A Ruby in the rough

When MTV put the call out to search for the perfect VJ, 2000 hopefuls turned up for a shot at the top job! But it was Melbourne girl, Ruby Rose who stood out like a diamond in the rough...

What was it that motivated you to audition for the job?
It was an opportunity you should never let pass you by. All my friends were like, "You have to go for it!" They made me go to bed early the night before the audition because it was the "right thing to do... and obviously it was!

You had to do some nasty stuff to secure the gig, like pashing strangers. Was it worth it?
Oh yeah, of course it was. But you should never try those things at home. It's only worth it if you're getting a gig on TV!

You've got some interesting tatts! Tell us about them.
Yeah, I've got a few. I've got boxing gloves for my godfather, (boxing legend) Lionel Rose and the rest are all religious tattoos. I've got different crosses and I've got a dove. I've got a massive sleeve, and on my right arm I've got a koi fish, which is a symbol of luck. I like fish and I liked this design, so I thought, "I have to have it."

Would you ever cover your entire body with tattoos, and what would be on your face?
The face? (Laughs) Unless I go to jail, which I'm not planning on doing any time soon! But if I was going to get a face tattoo, I think I'd get writing, maybe a passage out of the bible or a poem. It would have to be black ink because you wouldn't want colour on your face.

You've said you want to be a rock star, but you can't play any instruments. What would you play?
Well, I've bought three guitars and they're really, really cool. I spent a lot of money on them and on lessons to learn how to play them. I'm okay at singing, so it could be cool to have a bit of a sing-a-long, and drums would be mad!

You were runner up in the Girlfriend model search a couple of years back. How would your life have been different if you'd won?
Very different. I was entered in it by someone else, so I was very grateful to have gotten where I did, but at the same time I was never going to be Catherine McNeil, so I'm glad she won. She's a good friend of mine - I love her to bits and she's the next big world model. She was the right person to win that competition.

You have done a bit of modelling though. what was that like?
I love modelling, I've had some really cool jobs. The only time I don't like it is when you go to cattle calls and everyone's really skinny or young - it's a bit upsetting.

Who's the biggest celeb you've met so far?
Probably Nicolas Cage. I met Nic on the set of Ghost Rider. I had a little extras part in the movie, and I got to go to the wrap party and he was there - he was a really nice guy.

Who are you dying to meet?
I would usually say Madonna, but the odds of Madonna doing an interview on MTV are very slim at this stage in her career, so if I had to go with a more ‘now' kind of act, I'd love to meet the Spice Girls. I think that would be such a cool interview. I think because they're a group, it would be more fun. But I'd also love to meet P!nk - I'd love to sit down and have a chat.

What question would you ask?
I don't know! It's the Spice Girls, what do you ask them? I'd probably ask them, with everything they've done so far, what would be the one thing they would change.

You've said you would love to spend a day with Madonna. What would you do with her?
I would give her the reigns and ask her what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go. But if I had her in Australia, I'd take her to a couple of cool little bars in my area in Melbourne. Apart from that, I'd like to take her to a church and just sit and have a spiritual conversation. I'm religious. I suppose I should take her and her kids to the zoo too, that might get me in her good books.

What is the one thing you would never do on camera?
I'd never get naked. Darren McMullen (MTV VJ) does it enough for all of us, so he's got the nudity base covered.

What do your friends and family think of the new job?
My family is really excited. My mum told my grandma and she called everyone the to tell them, then she called me later that night in a panic because she thought she'd dreamt it. My friends have been really supportive. They're funny - they were really excited about the job, but when they realised I had to move to Sydney they weren't too happy.

Tell us a secret about a VJ.
Darren McMullen has a very nice butt - he has a habit of dropping his pants. He doesn't know I feel this way about his bottom so don't tell him!