training with some body builders to get ready and mean business!

This year it will be in April beside Hollywood. I’ll be networking, and networking, and…… networking some more. (Laughing) Wish me Luck!

Mona: Any advice for future Mr. Romance contestants?

Jamie: Don’t be something you are not, and treat everyone how you would like to be treated. Remember, you are not above anyone – you are just as much flesh and blood as the next person. Remember, love wins every time!

Mona: I know the readers are dying to know if you are still single and available.

Jamie: Sorry, not available. I recently married a woman who is beautiful inside and out, and as we keep Christ first in everything we do, I know everything will be fine. Guaranteed!

Mona: Will you be competing in the 2011 Mr. Romance competition in Los Angeles in April?

Jamie: If I’m correct, I think once you have won you can’t compete again. This is fine with me, because it was a great blessing and a stepping stone towards greater things to come in my life.

Mona: How would you sum up the past nine months?

Jamie: A crazy roller coaster ride! (Laughing)