There are many beautiful woman, but few whose physical splendor is matched by inner elegance. Shannon Shay is a shiny balance of poise and passion. She is one of those rare women whose photos seem to capture an inner glow, a light that can be both hot and cool.

From her very first portfolio work to her recent work in films, she simply comes alive before the camera. Gifted with that sunny blonde girl-next-door look and a long and lean physique, she’s been told since childhood that she should become a model. But, while the abilities to pose and perform seem to be in her genes, it has been years of study and hard work that have made her a sought-after model for photographers and an internationally-known personality.

To fulfill her early interest in modeling, she began by enrolling in a program for young girls offered by an upscale department store in her Upstate New York hometown. This program covered all the basics of a modeling career and culminated in a runway fashion show in the mall. Shannon then pursued every opportunity to model locally, sometimes working as a live model at clothing stores in return for a discount, sometimes posing for art and nature photographers. She expanded her experience through cheerleading, became captain of her squad, and was chosen by the Beach Boys to dance among other local beauties as part of their halftime show at her hometown’s Minor League ball park.

Between cheerleading competitions and modeling, she studied art and design in high school, exhibiting at shows, and winning a Scholastic Art Award for one of her pieces. She continued to dream of a modeling career, but used the opportunity to learn more about the technology behind the beauty business through her first job as an assistant at her Aunt’s beauty salon. The hairdressers often used Shannon’s hair to test new styles, and her fashion sense and natural charisma drew in a lot of business. But her hometown was small, and while she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities that came her way and made the most of them, Shannon’s dreams were too big for her small town.

Moving to Austin, Texas opened her horizons and led to the kind of opportunities she had been hoping for. She finished high school there and began working for Chanel, training intensively in their international fashion and makeup lines. The knowledge and experience she gained working as a makeup and nail consultant for Chanel later gave her career an unexpected boost. Though she left selling cosmetics years behind her since she began getting so many professional jobs, from modeling clothing to doing catalog work, from product promotions to making public appearances in Austin, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, and other cities, she’s made good friends throughout her work and travels. Knowing that she’s not only a beauty but also a pleasure to work with, discreet, and reliable, they’ve put the word around, and not only has this put Shannon in demand professionally, but celebrities like Fergie of the Black-Eyed Peas know that when they have a fashion emergency in the Austin area, they can call on Shannon for help.

She’s appeared in two films so far, one already released to video starring Austin favorite, Willie Nelson, and another still in production that features a chimpanzee that seemed to have a special liking for Shannon. She’s also been called on to act as hostess at VIP room parties at local clubs. But glamour isn’t all that Shannon is about. Though she’s glad she’s had the opportunities to meet people with such a variety of interests and has enjoyed going to locations ranging from urban to exotic, she also enjoys the simple pleasures of baking banana bread in her kitchen, summer afternoons boating on Lake Travis, or simply relaxing by candlelight in her back deck hot tub on a sultry Austin night.